Paul Hanson: Kirkland, WA DUI Attorneys
Alderwood Business Center - Bldg 3500
3500 188th St SW, Suite 205
Lynnwood, WA 98037
Call Kirkland, WA DUI Attorney: 425-778-7339
Email: attypaulhanson@aol.com
FORMER CRIMINAL PROSECUTOR. NOW EXPERIENCED KIRKLAND, WA DUI ATTORNEY
Kirkland, WA DUI attorney Paul Hanson has 40+ years experience in defending Kirkland, WA DUI Drunk Driving charges, Kirkland, WA criminal charges, and Department of Licensing (DOL) driver license suspensions. Also DUIs and drunk driving criminal charges in all the other district & municipal courts of Snohomish County and North King County. Attorney Hanson helps clients get their old criminal convictions and arrests expunged/deleted from their criminal records. He is a former Lynnwood, WA City Criminal Prosecutor.
HIGHEST ATTORNEY RATINGS
Paul Hanson has received the highest possible legal ratings from the national attorney rating services. An "AV-Preeminent" rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a "10-Superb" rating from Avvo.com.
AFFORDABLE KIRKLAND, WA DUI ATTORNEY FEES - FREE FIRST CONSULTATION
Hiring a very experienced DUI attorney does not have to be unreasonably expensive. Kirkland, WA DUI attorney Paul Hanson's fees and case costs are very reasonable, especially when compared to other local Kirkland, WA DUI attorney with far less experience. And very reasonable when compared to the total costs of a DUI or criminal conviction: the court fines and costs, the court probation fees, increased SR22 auto insurance premium rates, etc. Even a first time DUI conviction can cost you $12,000 or more over the next five years. And for your convenience, Kirkland attorney Paul Hanson accepts case payments in cash, money orders or local personal checks. Lastly, Attorney Paul Hanson provides a free first drunk driving consultation (office visit or by phone).
SPECIAL KIRKLAND, WA DUI INFORMATION
DUI is a serious offense in Kirkland, WA and all of Washington State, the state with the toughest DUI laws in the country. Here DUI is a gross misdemeanor crime which carries harsh penalties if convicted.
Kirkland, WA DUI attorney Paul Hanson investigates everything, from inaccurate blood and breath alcohol tests, to the arrest location's road conditions, traffic patterns, weather, environmental conditions, and your personal medical conditions which might affect your police blood/breath alcohol tests. Because police mistakes can result in improper traffic stops, DUI criminal arrests, criminal charges/tickets, and inaccurate DUI breath or blood alcohol test results, he will thoroughly analyze all of the case evidence to find facts and evidence which can help your defense and avoid a DUI conviction.
DUI DEFERRED PROSECUTION
If you suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, and/or a mental condition which resulted in your DUI offense, you can completely avoid a DUI conviction and almost all the DUI conviction punishments, by petitioning the court for a DUI Deferred Prosecution before trial. Deferred Prosecution for drunk driving requires completion of a two (2) year alcohol or drug treatment program at a state approved alcohol or drug treatment agency, total abstinence during treatment, an Ignition Interlock Device installed in your car for at least one year, payment of court costs, and successful completion of five (5) years court probation. After 5 years, your DUI charge is then completely dismissed. Kirkland, WA DUI attorney Paul Hanson has been helping clients get the right alcohol or drug treatment and obtain court DUI Deferred Prosecutions for over 40+ years.
KIRKLAND, WA DUI ATTORNEYS
Kirkland, WA DUI Attorneys
If you are charged with or convicted of a DUI in Kirkland, WA, there will be serious consequences for you and your family for many years, including the following:
- Jail time
- Mandatory electronic home monitoring (EHM)
- Big Fines / Fees / Costs
- King County Court Probation
- Washington State Driver's license suspension or revocation
- Restriction of driving privileges
- Much higher auto insurance rates - possibly dropped auto coverage from your insurance company
- Mandatory SR 22 Auto Insurance - additional auto insurance coverage with higher premiums
- Mandatory Interlock Ignition Device (IID - "blow and go")
- Mandatory alcohol or drug treatment (1 day to 1 year)
- Loss of any Federal / State transportation licenses (CDL, Pilot, etc.)
- No entry into Canada
WASHINGTON STATE DUI LAWS ARE TOUGH
DUI and Physical Control laws are strictly enforced in Kirkland and all over Washington State. The current legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 for adults and 0.02 for minors under 21. The legal limit for marijuana THC blood content is 5 nanograms. However, you can be charged with DUI even if you are below these limits if the Prosecution can show that your driving was "affected" by any amount of alcohol, drugs or both. You can also be convicted of "Physical Control of Vehicle While Impaired" if you are just sitting in the driver's seat impaired but not actually driving the vehicle. The penalties for "Physical Control" are identical to those for DUI.
If your blood or breath test was 0.15 or higher, or if you refused the test, the DUI penalties are even harsher. The DUI penalties are progressively higher for a second or third DUI offenses, especially if within a 7 year period.
If you produce an 0.08 alcohol level or higher on police breath or drunk driving blood tests, or 5 nanograms or higher of THC (Marijuana) on your police blood tests, or if you refuse a police breath (Breathalyzer) test, then you also face an additional Department of Licensing administrative suspension / revocation of your Washington State driver's license. Even if you are found not guilty of DUI in your separate court case.
You can greatly improve your chances of avoiding a DUI conviction and a DOL administrative license suspension by hiring an experienced Kirkland, WA DUI attorney as soon as possible after your DUI arrest. A DOL telephone hearing can be requested to contest the DOL administrative license suspension. However, the time deadline to request these DOL telephone hearings to stop the automatic suspension of your license is very short, only 7 days. Contacting an experienced DUI lawyer, like Kirkland, WA DUI attorney Paul Hanson, right away is the best way to maximize your chances of keeping your drivers license and avoiding a DUI court conviction.
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING - Driver License Suspension Telephone Hearings Information (For DUI Cases Only)
Your Washington State Department of Licensing DUI license suspension case will not be heard in a court. Instead, it will be heard in a telephone conference call with a Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) Hearing Examiner assigned to your DOL license suspension case. This telephone hearing will usually be scheduled within 30 days of your Kirkland, WA DUI arrest date (usually on the 21st to 25th day). The assigned DOL Hearing Examiner will call you and your DUI attorney on your attorney's office speaker telephone. Or on your own home or cell phone if you don't have a DUI attorney.
These DOL license suspension telephone hearings usually take about 20 to 40 minutes. You have the right to testify, to present witness testimony, and to present any other evidence you want to have considered in your defense. If you win, there will be no license suspension. If you lose, your driver's license will be suspended or revoked for anywhere from 90 days to 1 year to 2 years.
WASHINGTON STATE MARIJUANA DUI INFORMATION
An interesting video on KIRO TELEVISION News 7 showed that many vehicle drivers don't also really feel impacted when they review the THC (marijuana) legal limit of 5 nanograms when driving. Marijuana users need to be very mindful when driving. You can not just go by whether you feel high. You will usually be way over the 5 nanogram legal limit by the time you really feel high.
FREE FIRST KIRKLAND, WA DUI CONSULTATION
It costs you nothing to talk with Kirkland, WA DUI attorney Paul Hanson about your case. He offers a FREE first phone or office consultation. He'll give you an immediate assessment of your case, possible legal defenses, and possible case strategies. Call Kirkland, WA DUI Attorney Paul Hanson at 425-778-7339 for a FREE drunk driving legal defense first consultation (by phone or office visit).
DUI Attorneys Kirkland, WA
Kirkland, WA DUI Attorneys
Driving Under The Influence of Alcohol in Kirkland, WA?
Kirkland, WA DUI Attorneys FAQs:
Kirkland, WA DUI Attorneys FAQ: Do You Offer Free First DUI Defense Consultations?
Yes. It costs you nothing to talk with him about your Kirkland, WA DUI case. Call 425-788-7339 for your FREE first phone or office consultation. You will receive an immediate assessment of your DUI case and possible criminal defenses.