Paul Hanson: Mill Creek, WA DUI Attorney

Mill Creek, WA DUI Attorney Paul Hanson has 39++ years experience in defending Mill Creek DUI charges, Mill Creek criminal charges, and Department of Licensing (DOL) driver license suspensions. Also DUI drunk driving criminal charges in all the other district and municipal courts of Snohomish County. Attorney Paul Hanson helps clients get their old criminal convictions and arrests expunged or deleted. from their criminal records. He is a former Lynnwood, WA City Criminal Prosecutor. 

Paul Hanson has received the highest possible legal ratings from the national attorney rating services. An "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a "10-Superb" rating from Avvo.com. Paul Hanson is very experienced, aggressive, affordable, and convenient.

AFFORDABLE DUI ATTORNEY FEES - FREE FIRST CONSULTATION

Hiring a very experienced DUI attorney does not have to be unreasonably expensive. Paul Hanson's fees and case costs are very reasonable, especially when compared to other local DUI attorneys with far less DUI defense 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, the court costs, the greatly increased 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, Mill Creek, WA 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). 

Mill Creek, WA DUI Attorney

If you are charged with or convicted of a DUI in Mill Creek, 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 
• Snohomish County Court Probation
• 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 Mill Creek, WA and Snohomish County. 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 or 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 Mill Creek 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 attorney, like Mill Creek attorney Paul Hanson, right away is the best way to maximize your chances of keeping your drivers license and avoiding a DUI court conviction. 

Mill Creek, WA DUI Attorney

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 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 DUI arrest date (usually on the 21st to 25th day). The assigned DOL Hearing Examiner will call you and your lawyer on your DUI attorney's office speaker telephone. Or on your own home or cell phone if you don't have an 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 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 TV News 7 showed that most drivers don't even feel affected when they go over the THC (marijuana) legal limit of 5 nanograms when driving. Marijuana users have to be very careful when driving. You can't just go by whether or not you feel high. You will usually be way over the 5 nanogram legal limit by the time you feel high.