On June 2, 2021, a Thurston County Superior Court judge ordered the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) to stop suspending licenses of drivers who can’t afford to pay fines on non-criminal traffic violations. The judge ruled that the DOL must cancel all driver license suspensions for failing to pay non criminal traffic tickets because…
Many people, even lawyers, are confused about the difference between vacating a criminal conviction and expunging non-conviction criminal history. Expungement is the legal process used to persuade local Washington police agencies and the Washington State Patrol Criminal History Records Section in Olympia, WA to destroy all non-conviction criminal history records of a police arrest. Such…
In Washington DUI arrests involving alcohol, there are always two (2) separate cases. A court DUI criminal case. And a Department of Licensing (DOL) administrative license suspension civil case. The DOL case occurs when the DUI driver either refuses the police breath alcohol test or blows over the 0.08% legal limit for alcohol. This DOL…
This weekend, Snohomish County law enforcement agencies throughout the county will conduct DUI emphasis patrols. These will be from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM on both Friday and Saturday nights. Police officers from the Washington State Patrol, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and Police Departments from Edmonds, Marysville, & Mountlake Terrace will be doing high visibility…
Every driver should know their constitutional rights when being pulled over, questioned, and / or arrested by police for DUI in Washington State. First, stay calm. Don’t run, resist, or obstruct the officers. This can lead to additional charges. Do not give false documents or information. Keep your hands where the police can see them…
Police throughout Washington started extra DUI emphasis patrols to stop suspected drunk drivers on the roadways. The Washington State Patrol warns all drivers to drive sober throughout the holiday season or face DUI arrest.
Lynnwood DUI attorney Paul Hanson recently won a DUI client’s Department of Licensing (DOL) driver license suspension telephone hearing on the grounds that the police traffic stop was unlawful. The arresting Snohomish County deputy sheriff received a tip from a passing motorist that the client was earlier seen driving “all over the road” on SR…
Washington State Patrol trooper and county sheriff deputy DUI cases aren’t being filed in the Snohomish County District Court and King County District Court until 2 to 6 months or more after their DUI arrests. And all police DUI cases involving search warrant blood alcohol / drug tests are now often not filed for over…
Washington State is the only state in the country that allows you to get your DUI dismissed after 5 years through a Deferred Prosecution (DP) option. If you are eligible, and fully comply with all requirements, you can avoid all DUI jail time, license suspensions, and a criminal record. Your DUI will be completely dismissed…
Police throughout Washington started extra DUI emphasis patrols this summer to stop suspected drunk drivers on the roadways. The Washington State Patrol warns all drivers to drive sober throughout the summer season or face DUI arrest. Please call Lynnwood DUI lawyer Paul Hanson for a free DUI consultation (telephone or office visit). Call 425-778-7339