There is much confusion among the public in Washington State about what constitutes police “entrapment”. Entrapment occurs when police, or their agents, lure or induce a person to commit a crime which the person had not otherwise intended to commit. RCW 9A.16.070 (1)(b). And where the crime originated in the mind of the police or…
In Washington, it’s illegal for a driver under 21 to operate a vehicle with a breath or blood alcohol level of 0.02% or higher or any THC (cannabis) level over 0.00 ng. RCW 46.61.503 (Minor DUI). These are much lower legal limits than those set for drivers over 21 (0.08% or higher and 5 ng…
Drivers facing a DUI charge in Washington may be eligible for a special one time court diversion treatment program called Deferred Prosecution, RCW 10.05.010 et. seq. A DUI Deferred Prosecution treatment program requires the offender to successfully complete a 2 year alcohol/drug treatment program, followed by 3 years of strict court probation. There are probation…
Since 2023, the Washington Department of Licensing automatically suspends WA driver licenses for sixty (60) days if a driver commits three (3) separate moving violations within a 12 month period or four (4) separate moving violations within a 24 month period. A one (1) year probation period follows the 60 day license suspension period. During…
There are three (3) types of criminal offenses handled by criminal defense lawyers in Washington. Felony Crimes: Felony offenses are the most serious crimes (murder, robbery, burglary, arson, etc). They include all crimes punishable by more than one(1) year in prison. In Washington, felony crimes are divided into three categories: Class A felonies (the most…
Lynnwood, WA DUI Lawyer: Attorney Paul Hanson Nominated for Lawyers of Distinction 2024 (Click Here)
Lynnwood attorney Paul Hanson is pleased to be honored by a nomination to the Lawyers of Distinction 2024 by its Selection Committee. This nomination is based upon attorney Hanson’s achievements, ethical standards, peer recognition and legal success. Attorney Hanson has previously been nominated to the Lawyers of Distinction in past years.
Lynnwood Attorney Paul Hanson has been defending Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) criminal charges in Snohomish County and north King County courts for over 40 years. The best defense for these DWLS charges has been for the clients to reinstate their Washington driver licenses before their trial dates. Then attorney Hanson can almost always negotiate…
Criminal charges for non citizens make their case defenses harder and more complicated. Even misdemeanor arrests & convictions can sometimes result in denial of Visa renewal, denial of admission to the US, and even deportation in some instances. Consequently, it is very important for defense lawyers to always ensure their non citizen clients get legal…
Lynnwood criminal defense lawyer Paul Hanson learned long ago that clients who voluntarily perform community service before sentencing usually get reduced charges from prosecutors and lighter sentences from judges. Consequently, attorney Hanson strongly encourages all his criminal defendant clients to perform at least 10 hours of voluntary community service in the city or town where…
Under Washington RCW 46.61.504 (2), an intoxicated driver, who pulls safely off the roadway before being pursued by police, has an affirmative defense both at trial and at the Dept. of Licensing license suspension administrative telephone hearing. No matter how intoxicated a driver is, and no matter how bad their driving, an intoxicated driver who pulls safely off the roadway, before…