Dismissal of Minor Criminal Charges as a Civil Compromise of Misdemeanor (Click Here)

By Paul | November 2, 2021 | Comments Off on Dismissal of Minor Criminal Charges as a Civil Compromise of Misdemeanor (Click Here)

Washington State has an old law, the Civil Compromise of Misdemeanor Statute, RCW 10.22.010 et. seq., which authorizes criminal defendants to seek pretrial dismissal of certain minor (misdemeanor) charges where the victim suffers property damage / loss or minor bodily injury (e.g., Assault 4° (non-DV only), Malicious Mischief 3°, Theft 3°, Hit & Run, etc).…

Negligent Driving 1° vs. Negligent Driving 2° (click here)

By Paul | October 13, 2021 | Comments Off on Negligent Driving 1° vs. Negligent Driving 2° (click here)

Many drivers are confused about Negligent Driving 1° and Negligent Driving 2° offenses. The main difference is that Negligent Driving 1° is a more serious misdemeanor criminal charge. While Negligent Driving 2° is a much less serious traffic infraction. Like a speeding ticket or running a red light. Negligent Driving 1°, RCW 46.61.5949 (1) (a),…

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputies Test Out Body Cameras (Click Here)

By Paul | September 14, 2021 | Comments Off on Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputies Test Out Body Cameras (Click Here)

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office announced on September 2, 2021, that some deputies would soon begin wearing and testing police body cameras. The body cameras will be worn during a six week test program. Deputies in the Violent Offender Task Force, Patrol division, and Motorcycle unit will wear the cameras. More than 60 % of…

What To Do After a Car Accident (Click Here)

By Paul | August 31, 2021 | Comments Off on What To Do After a Car Accident (Click Here)

SPECIAL AUTO ACCIDENT INFORMATION If you are in a car or auto accident involving injuries or property damage, there are certain important actions you should take. These actions will help you avoid future hassles with insurance claims adjusters. And help you obtain full and fair compensation for your bodily injuries and car damages / repairs.…

Recent DUI Breath Test “Refusal” Case Win (Click Here)

By Paul | July 22, 2021 | Comments Off on Recent DUI Breath Test “Refusal” Case Win (Click Here)

Recently Lynnwood DUI attorney Paul Hanson won an unusual DUI license revocation “refusal” telephone hearing case with the Department of Licensing (DOL). His DUI client, after being arrested, blew separate 3 times into the police Draeger breath test instrument at the Mill Creek Police Station. Each time, the DUI client blew exactly as instructed by…

False Breath Test “Refusals” in DUI Cases (Click Here)

By Paul | July 1, 2021 | Comments Off on False Breath Test “Refusals” in DUI Cases (Click Here)

Arrested DUI drivers taken in to police stations for the Police Draeger breath test will sometimes be accused of “refusing” the offered breath test. Even after they have blown into the Draeger instrument several times. And even after they tried their best to blow as instructed. Such drivers are then penalized with a much longer…

The Statute of Limitations (Click Here)

By Paul | June 17, 2021 | Comments Off on The Statute of Limitations (Click Here)

Washington State law sets time limits for the filing of criminal charges. Such time limits are called Statute of Limitations. No criminal charge can be filed after the statute of limitations has expired for that particular crime. For gross misdemeanor crimes, like DUI, Reckless Driving, Assault 4°, Theft 3°, Driving While License Revoked (DWLR) 2°,…

No More WA License Suspensions Just for Unpaid Non-Criminal Traffic Tickets

By Paul | June 3, 2021 | Comments Off on No More WA License Suspensions Just for Unpaid Non-Criminal Traffic Tickets

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…

Vacating Criminal Convictions vs. Expunging Non-Conviction Police Arrest Records (Click Here)

By Paul | May 4, 2021 | Comments Off on Vacating Criminal Convictions vs. Expunging Non-Conviction Police Arrest Records (Click Here)

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…

Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) Now Trying Twice to Suspend DUI Driver Licenses (click here)

By Paul | April 20, 2021 | Comments Off on Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) Now Trying Twice to Suspend DUI Driver Licenses (click here)

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…