DUI Lawyer in Des Moines

Are you facing jail time and significant fines in the wake of an alleged DUI accident? Do you need help crafting a defense that protects your freedom? Our Des Moines DUI lawyers understand the position you’re in and how terrifying criminal charges can seem. We’re ready to come to your defense in and out of criminal court.

Puget Law Group began representing Washington residents in 2013. A Des Moines criminal defense lawyer with our firm can help you discuss what circumstances led to your arrest and what steps you can take to have the charges brought against you dropped or reduced. We can also discuss how you can appeal a DUI conviction, as applicable.

You do not have to go into your defense alone. Contact our drunk driving lawyers today.

When Can You Get Arrested for Driving Under the Influence?

Washington State’s drunk driving laws note that drivers may not get behind the wheel of a car and operate that vehicle if they have a blood alcohol content (BAC) that exceeds 0.08%. Commercial drivers have an even lower BAC that they cannot exceed. If commercial drivers operate a semi-truck with a BAC of more than 0.04%, they risk losing their license.

You can get arrested if the Des Moines Police Department can confirm that you were operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. Likewise, if you’re pulled over, accused of driving under the influence, and refuse to participate in field sobriety tests or a breathalyzer test, officers can arrest you regardless of whether or not you’ve been drinking.

Additionally, if you’re accused of drinking, driving, and causing an accident with another vehicle, pedestrians, cyclists, or other parties on the road, you can face criminal charges for operating while intoxicated in addition to the injury of bystanders. In fatal cases, you could be charged with vehicular manslaughter under RCW § 46.61.520.

What Are the Legal Consequences for Driving Under the Influence?

The consequences for driving under the influence can include fines and jail time, and the penalties grow more severe the more times you’re convicted of the crime. It’s important to disclose to your Des Moines DUI lawyer at Puget Law Group whether or not you have a criminal history, as that history can dictate how your case progresses.

If you haven’t been convicted of a crime within the past seven years, you may face up to one year in jail and fines of up to $5,000. You may also face a 90-day suspension of your license. The state also requires you to have an ignition interlock device installed in your car.

If you have a prior offense within the past seven years, you risk a two-year revocation of your license in addition to fines and jail time. These charges can compound further if you’re facing accusations of assault, battery, vehicular manslaughter, or other crimes.

Do You Have to Do Community Service if You’re Charged With Driving Under the Influence?

It is up to a judge to determine whether or not you have an obligation to participate in community service if you’re convicted of driving under the influence. You can discuss what role community service may play in your case when you meet with a Des Moines county attorney.

We will help you understand whether you may be asked to clean up garbage along Kent Des Moines Road or another local highway.

The legal team at Puget Law Group will not make agreements with the prosecution about anything, including community service, without consulting you. We are here as your allies. If you get an offer from the prosecution that seems as though it will reduce the charges brought against you, we can candidly discuss it.

When Should You Contact a DUI Lawyer in Des Moines?

We do not recommend attempting to challenge DUI charges on your own. A criminal defense attorney in Des Moines can bring a comprehensive understanding of state and federal laws to your case and preserve not only your right to personal freedom but also your driver’s license. That preservation can help you keep your job and protect your future.

We encourage you to get in touch with a criminal defense lawyer as soon as you can after your arrest. Do not speak to police officers about your case until you have a lawyer representing you. Invoke your right to remain silent and your right to a lawyer.

If you’re dissatisfied with the representation offered to you by a public defender, or if you want to appeal a case that another attorney undertook, we can work with you to better understand your circumstances and offer a new perspective on your case.

What Defenses Can Challenge DUI Charges?

When the time comes to defend yourself in the Des Moines Municipal Court system against accusations of driving under the influence, you can work with our drunk driving lawyers to argue that:

• The equipment used to determine your BAC, including breath test equipment, did not accurately assess your state at the time of your arrest.
• The data gathered from breath test equipment, including breath test calibration logs, became corrupted or altered between a chemical test and its analysis.
• Police officers did not have reasonable cause to approach you at the time of your arrest.
• Officers did not engage in appropriate police procedures during your arrest, leading to rights violations.

You may also argue that certain health conditions, including a diabetes diagnosis, led to a misrepresentation of your BAC when police officers pulled you over and tested you.

Count on Puget Law Group to Represent You

Criminal defense attorneys understand the intricacies of the laws used to accuse Washington residents of drunk driving offenses. We also know the ways those laws can be misinterpreted. If you’re struggling to figure out how to address recent accusations of operating while intoxicated, our legal team can help you figure out your next steps.

Instead of relying on an overworked public defender, you have the opportunity to connect with DUI lawyers in Des Moines, WA, who can dedicate their full attention to the development of your defense. We can interpret the breathalyzer tests and physical evidence that the prosecution wants to use against you and protect you from wrongful charges.

Contact us today to discuss how our representation can see the DUI charges brought against you reduced or dropped. Puget Law Group wants to represent your best interests in and out of criminal court, and we have the experience to do so.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every DUI case depends on its own facts, and the laws and procedures that apply may change. The strategies and defenses discussed here are examples of approaches that may be available in some cases. They may not apply to your situation.

Puget Law Group cannot and does not guarantee any particular outcome. Past results do not predict future outcomes, and the result of any case depends on its specific facts, the evidence, and the applicable law. Nothing in this article should be read as a promise that a charge will be dismissed, reduced, or result in an acquittal.

Please do not rely on this article in deciding how to handle a legal matter. If you have been charged with DUI, contact a licensed attorney promptly, since important deadlines may apply, including those related to your driver’s license. Do not include confidential or sensitive details about your case in any website form or email until an attorney-client relationship has been confirmed.

Attorney advertising. Puget Law Group serves clients in Washington State.”