Is it Worth Hiring a Lawyer for a First DUI?

Is it worth hiring a lawyer for a first DUI? It is worthwhile to hire a Seattle DUI lawyer for your first DUI, even if you do not have a criminal background.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious criminal offense in Washington. If you are found to be guilty, you face a wide range of potential implications for your future. There are several key reasons for this.

You Could Lose Your License

For many people, the loss of their right to operate a vehicle can be critical and even devastating if their ability to work is tied to that. License suspension is a very real outcome that even a first-time offender faces.

There are two potential ways that you could lose your license in Washington. First, the state will suspend your license immediately unless you request a hearing within seven days to contest your suspension, and the hearing examiner decides in your favor. If you do not request a hearing, your license is suspended for between 90 days and up to two years, depending on prior offenses. If the court convicts you, your license will be suspended for 90 days to four years.

If you have a commercial driver’s license, the state will suspend it. This means you may be unable to work even if you do not face jail time. An attorney will advocate for you in these situations to potentially mitigate these risks.

Potential Jail Time Consequences of a DUI are Significant

Under RCW 46.61.502, a person convicted of a DUI, even as a first-time DUI offense, faces significant punishments. The law takes DUIs quite seriously, and judges want to make a point even at this first instance.

With just a first offense of DUI, a conviction could mean you have to spend some time in jail. This can range from 24 hours up to 15 days. Some people also face several weeks of having an electronic home monitoring (EHM) device placed.

In situations where you are convicted of DUI and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .15% or higher, the minimum time spent in jail increases to 48 hours. You could spend up to 30 days with an EHM device as well.  This means there will be ongoing implications to your ability to engage in activities outside of your home. Your attorney will advocate for you to receive the least amount of time allowable under the law or seek probation for you when possible.

Aggravating Factors Could Make Your Consequences Worse

Hiring an attorney for a first-time DUI offense is important in most situations, but it can be essential in cases where there are aggravating factors or elements about your case and charges that may lead to additional criminal charges.

For example, if you are facing any of the following aggravated penalties, the typical misdemeanor charge of DUI could be upgraded to a felony:

• Your BAC was 0.15% or higher
• You were transporting a minor under the age of 16 at the time
• There were multiple people in your car at the time of the DUI
• The DUI led to an accident, causing property damage
• You were driving the wrong way on a multi-lane road
• You refused to take a chemical test

In these situations, hiring an attorney may help you demonstrate that you should not be charged with these aggravating factors. Your lawyer may work to keep your DUI charge at a misdemeanor level instead. That could protect you from a longer jail time. Learn more about DUI charges in our FAQs.

You Were Under the Age of 21 at the Time

In Washington, there is no tolerance for a person under the age of 21 driving a vehicle while having used or using alcohol or other substances. If this is your first conviction of a DUI, but you were under the age of 21, you could face penalties such as:

• Fines of up to $1,000
• Up to 90 days in jail
• A minimum of 90 days of license suspension
• Probation for 2 years
• Requirement to maintain SR-22 insurance
• Mandatory drug or alcohol treatment, evaluation, and counseling
• Potential requirement for a period of EHM
• Community service sentencing
• Ignition interlock device use

A DUI for a minor will remain on their record for much longer than many expect, and that could impact future decisions for you. It may make it hard for you to secure certain types of employment and could affect your ability to get into college. Hiring a DUI lawyer in Washington can help you mitigate these risks and potentially ease you into a diversion program instead of facing the full wrath of the law.

Your DUI Attorney Will Help You Minimize Negative Outcomes

Hiring a DUI attorney for a first offense means you gain a legal advocate ready to work closely with you to pursue the best possible outcome in your case. This typically means they will help you work towards having your charges dropped or dismissed, or, if not possible, to reduce the implications you have. Your attorney will help you with:

• Collecting evidence that could work in your favor to minimize penalties
• Help you create a plea deal that protects your criminal record or license
• Provides you with legal guidance in requesting a hearing, especially in situations where there is a lack of probable cause for the traffic stop
• Represent you in court if you have to go into a courtroom
• Help you recover your license after a suspension

Without an attorney, you must handle each one of these steps on your own, and that can lead to challenges. Remember that Washington courts are aggressive in holding those who are found to be driving under the influence accountable, and they have no interest in making a plea deal with you if there is no valid evidence to do so. Our case results show our success stories.

Schedule a Consultation with a DUI Attorney

With so much on the line, that first-time offense matters. Hire a Seattle DUI attorney for a first offense from Puget Law Group now to learn more about what your legal rights are in these critical situations.