Everett DUI Attorney: Good Enough for Government Work

The Standardized field sobriety test refresher course manual is an interesting read – although apparently most officers have never done a refresher course.  In any event, toward the back of the manual are some articles for officers about testifying and validating their work.  Most of the tips are thoughtful and correct.  However, some clearly are written by individuals who do not understand the legal realm as well as they should.  To wit, one such article suggests that if a field sobriety test is not done correctly then it is still admissible as evidence but should be given its due weight.  Nonsense.   NHTSA says that unless these tests are done in strict compliance that are unreliable.  Hence, this author is suggesting that it is acceptable not to follow the rules that regulate these tests and if you fail to follow the prescribed rules the test results are still admissible.

Again, GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOVERNMENT WORK.  Appalling.   

The SFST refresher manual can be found at this link and the article I refer to starts on page 165.

http://breathtest.wsp.wa.gov/SupportDocs%5CDRE_Forms%5CManuals%5Csfstref%5CInstructor%20Manual%20(8-hour)%20-%20August%202008.pdf

For information on your Washington State DUI please contact our Snohomish County DUI attorneys, Whatcom County DUI attorneys, King County DUI attorneys, Island County DUI attorneys, Skagit County DUI attorneys, Mt Vernon DUI attorneys, Everett DUI attorneys, Lynnwood DUI attorneys, Mukilteo DUI attorneys, or Anacortes DUI attorneys at 425-493-1115 or check out our website at http://www.washdui.com

Everett DUI Attorney: Law Enforcement poorly trained in DUI detection

I have recently conducted some Department of Licensing DUI hearings for clients in Snohomish County, Skagit County and Island County.  In every hearing we conduct it is important to learn about the reporting officer, assuming he has been subpoenaed and appears.  One of the objectives is to see if the officer is trained properly or if his knowledge is suspect.  In three separate DOL hearings in the past week officers have testified that they have never received "refresher courses" in the standardized field sobriety testing.  WHY NOT?  In two cases the officers had more than 10 years of experience (Anacortes and Monroe) yet had not received more training.  NHTSA recommends officers receive refresher training on the standardized field sobriety tests so it is appalling to find out that local officers in Snohomish, Skagit and Island Counties are not following the recommendations.  As I keep saying, law enforcement is not trained well enough and this is causing problems with prosecution.  It's easy to remedy yet few seem willing.

For information on your Washington State DUI please contact our Snohomish County DUI attorneys, Whatcom County DUI attorneys, King County DUI attorneys, Island County DUI attorneys, Skagit County DUI attorneys, Mt Vernon DUI attorneys, Everett DUI attorneys, Lynnwood DUI attorneys, Mukilteo DUI attorneys, or Anacortes DUI attorneys at 425-493-1115 or check out our website at http://www.washdui.com

Skagit County DUI Attorney: Anacortes man arrested for DUI on a motor scooter

A 46-year-old man faces a charge of driving a motor scooter while intoxicated after an officer stopped his scooter at about 5 p.m. Sunday, November 21^st in Anacortes.  A witness had reported seeing a poorly driven scooter near 17th Street and Commercial Avenue. As an officer approached the area, he saw the scooter cross 12th Street northbound on O Avenue, where only right turns are allowed. The officer activated lights and sirens and attempted to stop the scooter, but the driver turned onto N Avenue and eventually into an alley between Sixth and Seventh streets.  The man dismounted the scooter and was able to maintain his balance, but the scooter rolled back toward the police car. The scooter was eventually parked correctly. The man, who showed obvious signs of intoxication(editor: except that he was able to maintain his balance when off the scooter!!), was arrested and transported to the Anacortes Police Department for a blood alcohol test. He was arrested and booked into Skagit County Jail.

For information on your Washington State DUI please contact our Snohomish County DUI attorneys, Whatcom County DUI attorneys, King County DUI attorneys, Island County DUI attorneys, Skagit County DUI attorneys, Mt Vernon DUI attorneys, Everett DUI attorneys, Lynnwood DUI attorneys, Mukilteo DUI attorneys, or Anacortes DUI attorneys at 425-493-1115 or check out our website at http://www.washdui.com

Skagit County DUI Attorney: Everett Woman Arrested for DUI in Anacortes, Skagit County

On Friday November 26^th an Anacortes Police officer pulled over a vehicle with a burned out headlight and found that the driver, a 30-year-old Everett woman, exhibited signs of intoxication. She allegedly failed field sobriety tests and was arrested and taken to the police department for a blood alcohol test. She faces a charge of DUI.

For information on your Washington State DUI please contact our Snohomish County DUI attorneys, Whatcom County DUI attorneys, King County DUI attorneys, Island County DUI attorneys, Skagit County DUI attorneys, Mt Vernon DUI attorneys, Everett DUI attorneys, Lynnwood DUI attorneys, Mukilteo DUI attorneys, or Anacortes DUI attorneys at 425-493-1115 or check out our website at http://www.washdui.com

Skagit County DUI Attorney: Failure to signal signal’s DUI in Anacortes

On November 20^th in Skagit County an Anacortes police officer stopped a vehicle after watching it turn right on Commercial Avenue without signaling at 1:14 a.m. The driver, a 55-year-old Anacortes woman, reportedly had bloodshot eyes, poor vision and slurred speech. She was given field sobriety tests and arrested on a charge of DUI. She was taken to the police station for a blood alcohol test.

For information on your Washington State DUI please contact our Snohomish County DUI attorneys, Whatcom County DUI attorneys, King County DUI attorneys, Island County DUI attorneys, Skagit County DUI attorneys, Mt Vernon DUI attorneys, Everett DUI attorneys, Lynnwood DUI attorneys, Mukilteo DUI attorneys, or Anacortes DUI attorneys at 425-493-1115 or check out our website at http://www.washdui.com

Lynnwood DUI Attorney: MADD mad that it has to close its doors in Washington

MADD says the group can no longer afford paid staff in Washington State.  Further, the organization says "[o]ur Washington office had to close its doors."  The group says its financial crush is linked to the economy; MADD's national budget was slashed and donations dropped to an all-time low. MADD Washington now has less than $5,000 in the bank and 10 volunteers on the staff -- not enough to navigate each victim through the courts.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/111169729.html

For information on your Washington State DUI please contact our Snohomish County DUI attorneys, Whatcom County DUI attorneys, King County DUI attorneys, Island County DUI attorneys, Skagit County DUI attorneys, Mt Vernon DUI attorneys, Everett DUI attorneys, Lynnwood DUI attorneys, Mukilteo DUI attorneys, or Anacortes DUI attorneys at 425-493-1115 or check out our website at http://www.washdui.com

Snohomish County DUI Attorney: Hiring an Attorney - how much is too much?

DUI Attorneys are expensive!  Let's get that out of the way.  Additionally, no person plans to get arrested for DUI hence no person plans on spending a great deal of money for DUI representation.  All of this being said, good DUI attorneys generally cost more.  This is justified because those good DUI attorneys hire knowledgeable support staff, have the most up to date material on hand, have immediate access to resource (and research) material, have the most DUI education, belong to DUI defense organizations, and have built a practice over many years that focuses on DUI defense.  The reality is all of these necessary tools cost money!  Education alone is very expensive, particularly if the DUI defense attorney is trained at administering field sobriety tests or even is a qualified and certified field sobriety test instructor, like I am.  This costs a small fortune, but is invaluable to our practice and the representation of our clients. 

However, there is a point where the cost of an attorney becomes outrageous.  If you are meeting with prospective DUI attorneys look around their office.  You are paying for their high rent, you are paying for their extra staffing, you are paying for their expensive advertising.  Is this necessary?  Well, if they can do wonders then perhaps but at the end of the day the necessary ingredients are that the attorney has experience (DUI focused); has a top notch reputation in the legal community; primarily (or exclusively) focuses on DUI defense; has staff who are helpful and knowlegeable; and has the time to focus on your needs. 
Prior to starting my own office I worked at a larger law firm where the overhead was unnecessarily large.  The rent and staffing costs were completely unreasonable.  As a result they had to bill their clients more to make a profit.  As a result I did things differently - I bought the building and have no mortgage or rent and focused only on DUI defense.  Therefore all my energy and focus is only one thing, defending those accused of DUI.  Also, my overhead is lower than those with similar expertise and experience.  If you compare my fees to others with the same focus and experience you will find they are far less - because I keep my expenses controlled.  Easy economics that helps my practice and gives my clients far more bang for their buck.

For information on your Washington State DUI please contact our Snohomish County DUI attorneys, Whatcom County DUI attorneys, King County DUI attorneys, Island County DUI attorneys, Skagit County DUI attorneys, Mt Vernon DUI attorneys, Everett DUI attorneys, Lynnwood DUI attorneys, Mukilteo DUI attorneys, or Anacortes DUI attorneys at 425-493-1115 or check out our website at http://www.washdui.com