What Your Seattle DUI Attorney Can Do For You
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Written by: Steve Ogilvy
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Word Count: 465 |
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 |
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Everyone knows someone who's gotten a DUI. Maybe even more than one someone. But you don't realize what's at stake until you actually get one yourself. The penalties are high. The stakes are high. The Legislature doesn't like DUIs, and they make you feel the pain when you're charged with one.
Because the Legislature made the penalties so stiff, there is wiggle room to have your punishment lowered, particularly if you have good facts or have little criminal history. But you need someone to help. A DUI lawyer. In case you haven't talked to someone yet, I thought I'd give you a rundown of some of the possibilities for resolving your DUI case.
Pleading to DUI as charged is the worst possible scenario. Usually a plea like this comes with a recommendation of the mandatory minimums for sentencing. But those still include jail time. And most people don't want jail time. Often with an offer like this I set it for trial and see what happens.
A level below the DUI plea is reckless driving. Though it counts as a prior DUI if caught again (as is negligent driving 2nd degree), there are advantages to reckless driving. First, no mandatory jail time. Second, no interlock ignition device. And finally, though there is a 30 day driver's license suspension, you can get an occupational license, which will let you drive to and from work.
Below that is negligent driving first degree. It is better than the other two by far. First, it's only a misdemeanor, this means a lower maximum sentence. Second, there is no high risk insurance. Third, there is no driver's license suspension. The only downside to this is you get stuck with a criminal record.
After that comes any myriad of traffic infractions you might be able to get. It might be negligent driving 2nd degree, careless driving, or something like that. It's great because it's not criminal. You pay a fine and you're done.
Last, but not least, is a dismissal. We all like these. This means the charges are gone, forever. You don't have to pay anything (except your Seattle DUI attorney fee), don't have to do any jail time. You walk out of court a free person. This is what we strive for, but the others can be okay in many circumstances.
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