Everyone is pretty much aware that facing a DUI charge is a tough thing to do. The deck is stacked against you and the potential punishment is high. But did you know that in addition to the criminal consequences, in Washington State there are civil penalties too? Read on to find out from a Seattle DUI attorney.

DUI laws are so tough because groups like students against drunk driving have flooded the state legislatures asking for changes to the law. Because of this, if you blow .08 or higher on a breath alcohol test, your driving privileges will be suspended. That is, unless you get a good DUI attorney and fight the test in the four ways allowed.

One of the first things your DUI lawyer will look for to help you keep your license is if the stop was valid. Cops have to have a valid reason for pulling you over, and if they don’t, then they aren’t allowed to investigate you any further, for anything. They have to see a traffic infraction or drunk driving to stop you. Otherwise you keep your license.

Next, if the stop is good, you can go after the arrest for DUI itself. Before you can be arrested for DUI the officer must have probable cause that you are DUI. He can do this in many ways, but if he arrests you before that standard is met, the breath test is out, and you get to keep your driver’s license.

If an analysis of the DUI arrest doesn’t yield any good results, the third area of argument is the implied consent warnings. These warnings must be given to you so that you understand the consequences of taking the test and of refusing the test. Sometimes these are given incorrectly. When they are, it’s a great thing for you.

Fourth, you can show that the test itself was administered improperly or was malfunctioning at the time you took it and get the results thrown out. This can happen with operator error (the cop does it wrong) or the machine simply breaking while you were taking the test (this actually happens!).

In the end, the goal is to get the breath test results thrown out of consideration. No breath test, no results of .08 or over, and no driver’s license suspension. Don’t do this on your own, though. Get a DUI attorney to help.

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