Woman Strikes Trooper’s Car on I-5, Arrested on Suspicion of DUI

After striking a Washington State Patrol trooper’s car on I-5 near Everett, a woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI. The state trooper was performing a routine traffic stop on the right shoulder of southbound I-5 when the female driver drifted, striking his car. The accident occurred around 6:15 p.m. and the trooper was subsequently taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Detectives were investigating the issue that same evening, resulting in the right two lanes of southbound I-5 being closed. The woman was subsequently arrested on suspicion of DUI.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more people were killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents in the state of Washington in 2017 than in 2016. The increase in impaired driving deaths in the state are opposed to the nationwide number of traffic deaths due to impairment which showed a slight decrease in 2017. Washington state saw 160 alcohol-related driving fatalities in 2016 and 178 in 2017, however the state is not alone. Twenty-one other states saw an increase in the number of traffic fatalities related to alcohol impairment in 2017 over 2016, leading some to believe that distracted driving may have been an additional factor in at least some of these auto accident fatalities.

Penalties for a Washington DUI Conviction

A DUI in the state of Washington is usually a gross misdemeanor, with maximum penalties of up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. There are also mandatory minimum penalties including jail, fines, loss of your driver’s license, probation and the requirement for an ignition interlock device. Your penalties will depend on whether you have a prior criminal history, your BAC results, and whether you refused a breathalyzer test. Those who are arrested for a 5^th DUI over the course of the past 10 years, those who have prior felony DUI conviction, or those with a prior DUI-related vehicular assault conviction could be facing felony charges.

Penalties for DUI Convictions in Washington State

The penalties for a Washington DUI conviction vary, depending on whether this is a first DUI, a second DUI or a subsequent DUI. The minimum jail time for a first-offense DUI is 24 consecutive hours (or 48 hours if your BAC was .15 percent or higher). In addition to the fines and fees listed above, you could also be sentenced to probation, alcohol/drug assessment, an ignition interlock for one year after driver’s license suspension (90 days for a BAC between 0.08 percent or 1-2 years for a BAC of .15 percent or higher).

A second DUI brings a 30-45-day mandatory minimum jail sentence, with a maximum sentence of 364 days, fines and fees up to $5,000, a license suspension for two to three years (depending on BAC), an ignition interlock for five years, alcohol and drug assessment or probation for a period of five years. Subsequent DUI convictions bring harsher penalties.

Aside from legal penalties, there are a number of additional consequences most people who have a DUI conviction will face, including the loss of a current job, the inability to obtain employment, extremely high—even unaffordable—auto insurance premiums, and a certain level of social stigma.

Having a highly experienced Seattle DUI attorney by your side from start to finish can make a significant difference in the outcome of your charges. Your attorney could potentially have your charges dismissed at pre-trial, reduced to a lower charge, reduced to a traffic offense, or could obtain an SOC on your behalf. An SOC is a Stipulated Order of Continuance and is, in essence, a contract between you and the state or city prosecutor. If you comply with the specified conditions, your case will either be amended or dismissed at the end of the designated time period.

Getting Help From Seattle DUI Defense Attorneys at Lewis & Laws, PLLC

If you have been arrested and charged with a DUI, in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Everett, or anywhere in the state of Washington, it is imperative that you speak to an experienced Seattle DUI defense attorney immediately to ensure your rights and your future are properly protected.

The experienced lawyers at Lewis & Laws, PLLC  have successfully defended clients in Seattle, Bellevue, and Kirkland. Contact us today at 206.209.0608 or fill out our online contact form to get more information or to get a free case review!