Why is the prosecution ‘cracking down’ on DUI’s? Why have things gotten so difficult to negotiate in the DUI world over the past several years? Why are so many DUI cases being set for trial and being litigated without any meaningful negotiations taking place between the prosecution and the defense? And why are so many jails woefully overburdened with DUI inmates?
Well, one only need to look at the local section of the Seattle Times today and read the 3rd to last paragraph of the paper’s article on Richard Hicks, ‘Renton man guilty in fatal boat crash’. The third paragraph reads, in part: ‘In 2002, Hicks was arrested for investigation of DUI and reckless driving in King County. When evidence of the level of alcohol content in his system was suppressed in court, prosecutors amended his charge to reckless driving … Hicks pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year in jail, with all the time suspended.’ In short, Mr. Hicks already had an alcohol related incident on our roadways, and in the eyes of the government, ‘got away with one’.
The government, it seems, feels that over the years there simply has been too many people stopped for DUI that are ‘getting away with one’ and in turn they have shut off the ‘let’s make a deal’ spigot. As a direct consequence of this non-tolerance policy, the cold reality is that there are now more DUI cases going to trial, significantly more DUI convictions taking place, and a major influx of DUI inmates in our jails. Will this dragonian position on a non-mens rea crime result in fewer folks choosing to drink and drive? Only time will tell, but it sure seems that is what the government is banking on.
Now, more than ever, if you are cited for DUI in Washington state it is smart to immediately seek the assistance of a Seattle DUI lawyer. A qualified and respected Seattle DUI attorney, among other things, can quite possibly save a person thousands of dollars in court and insurance fees, extent of loss of privilege to drive and amount of jail time to be served. Washington DUI laws are far too complicated for any ol’ attorney to handle. Be smart … hire a qualified and skilled Seattle DUI attorney when arrested for DUI in Washington State.
