As we all know, Washington prohibits driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. What perhaps is not so commonly known is that Washington State also prohibits (and aggressively enforces) distracted driving laws. In short, handheld cell phone use and texting is prohibited for all Washington drivers, and all cell phone use (handheld and even hands-free) is prohibited for novice drivers. Of course there are exceptions to the general rule, but in short a person is not permitted to text or use a hand held cell phone while driving a motor vehicle.
A tragic case out of New Jersey is a perfect example of why Washington (and other states) have both DUI laws and distracted driving laws. In that case a drunken DUI driver who was driving and texting struck and killed two teenage cousins. Regardless of the fact that he was personally horrified by his conduct, expressed his remorse and even called himself a ‘monster’, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison (9 years for each victim) for aggravated manslaughter. Cases like this have increasingly become far too common, and as such the government has really ‘cracked down’ on offenders throughout the country, including Washington State.
Although no one desires to be arrested for DUI, if it should happen be smart and immediately seek the assistance of a Seattle DUI lawyer. A qualified and trained Seattle DUI attorney will sift through the myriad and numerous defenses in a Washington DUI case. So if facing a DUI, do not go it alone, and do not just hire some ‘general’ practitioner. 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.
