Earlier this month the State Senate unanimously passed SB 5037 which – if it becomes law – would make driving under the influence a felony if the driver has three or more prior offenses on their criminal record within a 10 year period. The bill now heads to the House where it has stalled in previous years. Washington State’s current law requires 4 or more prior DUI’s within a 10 year period before a DUI is considered a felony offense.
Under the new measure passed by the Senate, a fourth DUI offense would no longer be merely a gross misdemeanor and would be classified as a class C felony, punishable by up to five years in jail, and a fine of up
to $10,000, or both. However, SB 5037 does allow first-time felony offenders to spend up to six months in jail, instead of the current nine, and allows the offender to finish out the rest of his sentence under court probationary supervision, such as attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and/or other DUI related programs.
If you or a loved one is cited or charged with a law violation, you should immediately seek the advice and/or assistance of a qualified Seattle criminal defense attorney. The Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified and reputable Seattle criminal defense lawyers that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those arrested or charged for crime all across Western Washington and the Greater Puget Sound region. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible in light of all the surrounding circumstances of the given case. So, whether you are cited with an infraction or arrested and/or charged with misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or a felony, protect yourself … call SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900.
