Last Tuesday marked a major deadline at the Washington Legislature, as most bills had to be passed out of the chamber in order to survive. Bills now have to get approval from the other chamber to move forward. Some bills that died impacted criminal law. For instance, a bill that would have lowered the legal limit on blood alcohol concentration from .08 to .05 (Senate Bill 5002) is no longer in play. The legal per se limit in Washington will remain .08, at least for now. Also HB1994 is not moving forward. That bill, sponsored by Rep. Darya Farivar, D-Seattle, would have allowed misdemeanor cases to be dismissed if a defendant met certain conditions, like entering and completing treatment.

Last year Washington lawmakers passed a sweeping package of gun laws, including a 10-day waiting period for firearm purchases and a ban on the sale of AR-15s and similar semi-automatic rifles. This year, lawmakers are considering some additional restrictions on gun owners and dealers. However, some of the more – shall we say – ambitious laws have died, i.e. permit requirements, which did not even get out of committee. Where things stand with regard to our state gun laws should be clearer sometime in March or April.

If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900