At the time of a DUI arrest in Washington State there are two separate and distinct cases that begin against the person arrested for DUI — a district/ municipal court “criminal” case, and a Department of Licensing “administrative” case. The criminal case includes, among other things, possible jail time, fines and a life time stigma as a criminal. The administrative case includes the possibility of a loss of driving privilege in Washington State. In the criminal case the “defendant” is constitutionally entitled to the assistance of a DUI attorney. In the administrative case the “petitioner” may have a DUI lawyer assist him, but he is not constitutionally entitled to DUI attorney assistance. In other words, if a petitioner does not retain a DUI lawyer, the hearing will go forward (if requested by the Petitioner) regardless of whether the petitioner is represented by a DUI attorney.

King County DUI Lawyers Greg Schwesinger and Saad Qadri of SQ Attorneys represent defendants and petitioners through all phases of their Washington State DUI case. This includes not only fighting for the accused’s rights and interests at all criminal court proceedings, but also fighting for the accused’s driving privileges during an administrative telephonic hearing through the Washington State Department of Licensing.

The Washington State DUI Criminal Process:

The legal defense of your criminal case includes the following types of hearings:

* Arraignment
* Pre-Trial Hearing
* Motions Hearing
* Readiness Hearing
* Trial

Every criminal DUI case can be defended and won. Sometimes BAC breath tests are unreliable, inaccurate or otherwise invalid. An experienced and proven negotiator can make a world of difference. The Seattle DUI Attorneys of SQ Attorneys are just that, experienced and proven negotiators that make a world of difference. SQ Attorneys are a team of seasoned Seattle DUI lawyers that work tireless to achieve the best possible outcome for each and every client they have the honor of representing.

The Washington State DUI Department of Licensing Administrative Process:

Every person arrested for DUI in Washington State that has a BAC of .08 or greater should request a Department of Licensing administrative hearing. Prior to the telephonic hearing, a petitioner should ensure they retain a Seattle DUI attorney who will scrutinize every aspect of the police report and other associated documents used by the Department of Licensing to suspend the petitioner’s Washington State driving privilege. The Department of Licensing administrative hearing often includes written motions, live testimony of witnesses, cross-examination of the officer, and oral argument. The administrative hearing takes anywhere from twenty minutes to one hour in time.

Because of the significant consequences one faces when arrested for DUI in Washington State, it is imperative that he/she retain a qualified Washington State DUI attorney so as to not only best minimize the myriad of legal consequences he/she faces, but also to protect his/her rights and liberty interests. The Seattle criminal attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified Seattle DUI lawyers that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those charged with DUI in Western Washington. 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 DUI allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible.

If you or a loved one is cited for or charged with DUI in King County, Pierce County, Snohomish County, Kitsap County, Thurston County or one of the following cities or towns: Algona, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Bonney Lake, Bothell, Burien, Des Moines, Duvall, Edmonds, Enumclaw, Everett, Federal Way, fife, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Lake Stevens, Lakewood, Lynnwood, Maple Valley, Marysville, Medina, Mercer Island, Milton, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, New Castle, Normandy Park, North Bend, Olympia, Puyallup, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Sea Tac, Seattle, Shoreline, Snohomish, Sumner, Tacoma, Tukwila, University Place, and/or Woodinville, or any other city or town in Western Washington, call The Criminal Defense Team of SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900; (425) 998-8384 for an initial free consultation.