In many Washington State DUI related cases, courts are now requiring that an ignition interlock device (hereafter, “IID”) be installed in the defendant’s vehicle as a part of the court’s “conditions of release” pending the outcome of the defendant’s case. The natural question that has arisen from this onerous and expensive pre-trial obligation is: Can a defendant get credit for the pre-trial installation of the IID towards any mandatory IID requirement that may be imposed upon conclusion of his/her case? The answer: Maybe.
The current word from the Washington State Department of Licensing (hereafter, “DOL”) is that a defendant can get credit for any Pre-Trial IID installation time if the person’s incident or arrest occurred on or after September 1, 2011. Examples of authorized IID credit from DOL are as follows: (1) if a judge orders that as a condition of release at arraignment that a defendant is required to only drive vehicles equipped with an IID, (2) a defendant voluntarily chooses to have an IID installed, or (3) if an IID is required in order to obtain an ignition interlock license. What some folks may not know, however, is that DOL will only give a defendant credit for having an IID if the person formerly requests the same from DOL, otherwise no credit for time served will be given by DOL.
In instances involving a DUI arrest it is critical to retain a reputable and qualified Seattle DUI lawyer. The right Seattle DUI attorney will be worth his/her weight in gold when protecting your rights, freedom and future. The Seattle DUI attorneys that make up the litigation team of SQ Attorneys are dedicated to defending those accused of drunk driving. They have the experience, knowledge and resources to successfully defend your case. Unlike other law firms that practice in many areas of the law, SQ Attorneys is focused on criminal defense representation with an emphasis on DUI defense in Western Washington.
If you or a loved one is faced with a DUI charge in Western Washington, you deserve the assistance of a reputable and qualified Seattle DUI attorney who will relentlessly defend your case. You deserve a Seattle DUI lawyer who has an intimate understanding of Washington DUI laws and the legal issues that could win your case. You deserve a Seattle DUI attorney who is not afraid to stand up against the prosecution and aggressively fight for your rights and interests. SQ Attorneys is the right Western Washington DUI law firm for the job. Call for a free initial consultation – (206) 441.0900 (Seattle); (425) 998-8384 (Eastside) – it will be the best decision you make all day.