I am so worried about my brother because he was already convicted for DUI before here in Washington and he is once again charged for it. What are the possible consequences should he be convicted again this time?

Clarissa

Seattle, WA

First of all, it is highly advised that he should have a strong representation on his second DUI case so it is important that he hires a DUI lawyer. A second DUI in Washington means having committed the offense within seven years after the first conviction. This time, the consequences are severely bigger because he might be facing a mandatory jail time. Also, his driver’s license may be suspended for a longer period of time. So don’t ever wait to seek the advice of a DUI lawyer about this matter.

The consequences for a second DUI conviction in Washington include 30 days to one year in prison, 60 days of electronic home monitoring, at least $500-fine and two-year driver’s license suspension.

However, there are also consequences involved even if the case is still in trial, specifically if the first offense was just a recent one. The prosecutor would demand that the suspect has substantial conditions to be released from supervision while the DUI case is still pending. While the real aim of conditions of release is to safeguard the community and keep them secured, prosecutors contend that these conditions would make the accused sober, thus keeping the community safe. Alcohol supervision, electronic home monitoring and some other preventive devices are included in these conditions.

I am not satisfied with the service I get from my current insurance company here in East Seattle, Washington. My auto insurance and other coverage are ending soon so I’ll just cancel my policies altogether. If I don’t pay anything after the end of the coverage, it means that my insurance is canceled, right?

Bo

East Seattle, WA

You could opt to cancel your automobile insurance policy for several causes, and dissatisfaction is one of them. Be careful, though, that if you don’t give enough notification to your insurance provider, you may spend more or worse, it could have an effect on your credit rating. It has been a tradition for the majority of insurance providers to let their customers drop their policy at any time in the course of the policy term. All they need to do is to send a written notification that includes the exact date of termination.

Your auto insurance policy in East Seattle, Washington would not automatically be cancelled at the end of the coverage, so don’t assume that you could drop your policy by taking for granted the next bill. In case you don’t send them a notification that you’re terminating your policy, they would consequently send you a bill in advance for the following policy term’s premium payment. If you ignore it, they would drop your policy and it would go against your credit history. These details are not clearly explained in your policy; auto insurance providers always tell us that we can cancel our policies at the end of the coverage by not paying the next premium, but they never tell us about the consequences for not giving them any notification.

As I was driving home from work, I was caught drunk driving two weeks ago in Washington. I have already weighed all the consequences if I will be convicted for DUI. Aside from jail time and paying fines, what other things should I expect that could happen to me?

Gael

Graham-Thrift, WA

We all know that you may lose your driver’s license after your DUI charge in Washington. And you may think that your job would be safe, right? Think twice because it is a distinct possibility with any DUI conviction that you could lose your job.

DUI may have a domino effect, not only that you have to serve time in jail and pay stiff fines, you may also be assigned to do community service which could mean that you have to take time from work, and your boss would not like that. So, you might as well lose your job sooner than you think. And after losing your job, you have to be ready to apply for something new. You now have to worry about the DUI charge showing up on background checks which is a common routine when completing the employer’s application process. So, with the threat of losing your job and having a hard time finding another one, only a qualified DUI attorney will fight for you when no one else will.

My son has been arrested because of a DUI offense in Everett, Washington. Many have emphasized about the importance of getting a lawyer to represent him on his case. But what can a lawyer do in my son’s case if they have hard evidence against him?

Fallon

Everett, WA

You should take your chances on your son’s case, Fallon, even if you think they have hard evidence against him. That’s more reason to get a good DUI lawyer to defend your son on his DUI case in Everett, Washington. The laws in the state of Washington are constantly under review and augments and revisions are constantly pending. You have to keep in mind that the consequences for DUI conviction have become very onerous so the old adage of “get a good lawyer” still holds true. Just think hard about this, your son’s financial well being, maybe including yours, as well as his mental well being is at stake.

Your son is risking much more than a differential in paying higher fines. He could be risking his liberty and his driving rights for many years, if not permanently that’s why having a qualified and competent Washington DUI lawyer is very critical at this point. Finding a DUI lawyer is not difficult and even negotiating a competitive rate is attainable because they know you can go just down the corridor. The bottom line here is the end result and the status of your son’s life going forward.

My brother has a possible DUI conviction here in Washington. I just want to make it clear to him and make him understand better the possible consequences of his action. How does a DUI conviction really affect a person?

Lynn

Tacoma, WA

Driving under the influence is not worth it because not only you are incapable of driving safely, but you are also very likely to receive a ticket. You might think that receiving a DUI simply requires you to pay a fee and try to get out of the ticket, but a DUI is really more expensive than you might have ever imagined.

A DUI conviction might cost your brother thousands of dollars, but it may also cost him emotionally, physically, and others would pay as well.

First of all, a DUI costs a lot of money. The car may be impounded, and then the driver would be taken to jail, and would receive a ticket, as well as other fees and fines that might apply to the specific situation. This would, of course, cost a pretty penny.

Then, there are the emotional costs of a DUI conviction. You would likely feel ashamed and embarrassed, and that is if you just got a ticket. In addition, you might wreck your vehicle or the vehicle of another individual, causing more emotional suffering and pain. Then, if you or others were injured you can count on significant emotional suffering.

Physical costs are likely with driving under the influence because accidents could happen. You may injure or even kill yourself, not to mention others. Imagine how you would feel if you cause yourself to be paralyzed or kill another individual. These are some huge costs of drinking and driving.

Then, there are the costs to other people as well. Your family would feel embarrassed and ashamed if you receive a DUI citation, not to mention if you are killed or kill someone else because you chose to drink and drive. Then there is the family and friends of other individuals that you might have injured while drinking and driving. They would feel angry and hurt as well.

Obviously, there are a lot of costs associated with DUI; most of them would change your life and the lives of others forever. So, if you want to drink, you have to make sure you call a cab or at least have a designated driver to ensure you get home safe and sound. We can all avoid all of the costs of a DUI and don’t drink and drive.

I was charged with DUI here in Washington. They say that I don’t need to hire a lawyer because this is just my first offense and it was just a minor one. But I still want to have a DUI help to make sure that I would be equipped with everything I need to get out of this or at least have a lower sentence. What are the ranges of fees and how do DUI lawyers charge their clients?

Jonathan

East Seattle, WA

A DUI in Washington State is a serious offense and must be taken seriously. Consequences of DUI may include loss of driver’s license, fines, vehicle immobilization, increase of insurance rate, community service and even imprisonment. Your decision of consulting and hiring a DUI lawyer would be a smart move.

Fees just go up depending on how severe your DUI violation is but they are sometimes minimal. The fees could range low as $500 dollars to thousands in cases of repeat offense.

DUI attorneys charge their clients differently. Some of these lawyers charge by the hour. Some lawyers will charge an initial fee to cover all the initial legal steps like reviewing the police report and the file from the district attorney and appearing on the first hearing. The fees end as well if at that stage that the DUI charges are dropped against you. Additional hearings, of course, would mean additional charges.

Other lawyers charge a fee to handle your case all the way to trial. Anyway, you pay them for everything if they are able to negotiate and dismiss the case.