My family had just moved in here in Washington for my job offer. I have current car insurance in another state and I just don’t know if my recent coverage is applicable here in Washington. Is there any imposed car insurance coverage here to be followed?

Greg

Kent, WA

Every citizen in Washington is suppose to have a car insurance and because of this there are so many ways of getting car insurance as fast as you can. Car insurance here in this state is a must for the protection of the citizens in case they get any accidents or troubles along the way.

The other thing that the state asks with regards of car insurances is that they should at least have a Liability Coverage or at least increase your Liability Coverage than getting a lot of different coverage with different minimums since even if you combine the different coverage minimums it still not enough to meet all the claims in any accident on the road. Though Car Insurance Companies offer you such other car insurance coverage like collision, comprehensive, personal injury protection, uninsured or underinsured motorist and the like it doesn’t mean that the State of Washington impose you to get these coverage. In any offers whether the car insurance company or the state you still have the final say. If the state imposed something about such coverage and if you don’t think you need it you just have to relinquish or get a reduction form telling them about your decision.

I need to save money so I may have to cut down on my other expenses. How can I be able to save or lessen the payment for my auto insurance here in Washington?

Niko

Bellingham, WA

The very first thing that you would have to do to save on your auto insurance in Bellingham, Washington is to compare auto insurance from different providers. You may go online and use consumer guides from the state of Washington’s insurance department. These guidelines would give you information on the coverage you need and give you sample auto insurance rates, generally from the largest providers. You need to obtain at least three auto insurance quotes from different companies. Also, in buying a car, consider a low-profile car because cars that cost too much to repair or those which have higher theft rate have higher insurance rates as well.

Asking for higher deductibles could also lower you annual or monthly insurance payments. If in case you file a claim, the deductible is the amount of money that you pay before the auto insurance provider pays for the rest of the damage. If you have higher deductibles, that means you would have lower insurance premium rates. An example is that if you increase you deductible from $200 to $500 on comprehensive and collision coverage, that may lessen your premium by 15 to 30%.

We are preparing for the possible costs that my son has to pay if he gets convicted for his DUI charge here in Washington. What are the things that we can expect to pay for and do you know how much total cost would it be?

Bunny

Lakewood, WA

The national average for costs in relation to a first offense DUI conviction could exceed $20,000. Like some things, that cost could be much higher in the state of Washington. The absolute cost could include posting bail, vehicle towing, car damage (your car and anyone else involved), property damage, DUI fines, lost wages due to jail or prison, attorney fees, hiring expert witnesses to testify at trial, appealing the case if your son receives an unfavorable verdict and higher insurance rates. If your son gets convicted for DUI in Lakewood, Washington, the costs would be any of the aforementioned or it could also be all of them.

The most important thing on that list would be the higher insurance rates because this is a long-term cost. Motorists generally pay high insurance rates after a DUI for at least three years. Let me remind you that your son’s best weapon would be a competent DUI attorney. He needs a DUI attorney who not only knows the game, but also has already perfected his strategy at winning it.

My brother got arrested for DUI in Washington and he refused to take the breath test. Is it true that his driver’s license would automatically be suspended because of this?

Rhea
Yakima, WA

The State of Washington has an implied consent law which provides that after acquiring the driver’s license, the driver impliedly consents to blood alcohol testing if asked by a law enforcement officer. A refusal to take the breath test is in itself a criminal violation that is subject to stiff penalties. Since your brother refused to take the breath test when asked by an officer on a DUI investigation in Yakima, Washington, this breath test refusal could result in automatic driver’s license suspension or revocation. This driver’s license suspension for breath test refusal would be for one year.

The breath test refusal could also be used as evidence against your brother on his DUI case trial. If he is found guilty of his DUI charge, there could be additional penalties because of the breath test refusal, such as stiffer sentence. In order for him to protect his driver’s license, he needs to request a license suspension hearing and pay $100 to the Department of Licensing to cover the costs of the hearing.

If in case I get unlucky and be asked to take a blood alcohol test because of DUI here in Washington, do I have a choice as to which kind of test I can take?

Joseph

Federal Way, WA

In Washington State, you have a choice as to how your blood alcohol would be measured. Should you be charged with DUI in Federal Way, Washington, you could be allowed to choose between a blood test and a breath test. You may take the required breath test and ask for additional blood test if you feel that the breath test would not give accurate results. Breath test is normally performed using a “breathalyzer” and in the state of Washington, a “datamaster,” which is a newer machine and much less complicated to use than a breathalyzer. With this machine, there is no interpretation required, unlike the “breathalyzer,” because the “datamaster” would print out a ticket with the mechanically determined breath test results.

Should you wish to verify sobriety, the best form to verify that is a blood test. Urine tests are actually the least accurate in measuring the blood alcohol content (BAC) because the urine often does not reflect your BAC at a particular point in time. But if you believe that your BAC would be over the legal limit of 0.08%, may wish to gamble on urine testing.

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.

They say that I would have to hire a lawyer to represent me in my DUI case in Washington. I’m still thinking twice in doing so because it may cost me a lot of money. Is it really expensive to hire a DUI lawyer?

Evan

Yakima, WA

People caught operating a motor vehicle who are driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol are charged with a criminal offense. It is unlawful to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the state of Washington. Compared to other lawyers, DUI lawyers have a detailed knowledge of DUI laws and have a good experience in handling DUI cases. They are familiar with all the nuances and particulars involved with DUI offenses. People involved in DUI cases are strongly advised to consult and hire the services of an experienced and well-qualified attorney because the law enforces harsh measures on offenders.

The fee actually depends on the arrangement. Make sure that the fees fully clarified and are set in a written contract to protect yourself. Some DUI lawyers ask for an initial retainer. Some give ‘all-inclusive’ packages, but be careful with this kind of lawyer. You always have to make sure that the package covers extra costs such as those related to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) license hearing, the fee for the expert witness, fees for blood reanalysis (if needed) and subpoena costs, among others. In general, DUI lawyers charge $500-$1,000 but it may go up in cases of repeat offense.

Hey. I have a very simple question for you. My boyfriend was convicted with DUI in Washington. His license was suspended and he badly needs to get a hardship license. How can he obtain one?

Leizl

Bellevue, WA

I have a very simple answer since you have a very simple question. If his license was suspended in the State of Washington, there are several steps to take to obtain hardship license. He needs to sign up online for a 12-hour traffic school (ADI) class. Then he would have to go to the Clerk of Court and get a “30-day search” of his driving record. If he has received the Letter of Enrollment from the Traffic School and a letter from the Clerk, he can go to the DMV and apply for a hardship license with a Hearing Officer. After that, he needs to complete the 12-hour online course. If he is a ‘habitual offender’ as indicated in the DMV Letter of Enrollment, he must complete the course before he can apply for the hardship license.

Hope I was able to give you the information you need on obtaining your boyfriend’s Washington hardship license. Good luck.