How much will a Washington DUI conviction cost me?

We have all seen the Public Service Announcements on television about the consequences of drinking and driving. Yet many Americans continue to get in the car and drive while visibly impaired. Mother’s Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) have been unsuccessful in their efforts to curb this national pastime and have been under recent fire for using junk science to promote their agenda. All states throughout the nation have enacted laws that penalize motorists with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. If you are convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), you’ll wish that you had a designated driver or taken the time to call a taxi.

DUI Penalties in the Evergreen State

Individuals who are convicted of a Washington DUI may have seen their last evergreen tree for awhile. The bulk of the population resides in King County and offenders who are arrested will receive red jailhouse attire while enjoying filthy cement floors, horrible meals and threats from the other inmates. While some attorneys take cases on a contingency basis, this is not the case when it comes to defending criminal charges. Most Washington DUI offenses are charged at the misdemeanor level, but if you have prior convictions, you could be facing felony charges.

Public Defender vs. Private Attorney

Let’s hope you enjoyed those few drinks, because it may end up costing you your entire life savings. Attorneys who defend clients in court know that the judges must appear to be harsh on criminal defendants. Intoxicated drivers could end up spending anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 to defend themselves in court. While indigent offenders end up with a public defender, these lawyers are often saddled with more cases than they can jump over. Many of these professionals are inexperienced in providing a strong defense.

When to Call a Cab or a Lawyer?

People that are out having a good time with their friends often have a few drinks over dinner. They often think they are fine and can make their way home without incident. Unfortunately, impaired drivers are unable to think clearly and wind up behind bars wondering what happened. The cost of hiring a cab is going to be infinitely much cheaper than getting a lawyer to defend DUI charges. Once you’ve been arrested and booked into custody, your first phone call should be to an attorney that specializes in DUI cases.