Seattle DUI Attorney | Just Say No to Searches

Seattle cops have one thing in common - sneakiness. They know what they can and can't do and take every opportunity to toe the line between legal and illegal activity. This includes traffic stops. As a Seattle DUI attorney I can't tell you how many client arrests have resulted from traffic stops that escalated into a drug or weapons charge. And how did this happen? They let the police search the car.

Now, most people ask, why would anyone let the police do this? The reason is sneakiness and playing off our fears and weaknesses. That gets confessions for the police all the time, and it gets people to consent to the search of their vehicle even if they know they have something illegal in it. And it also happens because people don't have a good grasp on what their rights are as it pertains to their vehicle (and their person, and their house). Bottom line - never consent to a search of anything - it throws all the rules out the window.

The rule is this - the police cannot search your car unless some very specific rules apply, or unless you let them. The police know this. That is why if they think you are a drug dealer they will follow you around, try to catch you in a minor traffic violation, pull you over, and try to do whatever they can to get inside of your car to search it. But they must have a reason to get into your car if you don't consent. That reason is called probable cause. And a traffic stop is not enough.

If you are ever stopped by the police and they continue to harass you even after a Seattle traffic ticket is issued, call a Seattle criminal attorney. We can help get the cops off your back, help you with the DUI charge. But whatever you do, do not consent to the search of your vehicle. It is asking for trouble, and nothing good ever comes of it.

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Exercise Your Consitutional Rights | Ask to Speak with a Seattle DUI Lawyer Immediately

If you have been charged with a Seattle DUI, it can be a very scary thing. Most of the time, it is the most legal trouble you've ever been in, and you're not sure exactly what to do. And police officers know this. And they try to play off of your fears to get you to give them the best chance to convict you of a Seattle DUI, when all you were doing was driving home minding your own business.

One of the easiest things you can do when you feel like you are in trouble with the police is tell them you want to speak to a Seattle DUI attorney. And don't say it like "do I need a lawyer" or "should I talk with an attorney first," because the police are just going to say "oh no, you don't need a Seattle DUI attorney. Just keep talking and tell us everything you did wrong and we promise to take care of you." Don't believe them.

The right to legal counsel is one of the cornerstones of our Constitution. And the State of Washington goes even farther, particularly for DUI cases, allowing and even requiring police to allow you to speak with a Seattle DUI attorney before you decide whether or not to take a breathalyzer test. This allows you the opportunity to set up an independent blood test and to have at least one witness who can testify as to your level of coherence at the time they spoke with you (this is often why you will not want to speak with your actual DUI lawyer on this phone call - any relatively experienced DUI attorney in Seattle will be able to give you good advice, but then they may become a witness for you as to your state at the time of the phone call - lawyers can't be witnesses and lawyers at the same time, so make sure you don't want the lawyer you get on the phone to represent you - they may have a hard time doing it).

Like I said, however, you must be firm in your conviction to have an attorney. And once you ask for one, don't think you are safe to say whatever you want. Although the police are supposed to stop asking you questions, there is nothing in the rules that says something you just blurt out can't be used against you. Often after you ask for an attorney they'll just sit in the room with you in silence waiting for you to get uncomfortable enough to talk. Sit tight, and don't talk until you get a chance to speak with your Seattle DUI lawyer.

Getting charged with a DUI isn't the end of the world, but it can have some dramatic effects on your life, both personal and professional, moving forward. And like most things, the more information you know up front, and the less information you give the police, the easier it is to fight your DUI and even beat your DUI.

If you want to learn what you can do if stopped by police and investigated for DUI to have the best chance of beating your DUI, call us today. We can give you the information you need to help yourself when stopped by the police and help you if you are charged with a DUI or traffic ticket. Don't wait, get ahead of the game today.

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Seattle DUI Attorney | Watch the Fourth of July

The 4th of July is one of the best times of the year: the weather is usually great, people are usually excited to get a vacation from work, and everyone loves fireworks. But, sometimes 4th of July festivities can get a little out of hand, and before long you find yourself needing the services of a Seattle DUI attorney.

What I mean is, every year I see a big spike in DUI arrests around the holidays that involve drinking and celebrating outside. And the reason is clear. Most of the time if you are going outside you are going to the lake, the river, a friends house, or some other designated party place.

To get there you have to drive, which is fine. But to get home, you also have to drive, which can be a problem since Seattle cops step up driving under the influence patrols and emphasize keeping drunk drivers off the street. This means when you are driving home, even if you don't think you are too drunk to drive, you are running an extremely high risk of being charged with Seattle DUI.

Another type of spike you often see is domestic violence cases. This also tends to go back to the holiday and the types of celebrations it sparks. Normally families get together to celebrate, and once the alcohol starts flowing feelings can run high. And I don't know about your family, but I definitely have a looser tongue with family members than with friends. That means that often arguments escalate more than they normally would. And one bad decision can result in life changing consequences, either because of a Seattle DUI or domestic violence charge.

For example, the Seattle Times reported that a Woodinville resident was shot and killed by a Woodinville police officer over the weekend. And although the details aren't clear, the officer was checking out a domestic violence call.

If you are charged with domestic violence or DUI, don't wait to get a Seattle DUI lawyer working for you.

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