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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