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You Have Been Arrested For DUI in Washington State. Now What?

I will fight to save your license and freedom!

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Arrested on a Washington State DUI? What Do I Do Now?

This was my first time having to go through the DUI process so I was very nervous about the whole situation and overwhelmed with the procedures and steps I was about to have to go through. Mark was recommended by a friend and I’m so happy he did. Mark lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. He made me feel very comfortable and I trusted him; he was very organized and stayed on top of things. My DUI case turned out better than I or anyone else thought it would go. Even the judge said that I was getting off pretty good. I would most definitely recommend Mark.

J. L. - Bellingham

FREE DUI CASE EVALUATION

Listen, it'd be great if you could simply talk honestly with the prosecutor about your Washington DUI charge and get a fair and honest result. You'd just quickly explain that you weren't driving drunk. Maybe you had a drink or two that the police officer smelled on your breath, but you certainly weren't impaired.

You know you didn't violate any Washington DUI laws and shouldn't have been arrested. But you'd still promise not to do it again if they'll simply give you a fair shake and drop the charge. You'd even agree to a fine for wasting their time so you can move on.

Unfortunately, this is a fantasy.

The prosecutor doesn't care about treating you fairly. His job is to revoke your license for as long as the law will allow.

Even worse, if you lose your DUI case, you will face penalties of not just loss of your license, but potentially large fines and increases to your car insurance rates, costly alcohol education programs, probation, and possible jail time.

Other consequences to a criminal conviction under Washington State DUI laws could be loss of future job opportunities, or other problems that arise when someone runs a background check on you and finds a DUI charge on your criminal record.

The only way you can be sure you will be treated fairly is having an experienced Washington DUI lawyer looking out for you. In my experience, The most severe outcomes are often avoidable, and I've been successful in protecting my clients against aggressive prosecution many times before.

My name is Attorney Mark W. Garka. I'm a DUI lawyer here in the Seattle, WA and the Northern Puget Sound area. I focus on helping people just like you to resolve their Washington DUI charges. I worked for 3 years as a prosecutor, so I know exactly how DUI cases are pushed through the system here in Washington, and therefore I know the best ways to defend DUI charges.

Let me tell you what we can do to fight back...

Arrested on a Washington State DUI? What Do I Do Now?

FREE DUI CASE EVALUATION

Most people arrested on a DUI / DWI charge don't know what they should do next. That's understandable. You've probably never been arrested, and become a target of our system of justice and law enforcement. You have no idea what to expect, and wonder if you have any realistic chance to beat the case.

That's why I'd like to buy you a free legal consultation on your case - a $200 value. I'll give you specific information about your particular case, review all the facts and the police report, and give you an honest assessment of what you can expect, and how I can help you.

My telephone consultation is absolutely free to you and will last about half an hour. It's a great opportunity for you to understand what you are facing, and there is no further obligation. In fact, until you agree, in writing, to hire me, you will never owe me any money.

If you would also like to meet with me at my office here in Lynnwood, WA, I'll be happy to schedule an appointment with you so we can talk face to face.

My DUI Law office is conveniently located off I-5 in Lynnwood, WA. It's a short drive from Everett, Kirkland, & Seattle, WA. I represent clients in different courts all across western Washington State.

It's important for you to know that your case is not hopeless! I'll explain the many defense options we have in fighting a DUI charge.

Here's what I mean...

I'll Fight to Prove Your Innocence

FREE DUI CASE EVALUATION

I want to emphasize to you, almost no case is hopeless, and there are many things I can do to help you.

Did you know that there more than 20 possible legal challenges that can be made to the DUI charges you're facing? You can be sure I'll identify any legal issues and procedural mistakes the police and prosecutors may have made, and challenge every every claim against you. Whatever it takes to make the strongest defense I can against your DUI charges.

My goal is for you to walk away either with a dismissal or a not guilty. I want to keep your record clean, and to prevent you from losing your freedom and your license to drive. That's what I do in my drunk driving defense practice every day. You see, my entire law practice is based on the understanding that you should not have been arrested -  that mistakes and over-aggressive prosecutions happen everyday.

No matter what, I'll fight for you, and make certain that the Washington criminal justice system treats you as fairly as possible..

When you hire me, you get an experienced DUI defense attorney to provide you with expert legal help. The Washington legal system is complicated, and DUI cases are one of the most difficult areas of the law because of the scientific and technical knowledge needed to challenge breath test machines, study the police training manuals on how they are required to perform field sobriety tests, and so much more...

I work hard to stay current on DUI law by studying and attending conferences with the countries top DUI defense experts. I've also been trained to perform field sobriety tests just like the police do, so I know exactly when they make a mistake that would invalidate the results.

So you can count on me to skillfully guide your case through the state's legal system. I know both the courts and Washington's complex DUI laws, from doing this so many times before. You'll know you are being treated fairly by our judicial system because I'll be there to insist on the following:

  • The District Attorney must provide us with the name and address of anyone he or she intends to call to testify as a witness. They also must provide copies of every written or recorded statements of their testimony. This information can be crucial, and I will use it to prepare specific questions that will attack and discredit the witness, and the evidence they are offering for the prosecution.
  • The Distinct Attorney must provide us with any information or material which may be exculpatory, and might suggest that you are not guilty of these charges, or which may help reduce your sentence.
  • Discovery of any records showing that the breath test or other equipment used for tests was functioning properly, that all required procedures were followed, and the officer giving the tests was properly trained and certified.
  • I will make sure they can establish that you were fully advised of Miranda or other legal rights. If you weren't, it could damage the case against you, and I would ask for a dismissal of the charges.

And those are  just a few examples. My job is to challenge the DA every step of the way. And the fact is, police make mistakes in DUI arrests all the time. As an experienced Washington DUI attorney who's seen hundreds of DUI police reports,  I'll be there to point them out.

I'll Fight to Keep Your License

FREE DUI CASE EVALUATION

I'll request that the arresting officer appear at a license revocation hearing to justify the revocation, and go over all the facts leading up to you being pulled over, his reasons for believing you to be impaired, the timing of the testing, and anything else that questions the validity of the state taking away your license!

A hearing is also a great opportunity to get the prosecutor's version of the events of the case on the record, so we can later challenge them directly at a trial. If there are any discrepancies in the claims of the officer or other evidence against you, I can use it against them in the trial.

I'll Defend Your Legal Rights

FREE DUI CASE EVALUATION

For all the reason above, you need to have someone in your corner who knows how to challenge the prosecution in these kinds drunk driving cases. An Attorney with the right experience, who knows the Washington DUI case law, the courts, and all the the legal procedures.

You see, the District Attorney knows exactly how to prosecute DUI cases. Their office handles thousands of these cases every year. They are experienced, able, and have the full force and resources of the state behind them. 

And under the Washington State DUI law, the DA must only prove that your driving was impaired from drinking, or that your blood alcohol level exceeded .08%. That may not sound like it's hard for them to prove, but with the right legal challenges, we can make that much more difficult.

I won't concede anything to the DA if I think we can prove or suggest that any legal or police procedural mistakes were made that would help establish your innocence. I will challenge the prosecutor to legally establish that:

  • The police officer had a legitimate legal reason to pull you over
  • The police officer advised you of your legal rights before questioning you
  • The Datamaster breath test machine was properly maintained and operated
  • The officer running the breath test machine was properly qualified and trained in its operation

I will file a motion to suppress any evidence that may have been gathered against you improperly or illegally.  If we can get the evidence against you tossed out, we may be able to get your case dismissed, or at least substantially weaken the case against you.

Now, no lawyer can promise to win your case. That will depend on the specific facts, and many other factors unique to your situation. We'll hope to get a fair judge, and a thoughtful jury. And having some luck never hurts.

Of course, having a skilled and experienced defense attorney who knows the DUI laws here in Washington -- and how to fight the system on your behalf -- is a huge advantage. I'd like the chance to prove that I'm that attorney for you, and I'll make it easy for you to decide during your free consultation.

The Legal Advice You Need - Now!

FREE DUI CASE EVALUATION

I know you're anxious about your case, so during our talk I'll work to ease that anxiety in two different ways.

First, I'll explain the Washington State DUI judicial process in general, and answer any questions you may have. I completely understand the stress you feel. When you show up in a courtroom on a WA DUI charge, and they call your name to appear, it can be extremely intimidating. Just understanding what is happening, and having an advocate on your side in your attorney can make a big difference.

Then, I'll dig into the specifics of your case. I'll analyze the police report, court documents, and any other evidence against you. I'll spell out what amounts to a roadmap to our defense strategy, all in plain English. And I'll give you my honest assessment of your case, how good it is, and what I think the chance is that we can win.

I've seen hundreds of DUI cases go through the Washington Courts, so I'll have a pretty good idea of the potential outcomes, and how likely they are.

When I give you the benefit of my knowledge and experience, and you have a fair understanding of what you're up against, you'll be able to make an informed decision about what you want to do. You can hire me to defend you if you wish.

You'll then decide if you're ready to challenge the case in court and go to trial, or you'd like me to use my skill to negotiate and make certain you get a fair plea deal, so you can move on with your life.

Whatever you decide to do, the knowledge you get from our free consultation is yours to keep! And everything you tell me is completely confidential by law, regardless or whether or not you decide to hire me.

I'm sure you'll also want to know what it will cost to hire me to represent you for a DUI defense. I'll quote you a fee once we've discussed your case, and I understand the complexity and seriousness of you case. I usually charge a flat rate, so you won't have any billing surprises, and won't get soaked if it ends up taking many hours and many court dates to resolve your case.

Here's what I'm offering you:

  • A Free Legal Consultation on your case.  No obligation.
  • Personal Service and Understanding. I'll tell you what's going on at every state of your case, and help you work through this difficult time.
  • A fair fee structure. With everything disclosed up front, no surprises.
  • Experience. I know the system and the process backwards and forwards, having prosecuted DUI cases as well as having defended countless people just like yourself since 2001.
  • An Aggressive Defense. If a plea makes sense for you, then I'll help you get a fair deal, but a relentless defensive posture is always the way to get the best results, whether you take it to trial or not.

If help like that is what you need, call me today at 425-422-5818 and take me up on my offer of a free consultation and case evaluation. There's no risk on your part. If you don't think I'm the right person to help you, you won't owe me a thing. And you'll at least gain some understanding about your case, and get the benefit of my experience and knowledge earned after years of successfully defending DUIs in Washington State.

Whatever you decide, I strongly recommend taking action quickly. The faster I get on the case, the more defense options we will have.  And if your license was suspended, you only have 30 days to respond if you wish to challenge the grounds for the license suspension at a Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) hearing. Call me immediately for details if you need some advice on this, at no charge.

Keep in mind that DUI charges are taken seriously and prosecuted seriously here in Washington State. A conviction can have serious consequences to your life. Find out what you can do to protect yourself and your rights. Call me now at 425-422-5818.

Sincerely, Washington State DUI attorney Mark Garka

Attorney Mark W. Garka

Washington State DUI Lawyer Mark W Garka
19303 44th Ave. West
Lynnwood, WA 98036
425-422-5818

Proudly defending clients accused of drunk driving / DUI in the Seattle, WA area, Western Washington State, and the greater Puget Sound Area, including King County, Snohomish County, Skagit County, Island County, and Whatcom County.

P.S. One final point - As it is my mission to do everything possible to protect the rights and freedoms of my clients, I offer to handle any additional misdemeanor charges on the complaint against you, for no additional fee.

DUI Washington State
Mark W. Garka
Attorney at Law
19303 44TH AVE. WEST
Lynnwood, Washington
98036
Phone: 425-422-5818
mark@washington-dui.com

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