Archive for January, 2012

Washington State laws regarding Driving Under the Influence (DUI) are some of the strictest in the country, and they may be getting even tougher.  A DUI Task Force meeting recently discussed several proposals aimed at increasing the penalties for an array of DUI related offenses.  Most notable is a proposed increase in penalties for people who are convicted of DUI with children in the vehicle.

The specifics of this proposal are not yet known; however other states have made similar proposals that increase the penalties for DUI if anyone in the vehicle, other than the driver, is under the age 16.  The presumption is that the minor does not have the option of not getting into the vehicle with the intoxicated person.

In Washington State you can currently be charged with Reckless Endangerment (in addition to DUI) if you choose to drive intoxicated with another person in the car.  So, the increased penalties for driving with a child in the car would likely be increasing the potential jail time and fines for a DUI charge in addition to any other charges the State decides to file.

If you have any questions about your Seattle DUI case, and are not represented by counsel, please don’t hesitate to call my office at (425) 422-5818 or visit my website at www.washington-dui.com Mark W. Garka

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It’s that time of year again.  The holiday season is upon us, the kids are on break from school, the in-laws are visiting, and Snohomish County has increased their DUI patrols.

Snohomish County’s DUI Target Zero task force increases their presence during the holiday season, specifically in the Lynnwood and Mill Creek areas.  The Lynnwood and Mill Creek area have typically seen the most DUI related collisions, so they also receive the majority of the increased DUI patrol presence.  For more information on the Target Zero Team, see my prior blog post at: http://washington-dui.com/wa-dui-blog/dui-attorney/dui-target-zero-teams-are-on-the-road-consider-yourself-warned/

Over the weekend of December 16^th and 17^th the DUI task force arrested a reported 53 impaired drivers throughout Snohomish County.  This increased number is due in part to the utilization of the Mobile Impaired Driving Unit (MIDU).  The MIDU is a mobile unit that allows the officers to turn the driver arrested for DUI over to the MIDU instead of having to return to the station.  The MIDU then administers the official breath test and possible booking.  The use of the MIDU allows the officers to get back on the street much faster.

With this increased presence of DUI patrols, be safe, and don’t consume alcohol if you are going to get behind the wheel of a vehicle.  The cost of a DUI in Washington State is much more than the cost of cab ride home.

Have you been accused of drunk driving in Snohomish County WA?  You need to contact a Snohomish County WA DUI attorney.  If you are not represented by counsel, please don’t hesitate to call my office at (425) 422-5818 or visit my website at www.washington-dui.com.  Mark W. Garka