Bonney Lake DUI

Our team of Pierce County criminal defense attorneys has over 50 combined years of experience handling criminal cases in Washington state. What does this mean for your DUI case in Bonney Lake?

Well, for starters, it means you can trust our professional judgment when discussing your case. We’ve worked with many clients on DUI cases just like yours, but we always strive to make each client feel as though they are the only case we have. Our goal is to answer any questions you may have, such as

• What is the punishment if convicted of a DUI in Pierce County?
• What should I do if I’m pulled over for a DUI in Bonney Lake?
• Do I need a lawyer to fight DUI charges in Pierce County?
• Does marijuana impairment have a separate charge from a DUI in Washington state?

And we’ll always keep you in the loop about the progress we’ve made in your case, and what the next steps will be going forward. Our Pierce County DUI attorneys believe that every client deserves a solid, knowledgeable DUI defense, and to achieve that goal we work together with every client through every step of the criminal court process.

This website was designed to provide you with a general education on DUI laws in Pierce County. This information is not meant to be legal advice and is not a substitution for speaking with a legal professional. We offer no-cost case evaluations to each prospective client so that we can get to know the specifics of your case, and you can learn more about how our Bonney Lake DUI attorneys can help you.

Washington State Statute RCW 46.61.50 defines Driving Under the Influence (DUI) as

(1) A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, marijuana, or any drug if the person drives a vehicle within this state: (a) And the person has, within two hours after driving, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher as shown by analysis of the person's breath or blood ….or
(b) The person has, within two hours after driving, a THC concentration of 5.00 or higher as shown by analysis of the person's blood …. or
(c) While the person is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor, marijuana, or any drug; or
(d) While the person is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor, marijuana, and any drug.

As you can see in section A, Washington state’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is .08, and in section B the THC concentration limit is 5.00. That means that DUI laws apply to intoxication by alcohol or marijuana.

Sections C and D further explain that it is also a crime to consume any amount of alcohol, marijuana, or intoxicating drug that impairs your ability to operate a motor vehicle regardless of the concentration in your blood.

Keep in mind that not all DUI cases are “regular DUI” cases. For example, if there is a child in the car with a DUI driver, that is much more serious. If the driver holds a commercial driver's license (CDL) or if they are under the legal drinking age of 21, then those are not considered regular DUI’s. If you have a prior conviction(s) for DUI that is not yet ten years old that is more serious. Many factors can quickly make a DUI more serious or more complicated than a typical DUI.

Knowing the law isn’t enough. When you choose a lawyer to trust with the defense of your Bonney Lake DUI charge, make sure it's an experienced Pierce County criminal defense attorney. You deserve someone who has knowledge and experience in the field of DUI defense, with a proven track record of success handling Pierce County DUI charges.

DUI convictions in Washington state have serious and costly consequences that can impact your life for years to come if your defense is not handled properly. Far too often, people charged with a DUI in Bonney Lake make the mistake of not hiring an attorney, thinking that they can save some money by trying to defend themselves. However, it’s important to note that even seasoned attorneys won’t represent themselves in court. There is even a popular quote attributed to this situation that says “the man who represents himself has a fool for a client.”

Simply put, not hiring an experienced Bonney Lake DUI attorney may save you some costs during your trial, but it’s almost guaranteed to cost you more in the long run.

Listed below are some of the punishments for a DUI conviction in Pierce County.

First Offense DUI punishments include:

• A fine between $800-$5,000
• 1 to 364 days in jail
• Minimum of 90 days license suspension
• Ignition Interlock Device (IID) for one year
• Up to five years probation

Second Offense DUI punishments include:

• Fines between $1,000-$5,000
• 30-364 days in jail
• Electric Home monitoring (EHM) for 60-90 days
• Minimum 2 years license suspension
• Five years of IID
• Five years of Probation

Third Offense DUI punishments include:

• Fines between $1800-$5,000
• 90-364 days in jail
• EHM for 120 days
• Minimum 3 years license suspension
• 10 years of IID
• Five years of probation

As you can see, the severity of the punishments increases exponentially as the number of prior DUI convictions are considered.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree DUI charges listed above are considered gross misdemeanor charges. All gross misdemeanor DUI charges will be adjudicated at the Pierce County District Court, located in Tacoma.


Under certain circumstances, a Washington State DUI is a felony, which is more serious than a gross misdemeanor charge and carries heavier punishments. In Pierce County, a DUI will be charged as a felony if

• You have four or more prior DUI related offenses within 10 years
• You have a previous conviction for vehicular assault or vehicular homicide while under the influence
• You already have a previous felony DUI conviction.

All felony DUIs charged in Bonney Lake will be adjudicated at the Pierce County Superior Court, which is also located in downtown Tacoma.

Make no mistake, the Washington state criminal justice system is very serious about DUI cases. You need an experienced Bonney Lake DUI Attorney on your side who regularly practices DUI law, and can help mitigate the effects of your case.

Every single DUI is unique. Each case has different facts that may be used to help get you a positive result. Our Bonney Lake criminal defense attorneys have handled hundreds of DUIs throughout Pierce County, so we have what it takes to help you or your loved one get through this difficult time.

When you contact our Bonney Lake DUI attorneys for your free case consultation, our team of experienced legal professionals will carefully consider all aspects of your case and evaluate several potential approaches to determine which defense will give you the best possible outcome.

A DUI charge in Bonney Lake doesn’t have to mean a conviction. To set up your free case evaluation with one of our Pierce County DUI defense attorneys, contact our firm today.