Underage DUI

A minor DUI criminal charge in Washington State is a serious matter and should be treated as such. It is NOT simply a serious traffic ticket. While it might seem as though a minor DUI is somehow less severe than a regular DUI charge, the truth is that a conviction can be still be extremely detrimental.

A minor DUI conviction will trigger discretionary penalties of up to 90 days in jail, $1,000 fine. Those arrested for an underage DUI are also subject to a separate and independent license suspension under Washington's "Implied Consent" law. And, you only have twenty days from your date of arrest to properly challenge this administrative suspension, which, again, is completely separate and distinct from any criminal charges.

Potentially, however, the worst part of a minor DUI is that it will result in a criminal record - something that can plague a young person who is trying to get started in life. With stakes this high, you want to ensure you are protecting your own legal rights with help from our Washington State DUI attorneys. Our criminal defense attorneys have decades of combined experience successfully attacking driving under the influence cases.

To use an example, consider a young adult who is applying for their first job. Today’s job market is highly competitive, so when an employer reviews potential employees, they commonly conduct background checks. If given the choice between two candidates, one with a criminal record and one without, which do you suppose they will choose?

Indeed, a minor DUI conviction can dramatically alter a person’s life, no matter how insignificant the offense might seem. Our minor DUI lawyers are commonly contacted by young people who have previously plead guilty to a minor DUI charge, only to find out later that it was a huge mistake. Unfortunately, once criminal conviction is entered by the court or a verdict is rendered by a jury, there is little that can be done to reverse it. You must wait until you are eligible to have the criminal offense vacated under Washington State's expungement laws. This takes years.

Don’t make the same mistake. Address your minor DUI with all of the seriousness it deserves, and contact one of our minor DUI attorneys immediately for help. Our firm focuses on drunk driving charges and minor DUI cases, and we will do everything legally possible to keep your future promising.

If you’ve been charged with a minor DUI, you are probably concerned about losing your driving privileges. Because a negative result at your Washington State Department of Licensing administrative hearing will lead to an automatic driver’s license suspension, our DUI attorneys consider this to be one of our most important obstacles to properly confront and challenge. And, our criminal attorneys fight this suspension in every case as part of our flat fee.

Again, you only have 20 days from the time of your arrest to request an administrative hearing where the fate of your driving privileges will ultimately be determined. Preparation for this hearing requires time to conduct an effective investigation of your case, so you need to give our DUI lawyers as much leeway as possible. If you neglect to request an administrative hearing, your license will almost always be suspended, requiring you to purchase expensive SR-22 (high risk) auto insurance.

You can talk to one of our Washington State DUI and criminal defense lawyers today about your case with no risk or monetary obligation. Protecting your future starts with a free case evaluation, where you can start getting some concrete information about the law and how you might aggressively defend your interests in court.

If you choose to retain a member of our experienced DUI and criminal defense defense legal team, they will actively pursue keeping you validly licensed and work to prevent you from acquiring a criminal record.

Your future is at stake. Don’t let a minor DUI conviction place a blemish on your reputation. Contact us today and get help from qualified professionals with real legal experience.