The clock started ticking the moment you were arrested. Washington gives you exactly 20 days to challenge your license suspension—miss that deadline, and your driving privileges disappear automatically, regardless of what happens in your criminal case. Most people don’t even know this deadline exists until it’s too late.
License suspension operates on a separate track from criminal prosecution. The Department of Licensing doesn’t wait for court outcomes. They don’t care whether you’re ultimately convicted or acquitted. If you tested at or above 0.08% or refused testing, administrative suspension begins 60 days after arrest unless you request a hearing and prevail.
Losing your license reshapes daily life in ways people don’t anticipate until it happens. Getting to work. Picking up children. Medical appointments. Grocery shopping. Everything requiring transportation becomes a logistical problem—for 90 days, a year, or longer depending on your circumstances.
Eastside DUI has fought license suspensions in King County for 15 years. Our attorneys—Roberto Yranela, Matthew Skau, and Robin Tu—file DOL hearing requests immediately upon taking cases, then mount aggressive challenges to protect driving privileges. A Bellevue, WA DUI lawyer from our firm can act fast to preserve your ability to drive while building your criminal defense.
Contact us for a free consultation—before the 20 days expire.
Why Choose Eastside DUI For License Suspension Defense In Bellevue, WA?
We Understand the Urgency
Twenty days isn’t much time. Many defendants spend the first week processing what happened. By the time they start looking for attorneys, half the window has closed. We prioritize DOL hearing requests the moment clients engage us—often filing within 24 hours. That urgency protects options that disappear permanently once deadlines pass.
A Bellevue DUI license suspension attorney who treats the administrative case as seriously as the criminal case understands that keeping you on the road matters. Jobs depend on driving. Families depend on transportation. The DOL hearing isn’t a formality—it’s a critical opportunity to preserve your mobility.
Roberto Yranela has represented clients at DOL hearings since 2013. He knows which challenges succeed, what evidence to request, and how to present arguments that hearing officers actually consider. His undergraduate degrees from the University of Washington and J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law prepared him for advocacy across multiple forums—criminal court and administrative proceedings alike.
Recognized DUI Defense Practice
Super Lawyers recognized Roberto Yranela as Top 40 Under 40 for DUI defense. Avvo granted him Client’s Choice honors. The National Trial Lawyers named him to their Top 40 Under 40. When you need a DUI attorney in Bellevue who fights both the criminal charge and the administrative suspension with equal intensity, our credentials reflect that dual-track experience.
Coordinated Defense Strategy
Arguments that work at DOL hearings often apply in criminal court too. Challenges to the traffic stop, questions about breath test administration, disputes over officer conduct—these issues cross both proceedings. We develop unified strategy that maximizes your chances in both forums rather than treating them as unrelated cases.
What Our Clients Say
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “It was easy working with Roberto! Our appointment was quick, he kept me informed of what he needed from me and followed up immediately as well. He took care of everything smoothly and was able to dismiss my traffic ticket. I highly recommend Roberto and I will be using him again if ever needed!” – Ashley Wadsworth
Types Of DUI License Suspension Cases We Handle In Bellevue
License suspension consequences vary based on circumstances and history. Our DUI defense attorneys handle every variation.
- First offense suspension. Testing at or above 0.08% triggers 90-day administrative suspension for first offenders. A Bellevue DUI lawyer challenges the basis for suspension at the DOL hearing—potentially preserving full driving privileges or securing an occupational/restricted license.
- Refusal-based suspension. Refusing breath or blood testing triggers one-year suspension for first refusal, two years for subsequent refusals within seven years. Knowing your rights after arrest includes understanding that refusal carries administrative consequences separate from criminal penalties.
- Repeat offense suspension. Second DUI within seven years means two-year license revocation. The third offense means three years. These extended periods demand aggressive defense—both challenging the current suspension and examining whether prior offenses actually qualify for enhancement.
- High BAC suspension. Testing at 0.15% or above doesn’t change the administrative suspension length, but it affects ignition interlock requirements and may indicate cases where challenging breathalyzer results could reduce exposure on multiple fronts.
- Commercial driver suspensions. CDL holders face career-threatening consequences—lower BAC thresholds, longer disqualification periods, and potential permanent CDL revocation for repeat offenses. The stakes extend far beyond personal convenience.
- Underage driver suspensions. Drivers under 21 face suspension at 0.02% BAC—essentially any detectable alcohol. Different rules and different consequences require tailored defense approaches.
Washington Legal Requirements For DUI License Suspension
Washington’s administrative license suspension system operates independently from criminal courts. Understanding its requirements reveals both the threat and the defense opportunities.
Under RCW 46.20.308, the implied consent law, testing at 0.08% BAC or above—or refusing testing—triggers administrative action by the Washington Department of Licensing. This occurs regardless of criminal case outcomes. You can be acquitted of DUI and still lose your license administratively if you don’t challenge the suspension properly.
The 20-day deadline is absolute. Under DOL procedures, you must request a hearing in writing within 20 days of arrest. No extensions. No exceptions. Missing this deadline waives your right to challenge suspension before it takes effect. A DUI lawyer in Bellevue files this request immediately—protecting your right to contest suspension while there’s still time.
Suspension periods under RCW 46.20.3101 vary by circumstance:
First offense, BAC 0.08%+: 90-day suspension First refusal: One-year revocation Second offense within seven years: Two-year revocation Second refusal within seven years: Two-year revocation Third offense within seven years: Three-year revocation
The DOL hearing examines specific issues: whether the officer had reasonable grounds for arrest, whether you were properly advised of implied consent consequences, whether you actually refused or tested at/above the threshold, and whether the test was administered properly. A Bellevue DUI attorney presents challenges on each applicable element.
Strategies For Fighting DUI License Suspension In Bellevue
A Bellevue DUI license suspension lawyer employs specific strategies at DOL hearings and beyond:
- Challenging reasonable grounds for arrest. Officers must have had sufficient basis to believe you were DUI before implied consent obligations attach. If the traffic stop lacked justification, if observations didn’t support DUI suspicion, or if field sobriety tests were improperly administered, the arrest itself may lack reasonable grounds. Our drunk driving defense team scrutinizes everything leading to your arrest.
- Attacking implied consent warnings. Before your refusal or test carries administrative consequences, officers must properly advise you of those consequences. Were warnings read completely and accurately? Were they communicated in a language you understood? Any deficiency in the warning process can invalidate the suspension basis.
- Questioning breath test administration. The same challenges that apply in criminal court apply at DOL hearings. Was the machine properly calibrated? Was the operator certified? Was the 15-minute observation period satisfied? Procedural failures undermine the test result that triggers suspension. Knowing what to avoid saying during your stop matters, but what happened during testing matters for both criminal and administrative cases.
- Disputing the refusal characterization. Not every declined test constitutes legal refusal. Confusion, medical inability, language barriers, or requests for clarification might have been mischaracterized as refusal. We examine exactly what occurred and whether the “refusal” determination was accurate.
- Pursuing restricted or occupational licenses. When suspension cannot be avoided entirely, restricted licenses may preserve essential driving privileges—commuting to work, attending treatment, transporting dependents. We advocate for the least restrictive outcome possible.
- Coordinating with criminal defense. Arguments successful at DOL hearings create precedent for criminal proceedings. Evidence suppressed administratively may be challenged criminally. Working with a DUI defense attorney who handles both proceedings ensures consistent, reinforcing strategy rather than contradictory positions.
Contact Eastside DUI
License suspension transforms daily life. Every trip becomes a problem. Every obligation requiring transportation becomes a burden. And the 20-day deadline to challenge suspension runs whether you’re ready or not. Our Bellevue DUI license suspension lawyers have spent 15 years protecting clients’ driving privileges—filing immediate hearing requests, mounting aggressive DOL challenges, and coordinating administrative defense with criminal case strategy.
We offer free consultations to evaluate your suspension exposure and explain your options. DUI defense fees start at $3,500, and we’re direct about costs from the outset.
The deadline won’t wait. Contact Eastside DUI today.
