If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Bellevue, jail time is probably your biggest concern. Washington law mandates minimum jail sentences for DUI convictions, and prosecutors push for even more. But mandatory doesn’t mean inevitable—and minimums don’t have to become maximums.
At Eastside DUI, we’ve spent 15 years helping clients avoid jail or minimize the time they serve. Our attorneys—Roberto Yranela, Matthew Skau, and Robin Tu—understand how to challenge DUI charges before conviction and how to advocate for alternatives when conviction occurs. A Bellevue, WA DUI lawyer from our firm can evaluate your case and build a strategy focused on keeping you out of jail.
Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your options.
Why Choose Eastside DUI To Fight DUI Jail Time In Bellevue, WA?
Focused on Keeping Clients Out of Jail
Every DUI case we handle starts with the same question: what’s the best possible outcome for this client? Often, that means avoiding jail entirely. When that’s not possible, it means pursuing every available alternative—electronic home monitoring, work release, treatment-based sentencing. We don’t accept jail time as a foregone conclusion.
Roberto Yranela founded this firm with a focus on DUI defense. He’s been practicing since 2013, handling DUI cases in Bellevue Municipal Court, King County District Court, and courts throughout the Eastside. He earned his undergraduate degrees in political science and psychology from the University of Washington and his J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law. That background informs how we approach each case—methodically, strategically, and with a clear understanding of what’s at stake for our clients.
Recognized for DUI Defense Results
Results matter more than credentials, but credentials reflect results. Super Lawyers has recognized Roberto Yranela as a Top 40 Under 40 specifically for DUI defense. He’s received the Avvo Client’s Choice award and been named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. When you need a DUI attorney in Bellevue who has demonstrated success in these cases, our record stands up to scrutiny.
A Team That Handles the Details
DUI cases involve multiple moving parts. Criminal proceedings. DOL hearings. Treatment evaluations. Paperwork with strict deadlines. Our team—including attorneys Matthew Skau and Robin Tu—manages all of it so nothing falls through the cracks. You shouldn’t have to worry about missing a filing deadline while you’re trying to keep your job and support your family.
What Our Clients Say
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I received excellent service from Roberto Yranela & Associates! They provided me with great care, and I had a very positive outcome in my case. He provided great customer service, patience, and thoroughness throughout the whole process. I recommend his services to anyone.” – Brook Geleta
Types Of DUI Jail Time Cases We Handle In Bellevue
The potential jail time you face depends on specific factors in your case. Our DUI defense attorneys handle the full spectrum.
- First offense DUI. Washington mandates at least one day in jail for a first DUI conviction, with a maximum of 364 days. But that one day can often be converted to electronic home monitoring, and charges can sometimes be reduced or dismissed before sentencing ever becomes an issue.
- High BAC cases. A BAC of 0.15% or higher increases the mandatory minimum to two days in jail. The higher your BAC, the more jail time prosecutors typically seek. These cases require aggressive defense focused on challenging the accuracy of breath or blood tests.
- Second offense DUI. A second conviction within seven years carries a mandatory minimum of 30 days. That’s a month away from your family, your job, your life. The stakes demand a defense strategy that explores every possible avenue for avoiding conviction or reducing the charge.
- Third offense DUI. Third convictions require at least 90 days in jail. At this level, prosecutors and judges view defendants as repeat offenders who haven’t learned from prior consequences. Effective defense requires addressing that perception head-on.
- Felony DUI. A fourth DUI within ten years—or any DUI that causes serious bodily injury—becomes a Class B felony. Felony DUI carries potential prison time, not just county jail. The defense approach changes significantly when prison is on the table.
- DUI with accident or injury. Even a first offense can result in substantial jail time if it involves an accident, especially one causing injury. Prosecutors treat these cases more seriously, and judges impose harsher sentences.
Washington Legal Requirements For DUI Jail Time
Washington’s mandatory minimum jail sentences for DUI are spelled out in RCW 46.61.5055. The statute creates a grid based on prior offenses and BAC level.
For first offenses with BAC under 0.15%: minimum 1 day, maximum 364 days. For first offenses with BAC at or above 0.15%: minimum 2 days, maximum 364 days. If you refused the breath test, the minimum jumps to 2 days regardless of BAC.
Second offenses within seven years: minimum 30 days (45 days if BAC was 0.15% or higher or if you refused testing). Third offenses: minimum 90 days (120 days with high BAC or refusal).
These are floors, not ceilings. Judges can impose sentences anywhere up to the maximum based on aggravating factors. A Bellevue DUI lawyer works to keep your sentence as close to the minimum as possible—or to avoid conviction altogether.
The Washington State Legislature has modified these penalties over the years, generally making them stricter. Current law also requires the Washington Department of Licensing to impose administrative penalties—including license suspension—separate from any criminal sentence. Understanding how these systems interact is essential for effective defense.
Knowing your rights after arrest helps protect your options from the start. What you say and do in the hours after a DUI arrest can significantly impact your exposure to jail time down the road.
Strategies To Avoid Or Reduce DUI Jail Time
A Bellevue DUI jail time lawyer pursues multiple strategies depending on the specifics of your case. The goal is always the same: minimize or eliminate incarceration.
Challenging the Stop and Arrest
Police need reasonable suspicion to pull you over and probable cause to arrest you. If the traffic stop was improper—no valid reason for the stop, no actual signs of impairment—the entire case may be subject to suppression. Evidence obtained through an illegal stop can’t be used against you. Without that evidence, the prosecution often can’t proceed.
Attacking the BAC Evidence
Breathalyzer machines require proper calibration and maintenance. Blood draws must follow specific protocols. Chain of custody matters. Challenging breathalyzer results or blood test accuracy can undermine the prosecution’s case entirely. Even if it doesn’t result in dismissal, reasonable doubt about BAC evidence gives leverage for negotiating reduced charges.
Negotiating Reduced Charges
A DUI can sometimes be reduced to reckless driving or negligent driving. These lesser charges may carry no mandatory jail time at all. Prosecutors consider the strength of their evidence, your prior record, and the circumstances of the arrest when deciding whether to offer a reduction. Presenting a compelling case for reduction requires preparation and credibility. Knowing what to avoid saying during your initial stop helps preserve this option.
Pursuing Deferred Prosecution
Washington’s deferred prosecution program under RCW 10.05 allows eligible first-time offenders to enter treatment instead of facing trial and sentencing. It’s not easy—two years of treatment, five years of probation, strict compliance requirements. But successful completion means dismissed charges and no conviction. No conviction means no jail time.
Advocating for Alternatives at Sentencing
When conviction occurs, sentencing advocacy becomes critical. Electronic home monitoring can substitute for jail in many first-offense cases. Work release allows defendants to maintain employment while serving their sentence during non-working hours. A DUI lawyer in Bellevue who understands these alternatives—and knows how to argue for them effectively—can make a substantial difference in the outcome.
What Affects DUI Jail Sentences In Washington
Judges consider multiple factors when determining how much jail time to impose. A Bellevue DUI jail time attorney addresses each of these in building your defense and preparing for sentencing.
Your BAC Level
Higher BAC means higher risk on the road—at least in the court’s view. Judges impose longer sentences for BAC levels well above the legal limit. But BAC evidence isn’t always reliable. Breath tests have known error rates. Blood tests can be compromised by improper handling. Our DWI defense team scrutinizes this evidence in every case.
Prior DUI History
Second and third offenses trigger dramatically higher mandatory minimums. Judges also view repeat offenders less favorably when exercising discretion within the sentencing range. If you have prior DUIs, the defense strategy must account for that reality while still pursuing every available option.
Aggravating Circumstances
Certain factors push sentences higher: causing an accident, having a child in the vehicle, excessive speed, refusing to cooperate with officers. Prosecutors highlight these factors. Effective defense requires acknowledging them while presenting context and mitigation.
Mitigating Circumstances
Factors that support leniency include a clean prior record, stable employment, family responsibilities, voluntary treatment enrollment, and genuine remorse. How these factors are presented matters as much as the factors themselves. Judges have seen countless defendants express regret. What distinguishes your case?
Pre-Sentencing Conduct
What you do between arrest and sentencing influences the outcome. Completing an alcohol evaluation. Starting treatment. Attending support meetings. Installing an ignition interlock voluntarily. These actions demonstrate that you take the situation seriously—and they give the judge a reason to impose a lighter sentence. Working with a Bellevue DUI attorney early allows time to take these steps before your sentencing hearing.
Contact Eastside DUI
Jail time changes everything. Your job. Your family. Your freedom. Our Bellevue DUI jail time attorneys have spent 15 years fighting to keep clients out of jail—or to minimize the time they serve when incarceration can’t be avoided entirely.
We offer free consultations to review your case and explain your realistic options. DUI defense fees start at $3,500, and we’re transparent about costs before you commit to anything.
The sooner you have a drunk driving defense attorney working on your case, the more options you preserve. Contact Eastside DUI today.
