If you are facing drunk driving charges, Eastside DUI can help. Our Washington DUI lawyer specializes in driving under the influence defense cases. Our team has over 40 years of combined experience and will help you fight back against accusations. From challenging breathalyzer results to reviewing the validity of the traffic stop, our attorney has the knowledge and skills to build a compelling defense strategy. We offer free initial case reviews and serve all of Western Washington, including Bellevue, Seattle, and the surrounding counties. Don’t wait to get the legal guidance you need.
Cases We Handle
- Drunk Driving Defense
- Marijuana & Drug DUI
- Boating Under The Influence
- Minor DUI
- Physical Control Charges
DUI Lawyer Washington
In Washington state, you can be arrested for driving under the influence if your blood alcohol content is at or above 0.08. Driving erratically or otherwise showing signs of impairment can also lead to an arrest, even if your BAC is below 0.08. Washington has a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving, resulting in an immediate arrest if there is evidence that you consumed any amount of alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
DUI penalties depend on several factors, including your BAC results and your criminal history. For first offenses, you will likely face fines, a 90-day license suspension, and minor jail time or mandated community service. If you have already been convicted of a DUI or DWI, punishments can be more severe. High BAC results, usually over 0.15, are considered egregious.
Immediately after you are arrested, your license will be suspended. You can request an administrative hearing within 7 days to challenge it. If you are convicted, your license will be suspended again. Our Washington DUI lawyer will guide you through this process and advocate for you to keep your driving privileges. Depending on the circumstances of your case, we may be able to help you secure a restricted license that allows you to drive to specific locations like work. It is likely you will be instructed to install an ignition interlock device.
It is important to recognize that an arrest does not guarantee a conviction. Hiring our drunk driving defense lawyer right away increases your chances of a dismissal or getting your charges reduced. We develop personalized defense strategies based on evidence and fact. For example, we may argue that the breathalyzer results were inaccurate because of poor calibration or that the traffic stop was conducted illegally. Our lawyers will work with you to reach your goals and get the best possible result in your case.
Why Experience Matters In DUI Cases
A DUI goes on your criminal record, which means that it will show up in background checks. This could affect your ability to get a job or housing. There are other consequences to consider, like fines, jail time, and the suspension of your license. All of these factors impact your future, and our DUI attorneys take this responsibility seriously.
Attorney Roberto Yranela has been defending clients in DUI cases for over 15 years. Unlike other criminal defense law firms that offer representation for all misdemeanors and felonies, our team specializes in traffic violations. That means we bring in-depth knowledge and invaluable experience to every case we take on.
Those accused of drunk driving in Bellevue, Seattle, and throughout Western Washington choose our legal services for defense representation because:
- We have 4 decades of combined experience.
- We have won thousands of cases.
- We offer cost-effective representation and transparent pricing, starting at $3,500.
- Initial consultations are free and confidential.
Types of DUI Cases Our Attorney Handles
Our Bellevue DUI attorney can assist with a variety of DUI related-matters.
First Offense DUI
A first DUI arrest is frightening, but it doesn’t have to derail your life. Washington treats first offenses seriously, and DUI penalties can include mandatory fines, license suspension, and the installation of an ignition interlock device. DUI jail time is possible even for first-time offenders, particularly if your BAC was elevated or the stop involved an accident. DUI sentencing for a first offense typically includes 1 to 364 days in jail, though judges often suspend most of that time in favor of probation and community service. The real concern for many clients is the lasting impact—a conviction stays on your record for life in Washington. Our attorneys have helped thousands of first-time offenders minimize consequences or beat charges entirely. Acting quickly matters. Call us before your arraignment.
DUI Trial Cases
Not every DUI case ends in a plea deal. Some go to trial, and if yours does, you need a lawyer who has actually tried these cases before a judge and jury. The DUI court process begins at your DUI arraignment, where you enter a plea. From there, a DUI pretrial conference gives both sides a chance to negotiate or prepare for what comes next. If no agreement is reached, you proceed to a DUI trial—either a DUI bench trial decided by a judge or a DUI jury trial decided by twelve citizens. The DUI case timeline varies, but most cases resolve within three to six months. Washington’s DUI statute of limitations is two years for misdemeanors, so prosecutors rarely rush. The DUI fine amount depends on your history and circumstances, but fines alone can exceed $5,000. We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial.
Repeat Offense DUI
Washington increases penalties dramatically for drivers with prior convictions. A second offense DUI within seven years carries mandatory jail time—typically 30 to 364 days—and longer license suspensions. A third offense DUI pushes you into felony territory, with penalties including state prison. Courts view a repeat DUI offender as a public safety risk, and prosecutors pursue these cases aggressively. Felony DUI charges can result from a fourth offense within ten years, or from a prior vehicular assault or vehicular homicide conviction. The stakes are different when you’ve been through this before. Judges are less forgiving. Prosecutors won’t budge easily. You need a defense attorney who knows how to challenge the state’s case and fight for alternatives to incarceration. We’ve represented hundreds of repeat offenders throughout Western Washington.
High BAC Offenses
Washington law treats elevated BAC levels as aggravating factors that increase penalties across the board. A DUI over .08 BAC is the baseline offense, but a high BAC DUI—typically .15 or above—triggers enhanced mandatory minimums. A DUI over .15 BAC means longer jail sentences, higher fines, and extended license suspensions. A DUI over .20 BAC is treated even more harshly, often resulting in maximum penalties for a first offense that rival what repeat offenders face. Prosecutors use these numbers to paint defendants as reckless. But breathalyzer machines aren’t infallible. Calibration errors, improper administration, and medical conditions can all produce artificially inflated readings. Our attorneys scrutinize the testing process in every high BAC case we take. A number on a machine doesn’t tell the whole story.
Testing And Refusal Cases
You have the right to refuse chemical testing in Washington, but that refusal carries automatic consequences. A breath test refusal DUI or blood test refusal DUI triggers an administrative license suspension regardless of whether you’re ever convicted. Prosecutors also use the fact that you refused breathalyzer testing as evidence of guilt—arguing that innocent people don’t refuse. But there are legitimate reasons to decline testing, and refusal cases are defensible. On the other side, many clients come to us after a failed breathalyzer or failed field sobriety test convinced their case is hopeless. It isn’t. Breathalyzer accuracy challenge defenses focus on machine calibration, operator error, and physiological factors that skew results. Field sobriety tests are subjective and frequently administered incorrectly. We analyze every detail of your stop and testing process.
License And Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Cases
Losing your ability to drive affects everything—work, childcare, medical appointments. A DUI license suspension begins immediately upon arrest in Washington, before you’re ever convicted. You have only seven days to request a hearing to challenge it. If you miss that window, the suspension stands. Our attorneys help clients navigate this administrative process and fight to preserve driving privileges. Many DUI cases also involve an ignition interlock device requirement. These devices prevent your vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on your breath. They’re expensive, inconvenient, and come with strict compliance rules. An IID violation—blowing a positive reading, missing a calibration appointment, or attempting to tamper with the device—can extend your requirement or result in new charges. We represent clients in both suspension hearings and IID violation cases.
Drug Related DUIs
Alcohol isn’t the only substance that leads to DUI charges in Washington. A marijuana DUI or cannabis DUI can result from testing above 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood, even if you didn’t feel impaired. Washington’s legal cannabis market has created confusion—many drivers assume that legal use means legal driving. It doesn’t. Prescription medications create similar problems. A prescription drug DUI for a Xanax DUI or opioid DUI can occur even when you’re taking medication exactly as directed by your doctor. Prosecutors don’t care about your prescription; they care about impairment. Drug DUI cases are harder to prove than alcohol cases because impairment is more subjective and testing is less reliable. Our attorneys challenge the state’s evidence aggressively, questioning blood draw procedures, lab protocols, and the arresting officer’s observations.
Boating DUIs
Washington’s waterways attract millions of boaters every year, and law enforcement patrols them heavily during summer months. A boating DUI carries penalties similar to a standard DUI—fines, jail time, and a criminal record—but the enforcement dynamics are different. Coast Guard and local marine units can stop any vessel to conduct safety checks, and these stops often turn into DUI investigations. Boating DUI cases present unique defense opportunities because conditions on the water complicate impairment assessments. Sun exposure, wave motion, fatigue, and dehydration all mimic signs of intoxication. Field sobriety tests designed for solid ground don’t translate well to a rocking boat deck. Our attorneys understand the science behind these cases and challenge the state’s evidence accordingly. Operating a vessel shouldn’t cost you your freedom.
Contact Our Washington DUI Lawyer Today
Don’t face your DUI charge or the legal system alone. Instead, contact Eastside DUI today. Our Washington DUI lawyer will listen to your side of the story and begin strategizing a path forward. When your future is on the line, you want skilled legal guidance, and that is exactly what you will find at our Bellevue traffic law firm.
