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    DUI Plea Deals

    What are some plea deals you can get on a Washington State DUI

    If you have been charged with a DUI in Washington State the goal should always be to try and get the charge dismissed. However, if that cannot happen then there is no reason the original charge cannot be reduced. Sometimes it takes a lot of hard work, research, and lots of investigation, but in the end ,there is always a legal issue to raise with the Prosecution when negotiating a DUI case.  That is what separates the great DUI Attorneys from the pretenders.  The ability to do whatever is necessary to get the client the best deal possible.

    There are a couple of things to keep in mind. Unless the DUI charge gets reduced to the traffic ticket or dismissed then it will always count as a prior DUI if you ever get charged with another one. This would increase the penalties for the new DUI charge in Washington State. This list is by no means exhaustive. Seattle DUI Lawyer, Matthew Leyba has worked some creative plea deals in the past throughout the Seattle area and Western Washington that still allowed the client to have the charge dismissed.

    What are the typical penalties for a DUI charge (first offense)

    • Maximum penalties of 1 year in jail and/or $5000 fine
    • 1 or 2 days in jail depending on breath/blood test or 15-30 days of home detention
    • $866 to $1121 fine depending on test
    • 90 day to 2-year license suspension
    • 5 years probation
    • Alcohol/Drug evaluation
    • ADIS class
    • VIP class
    • 1 year Ignition Interlock requirement
    • 3 years of SR-22 insurance

    What are the penalties when a DUI is amended Reckless Driving

    • Maximum penalties of 1 year in jail and/or $5000 fine
    • Usually 0 days jail
    • Usually $250 fine
    • 30-day license suspension
    • No ignition interlock requirement
    • Alcohol/Drug evaluation
    • ADIS class
    • VIP class
    • 2 years stay out of trouble
    • 3 years of SR-22 insurance

    What are the penalties when a DUI is amended Reckless Endangerment

    • Maximum penalties of 1 year in jail and/or $5000 fine
    • Usually 0 days in jail
    • Usually $250 fine
    • No license suspension
    • No Ignition Interlock Requirement
    • Alcohol/Drug evaluation
    • ADIS class
    • VIP class
    • 2 years stay out of trouble
    • No SR-22 insurance

    What are the penalties when a DUI is amended Negligent Driving 1

    • Maximum penalties of 90 days in jail and/or $1000 fine
    • Usually 0 days in jail
    • Usually $250 fine
    • No license suspension
    • No Ignition Interlock requirement
    • Alcohol/Drug evaluation
    • ADIS class
    • VIP class
    • 2 years stay out of trouble
    • No SR22 insurance

    What are the fines when a DUI is amended to Negligent Driving 2

    • This is a traffic infraction
    • Usually $250 fine
    • No SR22 insurance
    • Not a criminal conviction!

    In addition to the above-mentioned plea deals, sometimes other more creative plea deals can be worked on a client’s behalf including the following:

    What is a Deferred Sentence on a DUI charge

    A deferred sentence is basically where a person would plead guilty to the charge, and the Judge would defer the sentence (not impose a sentence) for a period of time. If after that period of time no new charges have arisen, and all conditions of the sentence have been completed. Then the guilty plea can be withdrawn and the Judge would move to dismiss the criminal charge upon motion by the Defense. The purpose of this would be to get the charge dismissed at the end of the period and also to keep a criminal record free from any convictions.

    What happens when a DUI is dismissed and refiled to a lesser offense

    Another possible plea deal is where the Prosecution would agree to dismiss the DUI outright and file the charge as a lesser offense, for example to Negligent Driving 1. The purpose of this would be to prevent the original charge of DUI counting as a prior DUI offense if another DUI arrest occurred.  In addition, this type of plea deal would be easier to get removed off a criminal record, rather than the traditional amendment from a DUI.  Not many Seattle DUI Lawyers are aware of this option and it takes much negotiation to pull it off, but it can happen.

    Get in touch with our seasoned legal team to know more, contact us today by filling out our online contact form.

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