Spokane DUI Charges
How to build an effective case
At the Law Office of Timothy S. Note, PLLC, we understand how intimidating it may seem to face a DUI charge in Washington. The prosecutor uses all the evidence available to him or her to make it seem that you deserve the strongest punishment available.
You can combat the prosecution’s evidence. We understand how the tests available to prove intoxication are unreliable and may not account for certain other impairments. You should understand the penalties you face with for Spokane DUI charges and why you need the assistance of a qualified attorney such as Timothy S. Note.
DUI Defense in Spokane
The crux of many drunken driving prosecutions is the police officer’s observations. He or she will note if you were behaving in a way that made him or her suspect you were impaired.
- Driving very slowly or at uneven speeds
- Crossing the center line of the highway
- Swerving from one side of your lane to the other
- Hesitating while going through a green light
- Running a red light
These actions can be taken to be suspicious behavior and may be cause a police officer to stop you on suspicion of DUI. But the observed behavior can also be explained by the driver being distracted or overly tired.
There are some situations where a driver may appear intoxicated when he or she is not. There are other circumstances that can account for slurred speech, red eyes, or odd behaviors observed by the police during the DUI stop.
- Lack of sleep
- Allergies or irritated contact lenses
- Stress due to personal circumstances
- Nervousness over being stopped by police
- Physical impairments other than intoxication
- Food recently eaten
Chemical breath tests or breathalyzer test
Handheld devices that measure a driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) have become popular in recent years. During a traffic stop, an officer can ask you to submit to a breath test.
Unfortunately, handheld breathalyzer machines are not always accurate. If the machine is not maintained properly nor recently calibrated and tested for accuracy it may produce false results. The results may also be skewed because of food recently consumed or other non-alcoholic products.
The Law Office of Timothy S. Note, PLLC, can subpoena the police records and determine if a faulty piece of equipment, or poorly maintained breathalyzer machine caused your drunk driving arrest.
Call 509-328-8800 if you face Spokane DUI charges.