Washington State DUI Second Offense

The penalties for a Washington driving under the influence (DUI) second offense are much more serious than for a first offense. If you are currently facing DUI second offense charges, Linda M. Callahan can help. Ms. Callahan has more than a decade of experience in drunk-driving defense and will fight to have your charges reduced or even eliminated.

You may be charged with DUI if your blood or breath alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 or higher when operating a motor vehicle. If your BAC is under 0.15, for a second offense within seven years, the mandatory minimum penalties are lesser than if your BAC is .015 or higher or if you refused the BAC test.

A DUI second offense is classified as a gross misdemeanor offense, and is punishable by jail time, fines, a driver’s license revocation and an ignition interlock deice requirement. If convicted, you could spend a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail and an additional 60 days under house arrest. may be placed on probation for up to five years if found guilty.

In addition, you may be ordered, upon conviction, of paying up to over $8800.00 in fines, costs and assessments, not including up to double the costs of restitution if any one was injured or if property was damaged.

After being convicted of a second DUI offense within seven years of any prior offense, your license or privilege to drive will be revoked for at least two years, or possibly up to three years if you refused the test.  You may also be ordered to complete, at minimum a one day Alcohol Drug Information School, or if recommended by the assessment agency, a more intensive and prolonged course of treatment.

Along with these court-imposed penalties, your personal life could be affected by a second offense DUI charge. Your insurance premiums may be raised, or your insurance company may drop your policy completely. Your DUI charge will also stay on your criminal record forever, and can be seen by third parties. This means every time you apply for a job and go through a background check, your potential employer will see this embarrassing charge.

To begin fighting your DUI second offense charge, contact Callahan Law. Ms. Callahan stays on top of the latest trends in DUI defense—in fact, she has been trained by the manufacturer of the breath test equipment and is one of only a handful of attorneys in the state who owns such equipment.

Contact Callahan Law today to learn more about your pending charges and to receive a free case evaluation.