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Spokane Law Blog
May is Motorcycle Safety Month
Motorcycle safety is particularly important as winter turns to spring and riding season fires up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association reports motorcyclists are 29 times more likely to die in a collision than those in passenger vehicles. Let’s commit to...
Protecting Against Uninsured Drivers
Car accidents involving uninsured and underinsured motorists are a serious problem in Spokane and throughout Washington State. Drivers are required to purchase automobile liability insurance by law, with only a handful of exceptions. Despite this requirement the...
Why do most crashes happen close to home?
Have you ever heard someone say that most car accidents happen close to home? You may find this a bit surprising. It’s easy to assume that more accidents would occur farther from home while traveling on unfamiliar roads than while driving on the neighborhood streets...
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the good news is that in 2021 Washington State’s distracted driving rate dropped to 6.9 percent. That’s a significant drop from 2020. The bad news is that drop only puts us back to 2019 levels so increasing awareness is...
Reducing Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents increase every spring as the weather in Spokane warms up. Drivers just aren’t used to sharing the roads, yet. Both children and adults are getting outside for a stroll and riding their bikes around neighborhoods and parks leading to...
What is a DUI First Appearance?
A DUI charge In Spokane, Washington will normally lead to a First Appearance court hearing within a few weeks of the arrest. During this hearing the judge will recite your constitutional rights and the potential consequences of a DUI conviction, which may include jail...
One DUI Charge. Two Separate Cases
A Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge in Spokane or anywhere in Washington State will most likely lead to two separate cases: a criminal DUI charge in court and a separate Department of Licensing (DOL) administrative case. These truly are two different and...
What are the penalties for a First DUI?
DUI convictions have a wide range of penalties. Everyone accused of a DUI in Washington State is at risk of: Jail time, Fines, fees and court costs, Loss of driver license, Installing the ignition interlock device, Paying high automobile insurance rates, Attendance at...
What does First Offense DUI Mean?
Most DUI’s in Washington State are misdemeanors and have a 7 year look back period to determine whether it’s a first offense. An old DUI or Physical Control arrest might count as a prior offense or “sentence enhancer” for a new DUI arrest if the old arrest occurred...
DUI Arrests During the Holidays
Historically, DUI arrests are higher during the holiday season than other months. Many people take time off from work around the holidays. They might have an extra drink with dinner or while watching their favorite sports team. Others might travel to their childhood...