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Spokane Law Blog
Reducing Pedestrian and Bicycle Collisions
Pedestrian and bicycle collisions increase every spring as our Spokane weather warms up. Children are out riding bicycles and families take an evening stroll around their neighborhood. Many drivers are still in a “winter mindset” and aren’t used to looking for folks...
Have you been offered a Severance Agreement?
Severance Agreements are sometimes offered when an employee is leaving their job. These are contracts outlining the employee and employer’s rights and responsibilities at the end of an employment relationship. They will state the severance pay the employee will...
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. There were about 800 traffic fatalities in 2023 in Washington State and too many were the result of distracted driving. Modern technology has given us amazing tools, like built–in touch screens and cell phones. All these...
Nondisclosure Agreement Laws Are Evolving
By 2022 Nondisclosure Agreements and Non-disparagement Agreements had become common tools in many Washington State employment settings. A Nondisclosure Agreement is a contract, usually between an employer and an employee. They typically require certain information to...
Are Baby DUI’s and Adult DUI’s the Same?
Baby DUI refers to the criminal charge of Driver Under Twenty-one Consuming Alcohol or Marijuana. This is a different charge from an adult DUI and the consequences can be different, too. Those facing a Baby DUI still have to fight two separate cases: a court case and...
Power of Attorney: Do I Need One?
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a document that allows someone you designate to act on your behalf. These should be part of every adult’s estate plan. A POA can help reduce stress when unforeseen problems pop up. For individuals, there are two main types of POA’s: a...
DUI’s and Legal Limits for Alcohol
Washington State DUI law sets the legal limit for alcohol at .08 if you’re 21 or older. There is talk in Olympia about lowering this limit. Setting a legal limit implies drivers can legally drive with some amount of alcohol in their body, but it can be confusing....
Spike in Pedestrian vs. Vehicle Collisions
Pedestrians struck by motor vehicles climbed nearly 40% in Spokane in 2023. Excessive speed and distracted driving are among the most common causes for these accidents. In addition to driver’s slowing down and paying attention, there are plenty of things both drivers...
Determining DUI Offense Level: Step Two
Folks accused of one DUI often face another later in life. An old DUI arrest within the past seven years will most likely count as a prior offense sentence enhancer, but you must analyze both the date and court resolution to be sure. In a prior blog post we addressed...
Determining DUI Offense Level: Step One
Washington State DUI laws set mandatory minimum penalties for convictions, including higher penalties if there are priors within 7 years. To determine whether a misdemeanor DUI is a first, second or third offense you must look at the dates of other DUI arrests, dates...