by cooneylaw | Feb 22, 2022 | Criminal Defense, DUI
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...
by cooneylaw | Feb 15, 2022 | Criminal Defense, 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...
by cooneylaw | Jan 4, 2022 | Criminal Defense, DUI
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...
by cooneylaw | Nov 9, 2021 | Criminal Defense, DUI
Roadside DUI tests or Field Sobriety Tests (FST’s) are supposed to be voluntary. Even if you refuse them, law enforcement can still arrest you for DUI if they observe other signs of alcohol or drug impairment. Recently, a high profile Spokane Resident was arrested for...
by cooneylaw | Oct 13, 2020 | Criminal Defense, DUI
There’s a panic moment anytime you’re driving and see emergency lights directly behind you. If you get pulled over and the officer has any hint that you’ve been drinking or consuming drugs, even prescription medications, then there will be a DUI investigation. In...
by cooneylaw | Aug 25, 2020 | Criminal Defense
We all know road rage when we see it: extreme or prolonged tailgating, dangerous weaving in and out of traffic or even a driver aggressively using their horn, yelling and shaking their fist at another driver. A Spokane news article described some folks involved in a...
by cooneylaw | May 26, 2020 | Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence
Stay-home and shelter-in-place orders can create stress between spouses and domestic partners. Disputes can arise over changing finances, home-schooled children and even interruptions to hobbies and other enjoyable activities. Spokane County already has one of the...
by cooneylaw | Mar 24, 2020 | Criminal Defense
Gun rights will be revoked in Washington State when a person is convicted of a felony crime or certain domestic violence misdemeanor crimes. Washington State law allows some people who have been convicted of these types of charges to restore their right to possess a...
by cooneylaw | Nov 15, 2019 | Criminal Defense
In Washington, much like many other states in the country, it’s only possible for an individual to purchase a firearm through a licensed dealer. Any prospective buyer must successfully pass a background check before being allowed to buy a gun. All retailers must...
by cooneylaw | Oct 15, 2019 | Criminal Defense
On July 28, 2019, the New Hope Act altered the laws in Washington State that allow people convicted of crimes to vacate those convictions. Details on this new law and the actual text can be found here. So what does this act change? If you have been convicted of a...
