The charges for a DUI in Seattle Washington are among the stiffest in the nation. If stopped for drunk driving, hiring an attorney is the right course of action in most cases. Efficient legal representation gives an opportunity to have a DUI arrest brought down to a lesser charge. A conviction may lead to hefty penalties and even jail time.

Punishment can be hard if the prior DUI resulted in a plea bargained lesser charge within the past seven years. In Washington state law, the judge may consider all aspects of the arrest including the past arrest record itself. The judge reviews previous convictions to justify a stiffer sentence on a current DUI arrest.

A plea bargain may have reduced the first DUI arrest to negligent driving, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, etc. Washington State law requires a judge to consider the risk of the driver being on the road by evaluating the previous and current DUI arrest conditions if two or more are within the past seven years. In certain circumstances, the judge is authorized to consider convictions beyond the previous seven years.

A drunk driving attorney in Seattle can help clients avoid jail time if arrested for DUI. The lawyer may request for Electronic Home Detention (EHD). In it, the convict has to wear an ankle or wrist bracelet connected wirelessly to a telephone phone system that is connected to the probation office. A detainee has certain allowed perimeters from the home base at certain times of the day.

For instance five miles during the day for work and errands and 20 yards at night to ensure indoor detention. Violations are automatically recorded. Newer equipment can even recognize voice and have GPS tracking. Electronic Home Detention may at first seem more lenient than jail time; however the length of detention is much longer. Conviction with a day in jail is equivalent to 15 days of EHD. In addition, the detainee pays for the cost of renting the Electronic Home Detention equipment.

Both jail time and Electronic Home Detention can be imposed if the DUI arrest is the second within seven years. Jail time would be thirty days followed by another sixty days with electronic home detention. The equipment is also rented by the detainee to serve as part of the fine imposed in sentencing. Browse here www.seattle-duidefense.com to get further information on EHD from the staff of Raymond Ejarque, a prominent DUI lawyer in Seattle.

Electronic Home Detention may not be an option under certain conditions. In some cases, the court may determine that the detainee is likely to violate the conditions of detention. In a few cases if Electronic Home Detention is not an option, the detainee may be assigned to a work camp. Whatever option is imposed, the judge can sentence up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. It is in the best interest of the DUI offender to hire drunk driving attorney in Seattle. They can use their knowledge of law and legal procedures to obtain relief for the client.