You should consult with an experienced Kent defense attorney as soon as possible, before your court date. The penalties for a DUI conviction in Kent are increasingly harsh and include license suspension, jail time, fines and monetary fees, ignition interlock requirements, and SR-22 insurance requirements. Although the Kent Prosecutor’s Office may take weeks to file your DUI case, remember that the Department of Licensing (DOL) plans to suspend your license 30 days following your arrest – regardless of whether you’ve yet been charged – and you face automatic suspension unless you request a hearing within 7 days.
If you face a DUI charge in Kent, it is essential that you speak with a DUI lawyer who understands the current state of Kent and Washington DUI law as well as the customs of its courts. The Kent bench has rulings on the admissibility of breath tests and refusal evidence that may differ from those in other courts, which in turn benefit your case. You need an attorney who is familiar with these rulings, and up to date with breath test admissibility in King County as well as other area courts.
You also need a DUI attorney who understands how the new Draeger breath test equipment works, and how to attack its reliability.
A strong DUI attorney must also be a skilled and experienced trial attorney. There is simply no way to develop the ability to attack the Government’s BAC witnesses (BAC technicians and state toxicologists) without trial experience.