Seattle DUI Defense Lawyers

Drunk Driving Attorney Frequently Asked Questions

When can a person be charged with DUI?

Under Washington law, driving under the influence (DUI) applies to any instance where a person operates a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .08 or higher while under the influence or affected by alcohol or any drug.   

What does BAC mean?

BAC stands for blood alcohol content.  In the state of Washington, if a person’s blood contains .08 percent or higher of alcohol, they are legally intoxicated.  A person’s BAC can be measured by a blood test or breath test, which will reveal the percentage of alcohol present in the bloodstream.

What is a field sobriety test? Can it accurately determine how intoxicated a person is?

Field sobriety tests are among the ways an officer can attempt to collect evidence to use against you in determining whether you are impaired by alcohol consumption.  They are essentially physical agility tests.  With blood or breath testing, certain equipment is needed to perform a BAC test and police officers do not always have these readily available while they are out in the field.  A field sobriety allows an officer to quickly assess whether or not a driver is impaired, and gives them probable cause to make an arrest for DUI and take a driver into custody where a blood or breath test will be performed.  Field sobriety tests are not accurate ways of determining sobriety, but they can indicate impairment, helping the police officer determine whether an arrest needs to be made.     

Are blood and breath tests always accurate?

Of the two tests, blood tests are more accurate, although they are not completely free from error.  The testing equipment can malfunction if it is old, poorly maintained or misused, which can lead to an inaccurate test result.  Other outside factors can also lead to blood and breath tests that aren’t correct, such as pollution, health conditions and mishandling test samples.  If you doubt the accuracy of your blood or breath test, a Seattle DUI defense lawyer can help.

Contact a Seattle DUI Defense Lawyer today if you have further questions about drunk driving charges!