Spokane Attorney Alan H. Green recently prevailed on behalf of a client in a contested hearing against the Washington Department of Licensing and succeeded in protecting that client’s drivers license from being suspended.
If you are pulled over for a DUI in the state of Washington, there are actually two separate matters that you will have to deal with. Obviously, there are the criminal proceedings you will have to face to determine if you are guilty of driving while under the influence. There is also a second proceeding, however, that people sometimes forget about – the DOL hearing. If you refuse to provide a breath sample to the police, or if you do provide a breath sample and it exceeds the legal limit of .08, then the DOL automatically suspends your drivers license for 90 days, regardless of whether you are convicted of DUI or not.
It is very difficult to prevail in the DOL hearing. Only approximately 20% of DOL hearings are won by the defendant. That is why it is important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney representing you at the hearing. At the recent DOL hearing won by Alan Green, he successfully presented an argument regarding technical probable cause issues and certain deficiencies in the evidence presented by the DOL. This argument resulted in a favorable ruling by the DOL hearing officer, and no administrative suspension had to be endured by his client.
Regardless of the actual criminal case, do not forget to focus on the DOL hearing. Different issues apply, and you may be able to prevail, even if the facts are not necessarily in your favor. Contact The Green Law Office, PLLC to ensure that your rights are protected.
