My Philosophy Is to Fight a DUI
Washington has some of the strictest drunk driving laws in the country. There are mandatory penalties even for a first offense.
My philosophy is to fight these charges. You don't need an attorney to help you plead guilty — if you do, the judge may give the mandatory minimum (or worse). If we can't negotiate a reduction of the charges, I am absolutely prepared to go to trial for you.
My name is Les Tolzin, and I have practiced in criminal defense for 18 years. I take cases in Tacoma and throughout Pierce, Thurston and King Counties. Call me at 253-274-9441 for a free consultation.
Experienced Tacoma DUI Defense Lawyer
I have been successful in challenging the evidence to beat DUIs or to limit the consequences. I will represent you in the criminal case as well as the administrative license suspension hearing. I will seek positive results in the cases that other attorneys may not want to take, such as a case where the accused has a BAC of .20 or higher.
A first-time DUI conviction probably means 90-day loss of license, alcohol evaluation/treatment, a victim impact panel, probation and costs and assessments. If you have a prior DUI, a probation violation or drive on a suspended license, there may be mandatory jail and you may need to install an ignition interlock in your vehicle when you get your license back.
I have had advanced training in DUI defense and forensics, and I use this training to challenge every aspect of a DUI charge:
- Was there probable cause to pull you over? If the officer didn't have a solid basis, the whole case against you may be compromised.
- Did the officer conduct field sobriety tests in accordance with the NTSA guidelines? (For example, the Walk-and-Turn requires a visible line on the pavement, not an imaginary one.)
- Was the Breathalyzer in working order and correctly administered? Was the official blood-alcohol test at the station properly conducted? Are you right on the edge of .08 (DUI) or .05 (DWAI)?
I always push for reduced charges (such as negligent driving) or deferred prosecution (probation and eventual dismissal of charges). But prosecutors are tough on DUI offenses. You need an attorney who is not afraid to take your case to a jury and make the state prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Contact my Tacoma office for aggressive drunk driving defense. I provide a free initial consultation and accept Visa or MasterCard.
