Bremerton Criminal Law Blog

Seeing red and blue patrol car lights flashing in your rear view mirror might not be your idea of a nice way to end an evening out with friends. It happens. A key to mitigating your circumstances may lie in your ability to remain calm and follow all instructions the officer gives you when he or she approaches your vehicle.

However, if said instructions include a request to step out of your car and take a field sobriety test, what should you do? As for the getting out of your car part, you must comply. The rest of it is optional though. That's right. You are under no legal obligation to take a field sobriety test. Beyond such information, it is still a good idea to familiarize yourself with these tests and to know your rights, so you can make informed decisions.

The state of Washington, just like every other state, does not take domestic violence lightly. If you are facing domestic violence allegations, you will go to jail -- even if only temporarily -- if the officer responding to the complaint has probable cause to arrest you.

If you're facing a domestic violence charge, you may have a lot of questions, such as: What constitutes domestic violence? What are the potential penalties associated with a DV conviction? Is there any way to fight a DV charge?

Winding down your driver's-side car window with a uniformed police officer standing on the other side of it can be an extremely stressful experience. If the officer asks if you realize how fast you were traveling, what should you say? If he or she asks you to step out of your vehicle, does it mean you're going to jail? There is really no way to predict what the ultimate outcome of such situations might be. It may wind up hinging on the officer's word against yours. 

However, whether you're driving in Washington or some other state, certain traffic laws or criminal laws might vary, but other regulations are the same, such as the fact that a police officer who intends to question you under custody must inform you of your Miranda rights. It's critical that you understand these issues and know where to seek support if a problem arises.  

If a Washington police officer pulls you over because he or she thinks you have been driving under the influence of alcohol, there are certain things you should know regarding your rights and what the legal implications of a Breathalyzer test might be. Breathalyzer is the brand name of a breath analysis device authorities use to make a preliminary assessment of the amount of alcohol in your system when they suspect you of driving under the influence. Refusing a Breathalyzer or other chemical test can have major repercussions. 

In most states, if you test at .08 blood alcohol content or higher on a Breathalyzer, the law presumes you are intoxicated and therefore prohibited from operating a motor vehicle. However, so much can go wrong with Breathalyzer tests, and if the device the test giver used on you was not properly calibrated, it can skew the test results, which can land you in a heap of legal trouble. It's always good to be prepared to defend yourself by knowing your rights and how to access support in a pinch.