Washington State DUI Defense
Regular people with good jobs, lives and families are arrested every day for driving under the influence in Washington State. Most people are not aware that drinking as little as one glass of wine, or consuming THC many hours before driving can result in an arrest for DUI.
Many people in Washington are now being arrested for driving under the influence of prescription drugs like Ambien, Oxycodone, Oxycontin, and even drugs like Wellbutrin and Zoloft, or drugs like marijuana, sometimes in combination with alcohol or other drugs and sometimes alone.
DUI Defense in Vancouver, Washington
Aggressive, knowledgeable representation grounded in DUI science, careful investigation, and trial experience.
A DUI arrest can happen to someone with a good job, a family, a professional license, and no prior experience with the criminal justice system. Suddenly, that person may be facing criminal charges, the loss of driving privileges, substantial expenses, and consequences that could follow them for years.
At the Dalton Law Office, PLLC, we understand that defending a DUI case means protecting more than a driver’s license. It means examining the evidence carefully, understanding the science, challenging questionable conclusions, and helping clients make informed decisions about their futures. An accusation is not a conviction, and the government’s evidence should never be accepted without careful scrutiny.
Arrested for DUI? You May Have Only Seven Days to Protect Your License.
Washington DUI cases frequently involve two separate proceedings: the criminal case in court and an administrative proceeding concerning your driving privileges.
You generally have only seven days after receiving notice of a DUI-related license suspension to request a hearing with the Washington Department of Licensing. Missing that deadline can mean losing the opportunity to contest the administrative suspension, even if the criminal charges are later reduced or dismissed. The timing and applicable procedures depend on the circumstances of the arrest and notice.
Early legal representation can help you understand these deadlines, protect your rights, and begin evaluating the evidence before important opportunities are lost.
Learn more about Washington DUI licensing consequences.
Alcohol, Marijuana, Prescription Drugs, and DUI Charges
A DUI accusation does not always involve someone who consumed large amounts of alcohol. Washington law also addresses driving under the influence of cannabis, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and combinations of substances.
Our office has represented clients accused of impairment involving medications such as Ambien, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and prescription pain medications. These cases may involve difficult questions about pharmacology, the effects of particular drugs, appropriate medical use, and whether the prosecution’s evidence actually establishes impairment.
Washington law includes specified alcohol and THC concentration limits, but it also permits prosecution based on evidence that a person’s driving was affected by alcohol or drugs. The legal use of a prescription medication does not automatically defeat a DUI charge. At the same time, the presence of a medication in someone’s system does not necessarily establish that it impaired their ability to drive.
Understanding that distinction can be crucial to an effective defense. We examine what substances were allegedly involved, what the scientific evidence actually shows, and whether the prosecution’s conclusions are justified.
Learn more about drug and marijuana DUI charges.
Nicole Dalton and her awesome staff took on a difficult case for me. We all knew it was difficult. Ms. Dalton was not intimidated and she fought for me with an amazing sense of justice. The case got even weirder and more difficult and Nicole never gave up on me, even when other attorneys would have. .
5 Star Client Review
Challenging DUI Science and the State’s Evidence
Effective DUI defense requires more than reading an arrest report and negotiating with a prosecutor. The evidence may involve breath-testing instruments, blood samples, laboratory procedures, toxicology, field sobriety testing, video recordings, and complicated questions about how alcohol or drugs affect the human body.
We carefully investigate the circumstances of the traffic stop, the arrest, the administration of tests, and the collection and analysis of evidence. Depending on the case, that investigation may involve examining breath-testing equipment and maintenance records, blood-testing procedures, laboratory findings, police video, witness statements, and the assumptions underlying an officer’s conclusions.
Medical conditions, prescription medications, the timing of testing, and errors in investigative or laboratory procedures may all become important. Where appropriate, we work with qualified experts to examine scientific evidence and challenge conclusions that are not adequately supported.
A number printed on a laboratory report does not eliminate the need to examine how that number was obtained, what it means, and whether the evidence can withstand legal and scientific scrutiny.
Learn more about DUI science.
The Consequences of a DUI Can Extend Far Beyond the Courtroom
DUI convictions can carry substantial fines, incarceration, license restrictions, ignition interlock requirements, increased insurance costs, and other consequences. For people who depend on driving for employment, even a temporary loss of driving privileges may be devastating.
The consequences can be especially serious for commercial driver’s license holders and licensed professionals. Our office has handled hundreds of DUI and related cases, including cases involving commercial drivers, physicians, nurses, teachers, dentists, social workers, and other professionals whose employment or licensing may be affected by criminal charges.
Washington law also imposes additional consequences for qualifying repeat offenses. Depending on the circumstances, DUI-related convictions may affect firearm rights, and certain repeat DUI cases can be prosecuted as felonies. Under the law effective January 1, 2026, three or more qualifying prior offenses within 15 years can support a felony DUI charge.
These consequences make it essential to understand not only the immediate criminal allegations, but also the potential effects of a conviction, reduced charge, or alternative resolution.
Experienced DUI Defense From Investigation Through Trial
Every DUI case deserves an individualized approach. Sometimes the evidence supports aggressive litigation, suppression motions, or trial. In other cases, a carefully negotiated resolution may better serve the client’s interests. The important thing is to make those decisions based on a thorough understanding of the evidence, the law, and the client’s circumstances.
Ms. Dalton brings extensive criminal defense and trial experience to DUI litigation. She understands the importance of careful preparation, technical analysis, effective cross-examination, and challenging the government’s evidence when necessary. Our goal is not simply to process a case through the system, but to determine what can be done to protect the client and pursue the best outcome the circumstances permit.
Whether your priority is fighting the accusation or minimizing its consequences, your case deserves serious attention. This is your life, and you deserve a serious defense.
DUI Defense Throughout Southwest Washington
Dalton Law Office represents clients facing DUI and related criminal charges in Vancouver and throughout Southwest Washington, including Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Pacific Counties.
If you have been arrested for DUI, are facing a license suspension, or need advice about a pending investigation, call 360-213-0013 for a free initial consultation. For urgent legal matters outside regular business hours, our telephone message provides emergency contact information.