In Washington, you may be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) if a police officer accuses you of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. You may also face a DUI charge if you were driving while impaired by alcohol, marijuana, prescription medication, or another substance to a degree that affected your ability to drive safely.
DUI charges in Fife, WA can affect every aspect of your life, from your ability to drive and keep your job to your reputation and your freedom. The Law Offices of Mark S. Treyz will fight to challenge the state’s case and protect your rights at every turn so that you can move forward with your future intact.
For years, our Fife, WA DUI attorney has defended people across Pierce County against impaired driving charges, and he won’t rest until you have the strongest defense available to you. If you were arrested, call us for a free consultation to discuss your charges and how we can help.
Why Choose The Law Offices of Mark S. Treyz?
- Attorney Mark Treyz served as a Pierce County Deputy Prosecutor before dedicating his practice to defense, so he knows firsthand how the state builds a DUI case—and how to take it apart. That insider perspective becomes your advantage.
- With roughly three decades of criminal defense practice and a passion for the constitutional protections every person is owed, Mark fights to keep your record, your license, and your future intact.
- Quality defense should not be out of reach when you are facing charges. We offer flexible payment plans designed to fit your budget, so you can focus on your case rather than how to afford representation.
DUI Charges and Penalties in Fife, Washington
Washington treats impaired driving as a serious offense. A first or second DUI within seven years is generally a gross misdemeanor. However, certain circumstances can elevate the charge to a felony, such as causing serious injury to another person, having multiple prior convictions, or having a young passenger in the vehicle at the time of the offense.
The penalties for a DUI in Washington are as follows:
- A first conviction with no aggravating factors carries a mandatory minimum of 24 hours in jail, plus fines, license suspension, and required alcohol assessment.
- A second offense within seven years brings a minimum of 30 days in jail along with extended monitoring.
- A third or subsequent offense becomes a felony carrying at least 90 days in jail, months of additional monitoring, and fines reaching into the thousands.
How a Fife, WA DUI Attorney Can Protect Your Rights
Washington’s prosecutors have considerable resources devoted to securing a conviction against those accused of DUI. The criminal justice system does not always treat you as innocent until proven guilty, despite that being your right. You need someone in your corner, and from the moment you call, Mark steps in to safeguard your constitutional rights.
Our firm will conduct an independent investigation of the incident rather than accepting the state’s version of events, scrutinizing whether the traffic stop was lawful, whether testing was performed correctly, and whether your rights were honored. From there, we challenge weak or unlawfully obtained evidence and negotiate with prosecutors from a position of strength.
What to Expect During the Criminal Justice Process
Facing the unknown is part of what makes a criminal charge so stressful. Understanding the path ahead can make the process feel far more manageable, and our Fife DUI attorney guides you through each stage so you are never caught off guard.
A typical DUI case moves through several phases:
- Arraignment: This is your first court appearance, where the judge formally reads the charges against you and you enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. The court also sets the conditions of your release, which can include restrictions on driving or alcohol use while the case is pending.
- Pretrial Hearings: During this stage, both sides exchange evidence and the case begins to develop. These hearings are also where the prosecution and defense discuss the status of the case and whether it may be resolved without going to trial.
- Motion Hearings: At these hearings, the defense can ask the court to suppress evidence that was obtained unlawfully or to dismiss the charges altogether.
- Plea Negotiations: Many DUI cases are resolved through negotiation rather than trial. This is where the two sides discuss a possible resolution, such as reduced charges or alternative sentencing, in exchange for a guilty plea.
- Trial: If the case is not resolved beforehand, it proceeds to trial, where the state must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Both sides present evidence and question witnesses, and a judge or jury then decides the outcome.
Common Defense Strategies in a DUI Case
To convict someone of a DUI, Washington prosecutors must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you were driving or in physical control of a vehicle while impaired or over the legal limit.
The Law Offices of Mark S. Treyz will scrutinize every piece of the state’s case for the gaps and errors that create reasonable doubt so that the prosecution is held to its full burden.
Depending on the facts of your case, defense strategies may include:
- Challenging whether the officer had a lawful reason to stop you
- Questioning the administration and reliability of field sobriety tests
- Disputing the calibration and maintenance of breath-testing equipment
- Examining whether blood tests were drawn and stored according to protocol
- Identifying violations of your constitutional rights during the stop or arrest
- Raising medical conditions or other factors that can mimic signs of impairment
Get Defense You Can Trust—Contact Mark S. Treyz Today
A DUI conviction can cost you your license, your job, and your peace of mind, but a charge is only the beginning of the story—and you have the right to fight it. With decades of criminal defense practice and a former prosecutor’s insight, Mark S. Treyz will protect your rights, challenge the state’s case, and stand with you through every step of the process.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and start building your defense.