Charged Doesn't Mean
Convicted.

Two cases begin at once: a criminal case in court and an administrative license case with the Department of Licensing. You generally have only 7 days to request a DOL hearing to contest license suspension. Your arraignment — where release conditions like ignition interlock are set — typically follows quickly. Early attorney involvement shapes both tracks.

Not necessarily. The DOL suspension can be contested at a hearing, and even when suspension occurs, most drivers qualify for an ignition interlock license that lets them keep driving. Timing is everything — the hearing request deadline is short and unforgiving.

Yes. Depending on the evidence, DUI charges may be reduced to lesser offenses such as negligent driving or reckless driving, or dismissed when stops, arrests, or tests fail legal scrutiny. Outcomes depend entirely on the facts — which is why the defense investigation matters.

Whatever you did, it's done — and either path has defenses. Refusals carry consequences under Washington's implied consent law, but test results can be challenged on calibration, procedure, and physiology. Tell your attorney exactly what happened; the details drive the strategy.

Veitch Ault Defense quotes transparent flat fees at your free consultation, based on the charge and the work your case needs. Compare that to the cost of a conviction — license loss, insurance surcharges, employment consequences — and experienced defense is an investment, not an expense.

Yes. From offices in Bellevue and Lynnwood, we defend clients throughout King County, Snohomish County, and the greater Puget Sound region — district, municipal, and superior courts across Western Washington.

Any paperwork from the arrest — citation, hearing notice, DOL forms — plus a timeline of the night as you remember it. Nothing is required, though: the most important step is calling before deadlines pass.