Const Law

Peter Allen Steele was apprehended by San Mateo sheriff’s deputies after ringing neighbor’s doorbells and streaking through a home and into the woods.  The 6’7”, 250 lbs suspect did not go down without a fight, as it took a couple of shots from a taser gun to apprehend the suspect.

Steele is accused of ringing residents’ doorbells completely naked and then leading deputies on a high-speed chase in a pickup truck.  Steele drove for approximately seven miles before hitting the side of the road, at which point his tires went flat.  Steele is being charged with a DUI, indecent exposure, evading police officers and trespassing.  Say, friends, if you or a loved one has recently been arrested or charged with a Seattle DUI, we recommend that you contact the Law Offices of Jason S. Newcombe.  They are experienced Washington DUI lawyers.

Dante Kraus, a 45 year-old motorcyclist, was arrested for suspicion of a DUI, after he ran a red light while exiting Interstate 75.  At the time of the alleged driving and his arrest, he was completely naked.  He had been drinking at a local Hooters restaurant and did not remember how he lost his clothes.  Incredibly, this is the fifth time that he has been charged with DUI in the state of Florida.

Under Washington DUI law, if you are convicted of two or more drunk driving offenses within any seven-year period, the mandatory minimum sentence that will be imposed increases dramatically.  For example, if you are convicted of a second DUI offense within the seven years of your first offense, you will be sentenced to a mandatory minimum of either thirty or forty-five days in jail.  If it was your first offense, however, the mandatory minimum jail sentence is only one or two days in jail.

Our Washington DUI lawyers make it a point to emphasize to every one of our first-time DUI clients that a second drunk driving charge can result in the imposition of significant jail time and a multi-year license revocation.

A police officer from Santa Ana, CA had to use his stun gun on a DUI suspect, when he refused to show the officer his hands.  The suspect was alleged to have been involved in a drunk driving accident after hitting another car.  If your Washington DUI case involves an allegation that you struck another vehicle, your case will be taken much more seriously by the prosecutor’s office.

The Santa Ana officer involved in the case above was further surprised, when he went to arrest the stunned individual and found him to buck naked.  The suspect was taken for drug and alcohol tests.  Over the years, our Washington DUI lawyers have been involved in several cases where the person suspected of DUI was not wearing any clothing.  Most of those cases involved college students, a bachelor party, or individuals with mental illness.

Drinking and driving is never a good idea.  In certain instances, however, it can lead to tragic results when an alleged Washington DUI driver injures someone with their car.  If your Seattle DUI case involves an allegation of injuring someone, it is especially important to speak with an experienced Washington DUI attorney as quickly as possible.

Thomas Walker, an off-duty police officer, was charged with a DUI after causing an accident involving 2 police vehicles.  Mr. Walker lost control of his Hummer and crashed into a roadblock set-up for a different criminal investigation.  Two officers from a Pittsburgh suburb were injured in the accident and taken to local hospital, and are currently in stable condition.

Walker was also taken to the same local hospital, for a blood draw to be performed.  He was booked on suspicion of DUI and aggravated assault.  If this accident had occurred in Washington State, it’s like that similar charges would have been brought.  If your Washington DUI case involves an allegation of injuring a person, you are likely to be charged with vehicular assault, which is a felony.

Rey Maualuga, a rookie linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals, plead guilty today to a DUI charge resulting from an incident in Kentucky.  Maualuga was charged in late January, after he was responsible for an accident involving a parking meter and two parked cars.  As a consequence to his guilty plea, Maualuga received a suspended 7-day jail sentence, was fined $884, and was placed on probation for 2-years.

In addition, his driver’s license was suspended for 90 days, and he was ordered to participate in a drug and alcohol education program.  Maualuga had also been charged with careless driving.  The careless driving charge was dropped as part of his plea negotiations.  If you are convicted of a Washington DUI charge, you will be sentenced to mandatory jail and face a mandatory suspension of your WA State driving privileges.  These WA DUI sentencing conditions cannot be suspended or waived.

At the courthouse, Maualuga made the following statement to the press:

He expressed contrition “for bringing such great humiliation and embarrassment to the team…  I will learn from this and become a better person and a better man from all this. And I assure you that this will never happen again.”

Although the criminal aspects of his case will be resolved, if he completes all of his court-ordered requirements, Maualuga will be responsible for the property damage that his accident caused.  The exact cost has yet to be determined.  DUI charges involving an accident are complicated.  If you or a loved one is arrested for drunk driving here in WA State, it’s important to speak with a Washington DUI attorney as soon as possible, especially if an accident is involved.

Carlos Dunlap, a former Florida Gator defensive star, pleaded no contest to a DUI charge from December 1, 2009.  His plea was entered in Gainsville Court earlier today. He was sentenced to 1-year of probation, 50 hours of community service, and a $1,000 fine.  The court is also requiring that he attend a victim’s impact panel.  Also, as result of his no contest plea, Dunlap’s driver’s license will be suspended for 6 months.

On December 1^st, several days before the Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta, Dunlap was arrested after police found him sleeping at the wheel at an intersection.  Our Seattle DUI lawyers recently reviewed a similar fact pattern involving a man in Greenwood who was literally passed out behind the wheel at an intersection.

Dunlap was suspended for the championship game, but was re-instated 3 weeks later.  He recorded 2 sacks versus Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl.  The Gators easily won the game.  Dunlap is currently awaiting the NFL draft in April, where he is expected to be a 1^st or 2^nd round pick.  If you have recently been arrested for drunk driving here in King County, WA, we invite you to call our offices and speak to one of our experienced Seattle DUI attorneys.

Here’ another horribly sad story that we recently related to one of our Seattle DUI lawyers.  Former Lance Cpl. Elijah Ferguson, who is 22 years-old, was sentenced today for his conviction of 2^nd degree murder and driving under the influence causing injury, for a February 2008 accident that killed an Orange County, CA, doctor, and injured the doctor’s wife.  He was sentenced to 15 years to life.

Ironically, the accident occurred several hours after Ferguson attended a driving safety briefing at Camp Pendleton, which specifically addressed the dangers of driving under the influence.  Under Washington drunk driving law, if you kill someone while driving under the influence, you will be charged with one or more very serious felonies.

Dr. Michael Stein, a radiologist, was killed, and his wife injured, when Ferguson’s car rear-ended their car in the coastal town of Newport Beach.  If you are currently facing a WA drunk driving charge, we can help.  Please call our offices to speak with one of our knowledgeable Washington DUI attorneys.

The Oprah Show is offering a stream of their Monday, Jan. 18th show entitled, “This Show Could Save Your Life: America’s New Deadly Obsession.” 

Here is the show description:

Would you get in your car and drive after having four drinks?  Statistics show that talking on the phone or texting while driving is just as dangerous as driving drunk.  It is Oprah’s hope that seeing this show will be a seminal moment in your life and that you will be inspired to make your car a no phone zone.  Throughout the show, courageous families shared personal stories of how they’ve paid the ultimate price for America’s deadly habit when they lost loved ones because of distracted drivers.  And, three people who all thought they could multi-task while driving were put to the ultimate road test by the experts at Car and Driver Magazine.  The results were shocking!  The members of our audience all pledged to make their car a no phone zone. Will you?

The Senate Transportation Committee held a meeting on Monday, January 17, 2010. One of the debates revolves around toughening the Washington state’s traffic laws as they relate to using cell phones while driving. Specifically, the new law would allow WA state law enforcement officers to pull over drivers that they observe holding a cell phone to their ear while driving.  The fine for this violation would be $124.

Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, is the leading proponent for this bill and is sponsoring it.  In addition to the above change of the law, this bill would also prohibit drivers under the age of 18 from talking on cell phones entirely while driving, including phones that are equipped with “hands-free” devices.

Debate is expected from both sides of each of these proposed new WA traffic laws.  One side believes it would overburden already stretched police officers and the other believes that it is a public safety issue warranting immediate action.

Sen. Eide believes this issue to be in the same category as a DUI.

“It’s the equivalent to drunk driving. We don’t tolerate drunks in Washington State,” she said. “It’s time to say, ‘Hang up and drive.’”  Many believe, however, that her comparison to Washington DUI law is a stretch.