Driving under the influence (DUI) charges may follow traffic stops or car crashes. People who appear visibly intoxicated or fail chemical tests are at risk of charges that carry jail time, fines and driver’s license penalties, as well as the consequences of having a criminal record.
In some cases, DUI charges might be the result of a misunderstanding. Motorists might hope to avoid prosecution and convince the state to dismiss the charges against them. Do Washington state prosecutors ever dismiss DUI charges?
Dismissing charges is sometimes necessary
In some cases, a defense attorney assisting an individual can gather compelling evidence to show that there is a clear explanation for a failed chemical test or other evidence that led to a DUI arrest. In such cases, the prosecutor may agree to dismiss the pending charges after reviewing the new evidence provided by a defense attorney.
In other cases, a review of the state’s evidence could reveal issues with chemical test device maintenance or issues with evidence handling that undermine the usefulness of critical chemical test results. It is even possible for a defense attorney to convince the courts that a traffic stop was illegal and to suppress or exclude the evidence gathered during that traffic stop.
The successful exclusion of chemical test results and other evidence gathered during an illegal traffic stop could result in the dismissal of pending DUI charges. Defense attorneys can also help their clients negotiate plea bargains or mount defense strategies that result in acquittals.
Reviewing the evidence supporting pending DUI charges with a skilled legal team can help DUI defendants evaluate their options. An attorney’s guidance is critical in cases where people hope to secure the dismissal of their pending charges.