DUI Charges

Bellevue, Washington DUI/DWI Defense Lawyer

Drunk-driving (DUI or DWI) cases are often won or lost on aggressive pretrial motions to suppress evidence, such as breathalyzer and/or field sobriety tests that might have otherwise been considered by a judge or jury. This is only one of the reasons why you should contact a lawyer as soon as you have been arrested on DUI/DWI charges.

I'm John Polito, a lawyer in Bellevue, Washington, who has been defending drunk driving cases for nearly 20 years. I serve clients in Seattle, Redmond, Kirkland, Tacoma, and other cities in western Washington state.

My aggressive pre-trial DUI/DWI defense tactics regularly result in favorable plea bargains for my clients. In fact, many of my clients become eligible for deferred prosecution. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to avoid driver's license and insurance sanctions by agreeing to undergo alcohol counseling.

In breathalyzer refusal cases, the jury needs to understand that a refusal usually occurs because the defendant did not fully understand the consequences of a refusal. The prosecution wants the jury to believe that the only reason you did not take the test was because you knew you were guilty. However, they have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were driving drunk and to allow them to focus on a breathalyzer refusal alone does not fully establish this. I am readily able to communicate this idea to jurors when undue attention is placed upon the failure to take a breathalyzer test.

In a breath test challenge DUI/DWI defense case, I will refute the expert testimony of the prosecution by using testimony from my own battery of experts. I enlist knowledgeable specialists when going up against lab technicians hired by state prosecutors and paid for by state funds. If you have been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, my team of experts is also skilled in refuting drug recognition expert (DRE) opinions.

It is incumbent upon any aggressive defense attorney to be able to impeach police officer testimony and point out inconsistencies and exaggerations. This has to be done in a respectful and professional way, but if done correctly, it will many times lead a jury to find reasonable doubt in a DUI/DWI case.

If you are facing drunk driving charges, please be aware that the Department of Licensing will seek to suspend your ability to drive. If you rely on your car to get to work or school, this can prove to be a formidable punishment. I can help you try to obtain a temporary license which enables you to operate your vehicle for vocational or educational purposes.

Free consultation: Contact me, attorney John J. Polito, for a no-cost assessment of your DUI/DWI defense case and your options. From my office in Bellevue, Washington, I serve clients in Seattle, King County, Snohomish County, and Pierce County. I accept all major credit cards for your convenience. Please call my office at (425) 214-1032, or my cell phone at (206) 371-9870.