Let’s face it, drivers in the Pacific Northwest, including King County, Snohomish County, and Pierce County, are not really known for the quality of our driving skills. Quite the opposite, our reputation in navigating the roadways of the region in a safe, meaningful way needs some work. If you have been arrested, cited into court, or contacted by law enforcement about a driving-related criminal allegation, it is important to treat the matter like a criminal defense issue from the start, not just a traffic problem.
A charge that comes from a stop on I-5, a collision in downtown Seattle, or a neighborhood incident can affect far more than your next court date. It can raise questions about your license, your employment, your insurance situation, and the permanent criminal record issues that often follow a conviction. Working with a Seattle traffic lawyer early can help you understand the accusation, preserve useful facts, and avoid mistakes that make the case harder to defend later. Call our criminal defense lawyers to assist if you are the target of criminal charges.
After being accused of and charged with a traffic/driving crime, the first thing that many people do is begin to search for a skilled criminal defense lawyer. This can be a stressful, anxiety-ridden process considering what’s at stake and the number of attorneys out there who claim that they have what it takes to assist in your defense. At our Seattle law firm, we offer compassionate, skilled representation of excellent quality to all people facing traffic/driving crime charges throughout King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties, as well as throughout the State of Washington.
Our Seattle traffic defense attorneys possess the qualities that you would want in your legal representatives, acting as skilled negotiators and litigators, capable of investigating your case thoroughly and advocating on your behalf to help secure for you the best possible outcome. The advantages we bring include:
After your free initial consultation, we hope that you will be able to rest easier knowing that you have knowledgeable, skilled attorneys on your side. To give yourself the best chance of being successful, you should contact a driving crimes lawyer at Sheed Law Offices as soon as possible after you are arrested or have been charged with a crime.
A criminal traffic case can look different from one county to the next, even when the charge itself sounds familiar. Local court practices, filing timelines, negotiation patterns, and evidentiary issues can all shape the path of your case. That is one reason it helps to work with a local Seattle driving crimes attorney who regularly handles these matters in this region. Instead of taking a generic approach, your defense should be built around the facts of the stop, the charging documents, the available evidence, and the practical outcome you are trying to protect.
At Sheed Law Offices, PLLC, our work often begins with the basic but important questions many people do not know how to answer on their own, such as:
In many cases, the most useful defense work happens early, while the facts are still fresh and before a person says too much, misses a hearing, or assumes that a prosecutor will automatically reduce the charge. A Seattle traffic lawyer can step in before those problems build.
For virtually any type of traffic crime that someone could face, an attorney from our office can provide you with the legal representation that you need to successfully defend against your charges. Our experience in defending against traffic charges has allowed us to polish our defensive skills in the legal area of driving crimes. We have defended clients against a broad range of traffic crimes, such as driving with a suspended license, hit and run, and reckless driving. Our legal representation has extended to persons all over the State of Washington, including from the Seattle area.
Washington criminal traffic allegations are grounded in specific statutes, but the defense analysis is rarely limited to reading the charge name. It often includes reviewing the officer’s stated reason for the stop, the sequence of events, whether the driver was correctly identified, whether the state can prove each required element, and whether there are practical ways to seek dismissal or a reduction.
Many people also do not realize how easy it is for a criminal traffic matter to be underestimated at the beginning. A person may think the case is minor because no one was hurt, because the stop happened quickly, or because the officer made the accusation sound routine. We understand how stressful and frightening being arrested and charged with a crime can be, and knowing what to do next can be confusing and difficult. Do not hesitate to call our law firm as soon as you are arrested or learn that you are being charged with a crime. A Seattle traffic lawyer can help you approach the case with a defense strategy that fits the actual risk for any of the following charges/
Driving with a Suspended License in the Third Degree (DWLS 3) is one of the most common criminal charges in the State of Washington. DWLS 3 alleges that you drove while your license or privilege to drive was suspended but eligible for reinstatement, usually only being held up by certain unpaid traffic tickets, but sometimes held up by child support or accident damage money owed. Whether you received your citation in Mountlake Terrace or Seattle, the attorneys at Sheed Law Offices, PLLC can help.
We have extensive experience with this criminal charge and can provide the guidance and counsel necessary to help you navigate it. The penalty range associated with this charge is anywhere from 0 days in jail to a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $0 fine all the way up to a maximum of a $1000 fine should you ultimately be held responsible. We have the experience necessary to assist you in dealing with this charge, including possibly getting your criminal charge dismissed or amended (changed) to a simple traffic ticket.
Driving with a Suspended License in the Second Degree (DWLS 2) is more severe than DWLS 3. DWLS 2 alleges that you drove while your privilege to drive was suspended or revoked and NOT eligible for full reinstatement. Usually this means that your license was suspended as a result of a pending DUI or a DUI conviction. The penalty range associated with this charge is anywhere from 0 days in jail to a maximum of 364 days in jail and a $0 fine all the way up to a maximum of a $5000 fine should you ultimately be held responsible. A conviction for this charge will also result in your license being suspended for one full additional year.
A conviction for this charge will also bring you one step closer to Habitual Traffic Offender Status, which would suspend your license for 7 years. The attorneys at Sheed Law Offices, PLLC have extensive experience with this criminal charge and can help provide the guidance and counsel necessary to help you navigate dealing with this criminal charge, including possible dismissal of your charge and/or reduction to a lesser charge such as DWLS 3 or a traffic ticket. A defense attorney will look at whether there is a practical path toward reducing the criminal exposure while addressing the underlying license problem in a realistic way.
Driving with a Suspended License in the First Degree (DWLS 1) is the most severe suspended license charge. If you get this charge, you are considered to be a Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO Status), and your license has been suspended for 7 years and is not eligible for reinstatement, barring some very specific exceptions. Usually, you likely committed at least three major moving violations within a 5-year period to get to this point (including but not limited to DUI, Reckless Driving, and DWLS 2).
The penalty range associated with this charge is anywhere from 10 days in jail to a maximum of 364 days in jail and a $0 fine all the way up to a maximum of a $5000 fine should you ultimately be held responsible. For a first-time conviction, there is a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 days in jail. For a second-time conviction, a mandatory minimum of 90 days in jail. For a third and subsequent conviction, a mandatory minimum of 180 days in jail. As you can see, things have the potential to escalate quickly. The attorneys at Sheed Law Offices, PLLC have extensive experience with this criminal charge and can help provide the guidance and counsel necessary to help you navigate dealing with this criminal charge, including possible reduction to a lesser charge such as DWLS 2 or eventual dismissal of your charges.
Hit and Run Unattended is a simple misdemeanor punishable by anywhere from no jail up to 90 days in jail and no fine up to a $1000 fine. It is what it sounds like. Usually, you are accused of hitting another vehicle (unattended by another human being) or property and not stopping immediately for the purpose of either locating and/or notifying the operator or owner and leaving written notice in a conspicuous place as to your identity and address. The attorneys at Sheed Law Offices, PLLC have extensive experience with defending against this criminal charge and can help provide the guidance and counsel necessary to help you navigate dealing with this criminal charge, including possible dismissal.
This offense is addressed in RCW 46.52.010. In practice, these cases can turn on more than people expect. Questions may include whether the driver knew a collision occurred, whether the property damage is documented clearly, whether the driver can be reliably identified, and whether the surrounding circumstances tell the same story the police report tells. A criminal traffic defense lawyer may also look closely at statements made at the scene or later, because those statements often become central to how prosecutors frame intent and awareness.
Hit and Run Attended is a gross misdemeanor punishable by anywhere from no jail up to 364 days in jail and no fine up to a $5000 fine. In this case, you are accused of hitting another vehicle (actually with another human being inside it) and not stopping immediately so that you can notify the operator or owner and leaving written notice in a conspicuous place as to your identity and address. In this case, your license would be suspended for one full year if convicted. So the stakes are high. Sheed Law Offices, PLLC has extensive experience with defending against this hit-and-run attended charge and can help provide the guidance and counsel necessary to help you navigate dealing with this criminal charge, including possible dismissal or reduction to a lesser charge.
Hit-and-run attended allegations commonly arise under RCW 46.52.020, and they often move fast because law enforcement may treat them as especially serious from the beginning. Early defense work can include securing photographs, locating witnesses, preserving vehicle damage evidence, and sorting out whether the event was actually understood correctly by everyone involved. In some cases, what sounded like a clear failure-to-stop allegation at first becomes more complicated once the facts are reviewed carefully.
Reckless Driving is a gross misdemeanor punishable by anywhere from no jail up to 364 days in jail and no fine up to a $5000 fine. Here, you are being accused of driving a vehicle in a “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” Functionally, they’re accusing you of being really careless. A conviction on this charge will result in your license being suspended for 30 days. Sheed Law Offices, PLLC has extensive experience with defending against reckless driving and can help provide the guidance and counsel necessary to help you navigate dealing with this criminal charge, including possible dismissal or reduction to a lesser charge or infraction.
Under RCW 46.61.500, the state still has to prove conduct that fits that legal standard. Speed estimates, officer observations, video evidence, road conditions, traffic flow, and witness credibility can all matter. Our lawyers will often focus on whether the facts really support a criminal-level allegation or whether the evidence points to something less serious than the state claims.
Negligent Driving in the First Degree is a simple misdemeanor punishable by no more than 90 days in jail and a $1000 fine. There is no mandatory minimum for this charge, so no jail time or fine is required even if you are found responsible. Essentially, this charge accuses you of having driven in a manner that was both “negligent and endangers” or “is likely to endanger any person or property,” and exhibited the effects of having consumed alcohol, marijuana, or any other drug, legal or not, for its intoxicating or hallucinatory effects.
There are affirmative defenses to this charge, including having a valid prescription for the drug and it having been consumed according to its prescription direction and warnings. Now, defending against a charge alleging that you were operating a vehicle negligently is a legal question that requires the assistance of a skilled Seattle attorney such as those at Sheed Law Offices. We can assist in your defense against this criminal charge, including possible dismissal or reduction to a lesser charge or even a traffic infraction (a non-criminal ticket similar to speeding).
If you are facing one of these allegations in Seattle or the surrounding counties, do not assume the case will sort itself out. Criminal traffic charges deserve a focused response, especially where your license, your record, and your ability to move forward are all on the line. Sheed Law Offices, PLLC can help you understand what the charge means, what defenses may be available, and what next steps can put you in a stronger position. Speaking with a Seattle traffic lawyer sooner rather than later can make a real difference in how the case is handled. Contact us today.
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