Geoffrey L. Burg's Answers

First time DUI

Generally, no. You have a constitutional right to plead not guilty and to a trial where you get to confront the State's witnesses. It is uncommon for judges to increase penalties based upon you exercising you going to trial. We almost never recommend that you plead guilty as charged to DUI. We find that most of our cases get resolved based upon negotiations to a lesser charge. Cases can often be negotiated to a lesser charge, this is usually based upon factors such as prior criminal...

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Accident after drinking

Yes, you can be charged with DUI or Negligent Driving 1. Most people believe that they can only be charged with a DUI if they blow above a .08. However, the law actually allows you to be charge with DUI if your breath test is under a .08, but your ability to drive is affected by alcohol. So, if the government is able to show this, then they call still charge you with you with a .06. Also, negligent driving 1 is driving a motor vehicle in a manner likely to endanger persons or property...

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DUI exposure on job application

That would depend on what your job application is asking for. If the question is "have you ever been convicted of a crime" the answer would have to be "yes." If the question if you have been convected of a felony, the answer would be no. Unfortunately, DUIs are permanent offenses and cannot be removed from your record.

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DUI and Fentanyl patches

You can be cited for driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. If the Fentanyl patches affect your ability to drive, then it is certainly possible that you could be charged with a drug DUI offense.

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Failure to appear

Yes. The judge most likely issued a warrant for your arrest. You will need to quash this warrant. There are three ways to do it. The first, and best way to do it, is to post the bail or bond. You can do this at the court, or through a bail bonds company (who will charge you a fee of 10%). If you post the bond, you will get it back at the end of the case. The second option is to call the court and see if they will put you on a calendar without posting bail or bond. This is risky as the...

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DUI while boating

Yes, you can get a DUI while motor boating or sail boating. Generally these are referred to as Boating Under the Influence charges. The penalties are less, though still a criminal offense (misdemeanor) there is no license suspension, no mandatory jail, no mandatory fines, and no ignition interlock involved.

Feeling good about driving after drinking

How you feel is not always a good gauge about whether or not you should drive. Obviously, alcohol can impair one's judgment and just because you feel ok to drive does not mean that you actually are. In addition to this, many people with alcohol problems have an increased "tolerance" and could feel fine to drive, but really be above the legal limit.

DUI when driving a borrowed car

No, the owner of the car cannot lose his/her license. However, the car may be impounded and this could involve lots of costs.

DUI sentencing

There is no time period in which a person must be sentenced after finding of guilt. Generally, a sentencing happens within two months of a plea of guilty or finding of guilt after trial.

No contest for DUI

No, there is no such thing as "no contest" in Washington State, so this is not something that is possible to do.