In Washington State, reckless driving is a gross misdemeanor criminal traffic offense. Reckless driving charges can pose substantial consequences, and it is important to understand the law. Under Washington State law (RCW 46.61.500): Any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless …
Last week, a confrontation over gang colors led to two teens being shot in Everett. The Seattle Times reports that the 16-year old alleged shooter is being prosecuted as an adult. He is charged with two counts of first-degree assault. The victims were a 17 year old boy and his 14 year old sister. They were reportedly …
Labor Day, which was historically intended to be dedicated to the social and economic accomplishments of American workers, has over time come to symbolize the end of summer. A three day weekend gives everyone a “last chance” to enjoy being outdoors, festively celebrating summer and sunshine before a new school year begins and the mood …
Tukwila, WA is listed as the 2nd most dangerous city in the United States, according to a recent report. An online news article describes this new discovery. Safewise.com is the home security consultant group that issued the report and utilized FBI statistics for research. Data reportedly shows that in 2013 there were 8.29 violent crimes and 167.42 property crimes …
The West Seattle Herald published an informative article last week, with essential information for all Seattle drivers. The article describes pertinent information about traffic infractions, for which fines have gone up as of July 1, 2015: Camera tickets are on the rise with more and more cameras being installed around the greater Seattle area. This includes Red Light Traffic Cameras and …
A Seattle Times article published last week describes data that shows marijuana has increased as a factor in fatal crashes in Washington State. New data was collected from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Correlation between marijuana use and fatal crashes increased significantly in 2014. The number of drivers involved in deadly crashes who were shown to have THC …
Burglary is a felony offense in Washington State, with very serious penalties and consequences. There are four separate burglary-related statutes in Washington. Violations of these statutes each carry separate, specific penalties. If you are charged with one of these offenses, it is essential that you contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. Given the seriousness of the charges, …
An Associated Press review of Washington cases reversed on appeal since 2012 due to prosecutor misconduct produced some alarming results: A disproportionate number of these cases were in Pierce County (17 out of 30). The Seattle Times highlighted this discovery in an article earlier this week. Prosecutorial misconduct refers to conduct on the part of the prosecutor that …
The Huffington Post provides a forum for Lorenzo Johnson to speak out about the injustice surrounding wrongfully convicted prisoners and to fight for his own freedom. Lorenzo Johnson served 16.5 years of a life-without-parole sentence, from 1994-2012, for a murder he did not commit. He was allegedly asked to falsely accuse a friend of the murder and …
For drug-related offenses in Washington State, there are several alternatives to incarceration that the courts may consider. These programs generally involve substance abuse treatment/rehabilitation as an alternative to incarceration. The Seattle Times describes the expansion of one of these programs, which is designed for non-violent drug offenders as an alternative to incarceration. Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) started …
A “Juvenile” refers to a minor under the age of 18. When a juvenile breaks the law, the process and consequences are typically different than when an adult breaks the law, under the juvenile justice system. After an arrest, the officer will decide if the juvenile should be released to a parent or taken to …
Many people assume that pulling off the road to rest when you have been drinking is not only a safe alternative to driving under the influence but also the takes away the chance of being charged with a DUI. This is not an accurate assumption. From a safety perspective, the wisest move is to refrain …
