Arlington First Offense DUI Lawyer

First DUI in Arlington? Call DUIHeroes.

A first DUI arrest can flip your life upside-down. In the Arlington area, stops may happen along SR-9, SR-530, I-5, or residential areas patrolled by the Arlington Police Department and Washington State Patrol. Washington does not allow the use of sobriety checkpoints, so most arrests begin with an individual traffic stop or collision investigation. 

Knowing how—and where—these cases move locally is the first advantage. As a local firm with an exclusive DUI focus, plus a team of attorneys that includes two former prosecutors, DUIHeroes is uniquely positioned to effectively represent your interests inside the courtroom and out.  

Find out more about your rights and options from a first DUI lawyer in Arlington by calling (425) 296-9358 or contacting us online. Your initial consultation is free!

All About First DUI Offenses in Arlington

In Arlington and throughout the state, a first DUI offense is classified as a gross misdemeanor. It may be punishable by up to 364 days in jail and $5,000 in fines, with mandatory minimums depending on the defendant's suspected alcohol concentration or other aggravating factors.

These charges may be based on per se limits (0.08% alcohol concentration or 5.00 ng/mL of THC), or on test results and observations that the defendant was driving while "under the influence of or affected by” alcohol/drugs. Drivers under the age of 21 face a separate “minor DUI” statute at 0.02 BAC/THC > 0.00. 

The following mandatory minimums for a first DUI conviction may apply:

• Alcohol concentration of 0.08% to less than 0.15% (or no test for reasons other than refusal): 1 day in jail (or 15 days electronic home monitoring/90 days of 24/7 sobriety monitoring) and a $350–$5,000 fine.
• Alcohol concentration of 0.15% or greater or refusal: 2 days in jail (or 30 days of electronic home monitoring/120 days of 24/7 sobriety monitoring) and a $500–$5,000 fine.
• The courts may also order treatment, probation conditions, and an ignition interlock device. 

Important Note: While not technically a “first offense," a DUI conviction with no prior DUI-related offenses within the past seven years carries the same penalties as those listed above.

A first DUI arrest may also affect one's driving privileges: 

• 90-day suspension for an alcohol concentration of 0.08% to less than 0.15%.
• 1-year suspension for an alcohol concentration of 0.15% or greater.
• 2-year suspension for refusing a breath or blood test.

After an arrest, you generally have 7 days to request a DOL hearing to contest the administrative suspension of your driver's license. Don’t miss it. Our first offense DUI lawyers in Arlington can help with your DOL hearing as well as the criminal side of your case.

What Happens & How We Help

While every case is different, there are some strategies we use and processes you can expect in the days and weeks after a first DUI arrest and charge. 

We help you file your DOL hearing request and begin preservation requests for dash/body-cam, 911 audio, and breath-test data (Arlington uses Washington’s evidential breath-testing program; we pull maintenance/calibration records). Missing the 7-day DOL deadline can lock in a suspension—don’t wait. 

We analyze the stop (reasonable suspicion), arrest (probable cause), SFSTs (whether NHTSA protocols were followed), and any Dräger breath test/blood draw paperwork for compliance with RCW/WAC. We may also map the scene, where vantage, terrain, and lighting can matter to field tests and “observations.” 

The overall DUI process includes an arraignment, pre-trial hearings, motions (e.g., suppression for unlawful stop/testing), negotiations, and—when needed—trial. 

Penalties vs. Collateral Damage

Even “first offense” penalties ripple beyond the courtroom—insurance spikes, travel headaches, employment/licensing issues, and ignition interlock requirements. A tailored strategy looks at both the criminal case and the life impacts, such as protecting your commercial driver's license (CDL) or professional licenses, planning for interlock compliance, and minimizing reporting problems with employers or schools. 

Ready to Protect Your License, Record & Future? 

DUI defense isn’t just what we do—it’s all we do. Our attorneys bring 50+ years of collective experience, and our team includes two former prosecutors who know the playbook from the other side. Every lawyer here has completed the NHTSA SFST course; Jonathan Dichter is a national educator and qualified SFST instructor, and Washington’s State Delegate & Faculty for the National College for DUI Defense. We limit caseloads for personal attention, answer our own phones, and keep you updated 24/7 through a secure client portal. Our results speak for themselves: since 2009, an average of 95% of first-offense cases we handled were reduced or dismissed*.

A first DUI in Arlington doesn’t have to define you. Put DUIHeroes in your corner—we know the routes you drive, the courts you’ll face, and the science the state will use. 

Call (425) 296-9358 for a free, confidential consultation, day or night.