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Tougher DUI laws introduced in Washington

Posted on May 6th, 2013 No Comments

Washington State recently introduced harsh new DUI laws that include prolonged jail terms and a 24 hour alcohol monitoring system.

The new DUI laws were proposed in regular session by Gov. Jay Inslee with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and include a mandatory six months jail term for repeat drunk driver offenders. A one year jail term minimum is proposed to be mandatory for the third offense. Lawmakers also offered the option of undergoing treatment and 24-7 monitoring instead of serving jail time. On a third conviction, the offender will be given an ID card that will prevent them from buying alcoholic drinks for 10 years.

There are about 40,000 DUI arrests made every year by patrols and local law enforcement, according to the Washington State Patrol.

DUI laws and penalties can be extremely strict. Thus, when you have been charged with a DUI or related crime, you deserve a lawyer from Cowan Kirk Gaston who you can trust to defend you. Call 1-866-822-1230 to find out how we can help you through this situation.

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2 dead and 2 critical in Seattle DUI crash

Posted on April 5th, 2013 No Comments

Two people died and two others are in critical condition in Seattle after they were struck by a vehicle driven by a man allegedly under the influence.

Seattle police said retired teachers Dennis Schulte, 66, and his wife Judy, 68, were walking together with their daughter-in-law Karina Ulriksen-Schulte, 33, and her 12-day-old son when a pickup truck hit them on Monday, March 25. The couple instantly died in the crash while the mother and her baby were rushed to the hospital for critical injuries.

Police identified the pickup driver as Mark Mulan, 50. According to reports, Mulan’s driver’s license was currently suspended, and he was under the influence of alcohol beyond the legal driving limit when he hit the pedestrians.

Mulan is facing vehicular homicide and assault charges, in addition to a bond of $2.5 million.

Losing friends and family in such a tragedy is a devastating situation, and our lawyers at Cowan, Kirk & Gaston Law Firm send their thoughts and condolences to those affected.

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Tightend Seferian-Jenkins arrested for DUI

Posted on March 22nd, 2013 No Comments

Seattle police arrested University of Washington football player Austin Seferian-Jenkins Saturday, March 9 on a DUI charge.

Detective Mark Jamieson, a police spokesperson, said the tight end was arrested under DUI suspicion near the University District neighborhood in Seattle. Seferian-Jenkins was later released by the police, according to Jamieson. Other details of the arrest were not yet available shortly after Seferian-Jenkins’ release; however, Jamieson did say that it’s not uncommon for people arrested under DUI charges to be released.

The head coach of the University of Washington football team, Steve Sarkisian, said Seferian-Jenkins’ actions and decisions do not meet the standards held for his student-athletes, and that he will face consequences.

Facing DUI charges or any other related criminal charges can be frightening and overwhelming. Fortunately, when you have the support of the legal team from Cowan Kirk Gaston, these charges may be easier both to face and to fight. Call 1-866-822-1230 to discuss your circumstances and potential defense options today.

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Suspected DUI Arrested for Injuring Motorcyclist

Posted on February 13th, 2013 No Comments

Recently, a man was arrested under suspicion of DUI after his car hit a motorcycle heading southbound West of Lynnwood.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Mark Francis said Toby Toro, 20, was arrested after his car pinned a motorcycle on I-5 near 44th Avenue. The 29-year-old motorcyclist from Seattle was rushed to Harborview Medical Center to be treated for several broken bones and serious internal bleeding, according to reports. Toro reportedly looked impaired and had stated that he was high on marijuana. He was arrested for DUI and vehicular assault.

Toro’s mother later disagreed with the Washington State Patrol report, insisting that her son was not stoned and “is a good kid.”

Being convicted of a DUI can have serious consequences. As such, you need a highly skilled and qualified DUI attorney supporting you after being charged with a DUI. Call our legal team of Cowan Kirk Gaston today at 1-866-822-1230 to discuss how we can fight for you.

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Crash with Pedestrian Leads to Arrest of Bus Driver

Posted on January 29th, 2013 No Comments

A bus driver suspected of driving under the influence was arrested after he hit a pedestrian in downtown Seattle earlier this month.

The 32-year-old man who was hit by the bus became disoriented, but left the scene with non-life threatening injuries. Medics later found him on Fourth Avenue and Pine Street, at which point the victim was rushed to Harborview Medical Center. Meanwhile the Seattle Police sought help from a drug recognition expert in evaluating the bus driver. According to the initial impression of the expert, the driver exhibited some signs of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Metro Transit spokesperson said they tested the bus driver with a Breathalyzer test and he was cleared. Blood was also taken from the suspect after his arrest and was later released to Metro Transit supervisors.

If you are facing alcohol-related driving charges of any kind, you need experienced legal representation on your side. Contact the DUI attorneys of The Cowan, Kirk & Gaston Law Firm today at 866-822-1230 for the help you need.

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New Information Released in Wakeboarding Death

Posted on January 15th, 2013 No Comments

The King County prosecutor’s office released more information on the death of a local wakeboarder that occurred last summer.

According to reports, the boat’s operator was arrested on suspicion of BUI after the death of wakeboarder he was pulling, Nate Bahner 33, but it does not appear that the operator’s actions or inaction had any influence on the wakeboarder’s death. According to Senior Deputy prosecutor Amy Freedheim, Bahner died from drowning after he broke his neck when he attempted a back flip on his wakeboard and got tangled in the tow cable.

The boat operator was arrested after he refused to submit to a breathalyzer test. His blood was drawn and tested over four hours later, and Freedheim said that, adjusting for time, she believes that the boat’s operator was intoxicated at the time Bahner’s accident occurred.

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Drunk driver strikes 2 Seattle Detectives

Posted on November 5th, 2012 No Comments

On Friday morning, two Seattle Police detectives were injured in a car accident with a drunk driver. The detectives, who are part of the SPD gang unit, were in an unmarked patrol car at the time of the accident.

The drunk driver, a 42-year-old woman, was operating a Volkswagon Beetle around 2 a.m. when she slammed directly into the unmarked patrol car. The woman was driving on 1st Avenue when she t-boned the car with the two detectives inside. The detectives were able to call in their own accident, but ended up in neck braces when paramedics arrived.

The driver that caused the accident was not injured in the collision. She was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Police officers that responded to the accident shut down the intersection at 1st Avenue and Seneca Street in order to conduct an investigation into the crash.

If you have been charged with driving under the influence, it is important that you are represented by experienced legal professionals. Please contact the DUI defense lawyers of the Cowan, Kirk & Gaston Law Firm by calling 866-822-1230 today to discuss your case.

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CDC study shows teen drinking and driving is down

Posted on October 2nd, 2012 No Comments

A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that drinking and driving for high school teenagers has decreased by more than 50 percent in the last 20 years.

In 1991, high school students who were at least 16 years of age were surveyed to determine how often they got behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. The results of that study indicated that 22.3 percent of the students had drove under the influence of alcohol within 30 days of taking the survey.

More than two decades later, high school students were surveyed yet again by the CDC regarding their tendencies to drink alcohol and operate a motor vehicle. This time, the data indicated that 10.3 percent of the high school students admitted to drinking and driving within 30 days of the survey. This number is down by more than half since the initial survey was administered in 1991.

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Maryland lawmaker claims he was drinking before boating accident

Posted on September 5th, 2012 No Comments

On August 24, a Maryland lawmaker was involved in a boating accident that left four children injured.

The accident happened after the lawmaker admitted that he had been consuming alcohol before operating his boat. He allegedly lost control of the boat, and crashed into a vessel that contained several children. Four of the children on the vessel were injured in the crash.

Three of the four children were treated for bruises and broken bones, and a 5-year-old girl sustained a skull fracture after she was thrown from the vessel due to the impact of the crash. The lawmaker was said to have had a BAC of 0.20, which is more than twice the legal limit. An investigation into the boating while intoxicated case is still underway.

If you have been charged with boating while intoxicated, you need experienced representation on your side. Please contact the BUI lawyers of Cowan, Kirk & Gaston Law Firm by calling 866-822-1230 today.

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Seattle Seahawks player pleads not guilty in DUI case

Posted on August 2nd, 2012 No Comments

On July 14, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was arrested in California on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was allegedly swerving in his lane on Interstate 880 in Oakland before he was pulled over.

At the time of his arrest, his breathalyzer test registered at 0.08, the exact legal limit. Lynch was tested a second time, and it is reported that his BAC was higher on this attempt. He was charged with driving under the influence and driving under the influence with a BAC of 0.08 or higher.

The professional football player has pleaded not guilty. The case will likely not go to trial until after the 2012 NFL season is completed.

If you have been charged with driving under the influence, you need experienced representation on your side. Please contact the DUI defense lawyers of the Cowan Kirk Gaston Law Firm by calling 866-822-1230 today.

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