Some people may realize that they are simply too intoxicated to safely operate their vehicle. As a result, they may decide to sleep inside their vehicle until they sober up. While this may sound like a good idea, police officers can still pursue DUI charges even if the vehicle is not on the road or running at the time of the offense. These parked car DUIs are permitted under the law in Washington.
Even if your car is parked, you can still face the consequences of regular DUI charges. If you have been charged with intoxicated driving, contact the Seattle DUI attorneys of Cowan Kirk at 866-822-1230 for more information regarding your defense options.
Are Parked Car DUIs Legitimate?
An officer can arrest an individual for intoxicated driving under a few important conditions. Regardless of the person's actual intentions, an officer can press charges if they have reason to believe that individual may have attempted to drive drunk. These conditions include the following:
- Having keys in the ignition
- Having the intention of driving while intoxicated
- Having physical control over the vehicle
There is an unusual defense in some cases for these parked car DUI charges. In the state of Washington, a defendant can pull off of the road if they feel that they are too drunk to drive, possibly avoiding DUI charges. However, this defense does not work in all cases, as it requires several specific conditions as well.
Contact Us
If you have been charged with DUI even though you were not even driving, we may be able to help you with your criminal defense strategy. To learn more about your rights as a defendant in a DUI case, contact the Seattle DUI lawyers of Cowan Kirk by calling 866-822-1230.
