King County · Washington
A Washington DUI arrest can put your license, record, livelihood, and freedom at risk. The court case and the Department of Licensing action move separately—and both demand attention now.
One arrest. Two proceedings.
One is the criminal case filed in court. The other is the administrative license action handled by the Washington State Department of Licensing. They follow different rules, move on different deadlines, and can reach different outcomes.
Veitch Ault Defense addresses both from the beginning—protecting your license, preparing for court, reviewing the evidence, and identifying opportunities to challenge the state’s case.
Criminal case
The government alleges a violation of Washington DUI law. The court determines the criminal charge, conditions, motions, trial, and any sentence.
Administrative case
The Department of Licensing can suspend or revoke driving privileges before the criminal case is resolved. Missing the hearing deadline can trigger the action automatically.
The opening days
Early deadlines and evidence decisions shape both sides of a DUI case. A disciplined first response preserves options.
Request the hearing within the statutory window and preserve the opportunity to contest the license action.
Review reports, body camera, dash camera, breath or blood records, and testing documentation.
Identify whether the stop, arrest, field sobriety testing, breath testing, or blood evidence was handled correctly.
Prepare motions, negotiations, and trial strategy around the facts and legal issues unique to the case.
Evidence under review
The defense is not limited to a test number. It examines the legal basis for the stop, the reliability of testing, the officer’s observations, and whether every required procedure was followed.
Meet Robert J. AultReasonable suspicion, probable cause, driving observations, and the sequence of the investigation.
Instructions, conditions, administration, physical limitations, and interpretation of performance.
Collection, calibration, maintenance, chain of custody, timing, and evidentiary reliability.
Direct representation
Clients work directly with Robert J. Ault—not a rotating team of associates. From the first review through hearings, negotiations, and trial preparation, Rob remains personally involved.
DUI questions
General information cannot replace advice about your specific arrest. These answers explain the first issues many Washington drivers face.
You generally have seven days from the date of arrest to request a hearing. Missing that deadline usually means the suspension or revocation takes effect automatically.
Yes. The state may rely on driving behavior, observations, field sobriety testing, statements, drugs, or other evidence to allege that a driver was affected.
A refusal may cause a longer license revocation and can create additional issues in the criminal case. The same short DOL hearing deadline applies.
In many cases, a driver who requests a hearing on time and remains otherwise eligible can continue driving while the administrative matter is pending.
Free · Confidential · Direct
Speak directly with Rob about the arrest, the DOL deadline, and what the next step should be.
425-452-1600