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BELLEVUE RACING ATTORNEYS
Racing, is among the wide variety of criminal driving offenses that can be charged here in Bellevue. What many people do not know is that street racing is a major problem throughout King County. And, it is a major point of emphasis throughout the entire region. Racing, although a specific charge in itself, is interesting in that it is a form of Reckless Driving.
RCW 46.61.530, governs what the State must prove to convict you of Racing. Essentially, the State must prove: (1) that you were the driver of a vehicle on any of Washington State's public highways, and (2) you willfully compared or contested the relative speeds of another vehicle.
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There is certainly a public misconception about exactly what it means to compare speeds with another vehicle. Most people intuitively understand that if you are traveling at a high rate of speed, and comparing your speed to another vehicle, you are racing. However, high speeds are NOT REQUIRED here in Washington state. Many, many, many, of our clients were operating within the speed limits when they were pulled over for racing, and the law in Washington state grants police officers the discretion to do so!
This is especially troubling given the extreme penalties for racing. Remember that racing is a form of Reckless driving, with all of the associated penalties. That means, if you are convicted of racing, you could face a maximum of 364 days in jail, a $5,000 fine, and a 30 day license suspension from the Department of Licensing, even if you were going the exact speed limit!
A conviction of racing on your record will have negative consequences beyond the potential statutory maximums. For example, your insurance rates following relicensing will increase. A criminal conviction has other far-reaching consequences that could affect: college admissions, eligibility for federal student loans, job applications, military enlistment, residential rental applications, and even travel to other countries.
If you are convicted and given the maximum penalty, your life will be severely interrupted. That is highly unlikely to happen, unless you have an extensive criminal driving history. Spending months in jail is always a life changing experience--and most times not for the better. When you retain our firm, our primary goal is to make sure that you avoid jail time of any kind.
We understand the emotions that run through our client's minds when they are arrested. Most of our clients are not career criminals. They are simply people that might have made a poor decision, and as the old adage goes, "bad things happen to good people." It is our job to tell your story, to position you the right way in front of both the prosecutor and the court, to make sure we are available when you need us, and to offer our guidance throughout this confusing and overwhelming process.
Now that you have been criminally charged, a million thoughts are running through your mind. What happens next? How will I get to work? Will I lose my job? Will I be prevented from advancing my career? Can I relocate? Am I on probation right now? When you call our offices, you will speak to one of our experienced criminal defense attorneys, and we will take the time to go through all of your questions in detail.
It is worth the effort and resources necessary to let a Seattle criminal attorney from our firm evaluate the situation and advise you on the best course of action.
The initial consultation is free, and we will take the time to learn about your specific case, and give you our honest assessment of where your case stands. Remember, NEVER speak to the police, detectives, or anyone from the prosecutor's office without an attorney.
They have one job, and that is to make sure you are convicted. If you are reading this page you have been charged with a criminal offense. It is now them against you. With something as important as your freedom at stake, don't make the mistake of handling your criminal charge alone.
Washington Criminal Attorneys will be there for you when it matters the most, and our Bellevue racing attorneys will be with you every step of the process.
