Tacoma DUI Attorney | Traffic Ticket Lawyer in Washington

30 Years of DUI Experience

DUI Offenses

When you are charged with a DUI in Washington, whether it was caused by alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs, much is at stake. Your driver’s license, your livelihood, and your finances are all at risk. One mistake can turn your life upside down. Know this: after being charged with a DUI in Pierce County, you have options with a DUI defense attorney on your side. A DUI defense attorney will take your BAC, field sobriety tests, probable cause, and prior offenses into account and determine a plan of action. You aren’t a criminal; you made a mistake. Learn more about how a DUI defense lawyer can help you evaluate your options after a DUI charge and fight for your rights in court.

Download Our DUI Guide

Traffic Infractions

Failing to stop at a stop sign, passing a stopped school bus, and driving without insurance; all of these, and more, are considered traffic infractions in the state of Washington. Infractions come with consequences, like traffic tickets, fines, probation, and driver’s license suspensions. And the more infractions you collect, the more consequences you can receive. Paying your fine or accepting the charge may seem like the easy route. In reality, though, by consulting an attorney with experience with traffic infractions in Lakewood and Tacoma, Washington, you could save yourself time, money, and heartache.

Download Our Traffic Ticket Guide

Firm Overview

If you find yourself arrested and charged with a DUI in the state of Washington, you are likely to be anxious, frightened, and, perhaps, even angry, if you feel you were unfairly targeted. Perhaps you have been ticketed from a moving violation and are unsure whether you should simply pay the ticket and accept the consequences or fight the charges. Whatever your issue—whether DUI, marijuana DUI, suspended license, habitual traffic offender, potential loss of a CDL, arrests and warrants or other traffic offenses—the Pierce County DUI lawyers at The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden can help. At The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden, we consistently provide great customer service for our clients.

We are open six days a week for the convenience of our clients, and if you call our offices, you will talk to an attorney who can answer your questions and put your mind at ease during this difficult time. At The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden, we have extensive experience as traffic ticket lawyers and DUI lawyers.

We understand that you are potentially facing one of the most difficult times in your life—we want you to feel confident in your choice of attorney, and we want you to be properly informed about your charges, your options, and the potential penalties. We can assist you in trying to retain your CDL, with a “regular” DUI, or with a marijuana DUI. At The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden, we work hard to help individuals keep their jobs. We truly care about each client and the outcome of each case.

When you are charged with a Washington DUI, you have much at stake—your livelihood, your driver’s license, your finances, and your freedom. This one single mistake can truly turn your life upside-down, altering your future in negative ways. You do have options, however. Once you are charged with a DUI in Pierce County, your DUI attorney will take all the factors into account (your BAC, your field sobriety tests, probable cause and prior offenses), then put together a comprehensive plan of action.

Meet the Attorneys

Barbara A. Bowden

Martha McLaughlin

Ross Brittain

At The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden, we have an exemplary team of lawyers and support staff who are ready to help you during this difficult time, including:

Barbara A. Bowden: Attorney and Owner— Born and raised in Western Washington, Barbara completed her undergraduate studies at Washington State University, then continued her education, graduating from the University of Puget Sound Law School. Barbara then became a licensed attorney in the State of Washington since 1986. Since that time, Barbara has concentrated on defending individual’s traffic rights, including traffic tickets and DUIs.
Martha McLaughlin: Attorney— Martha McLaughlin earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Puget Sound in 1984. While working full-time as a Microbiologist with Multicare Health Systems and raising two boys while her Air Force officer husband was frequently deployed, Martha graduated from Seattle University School of Law with honors in 2007.
Ross Brittain: Attorney— Ross was drawn to the idea of helping those who would not otherwise have a voice to help themselves from an early age. Ross received his BA from Western Washington University, then graduated from the Gonzaga University School of Law. Ross has been recognized for his excellent work over the years, receiving the Consumer Law Clinic Achievement Award, two awards of distinction during his service at the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and placed as a Trial Advocacy Semi-Finalist.

Our team is complemented by Russian speaking Lyuda Orlov, who is in charge of the administrative duties for Traffic Tickets and all-around Office Management, Patty Maerkl, Billing Specialist, Lisa Newkirk, Criminal Paralegal, Kareena, Criminal Paralegal, and Nicholas Mann, Office Assistant. We have an office in Lakewood, WA—with welcoming doors.

Meet Our Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I expect after a DUI arrest?

If you were arrested by a Washington State Trooper or a County Deputy Sheriff, then you will likely be charged with DUI in the District Court in the County where you were arrested. If you were arrested by a municipal police officer, then you will likely be charged with DUI in the Municipal Court in the municipal locality where you were arrested. Some towns do not have their own courts so, in those cases, you may be charged in a different court. Read More

Can I refuse Voluntary Field Sobriety Tests?

If you have been pulled over by law enforcement or otherwise contacted by law enforcement, and you have been asked whether you will submit to voluntary field sobriety tests, you have the right to refuse to submit to these tests. There is no penalty for refusing these tests. It is unlawful for the police officer to arrest you solely for refusing field sobriety tests. Read More

More FAQs

How We Can Serve You

We know that you are not a criminal; you are simply a good person who made a mistake. That mistake can, however, make you feel as though your entire life is in jeopardy. Whether you have been arrested on DUI charges, have received multiple traffic tickets, or are concerned about losing your driving privileges, at The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden, we understand these are overwhelming and stressful experiences. We will take what feels like an overwhelming experience, then work hard to make it easier on you and your family by minimizing the consequences. Whether this is your first DUI or your third or subsequent DUI, we will work to negotiate your charges, fighting for your driving privileges and defending your rights. We believe in fair treatment for you under Washington State law, from police officer to judge and from prosecutor to jury. We practice law in the following areas:

Traffic Offenses — Traffic offenses are often unplanned, unexpected, and unfortunate, but in some instances can be quite serious, affecting your family, your livelihood, and your financial future. We focus on protecting your rights when charged with a traffic offense, whether criminal or civil. We work with individuals throughout Pierce County, Washington, also handling Civil Traffic Infractions through Kitsap, Pierce, King, Thursan, Lewis, and Snohomish Counties.
DUI Offenses — At The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden, we are known and respected for the manner in which we help those in Pierce County with DUI charges. We understand that the potential consequences of a DUI can be very frightening, and because we focus solely on this area of law, we are much better prepared to take on the challenges of obtaining the best possible outcome for our clients.
Marijuana DUI — Those charged with a marijuana DUI are usually stopped for the same reasons as those pulled over for alcohol DUIs, and the penalties are the same. We understand that the marijuana driving laws can seem difficult, no matter how much you have heard or read about them, and we will work hard to answer all your questions with solid, legal answers.
Suspended License — At The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden, we are not just experienced in helping our clients avoid license suspensions, we help those with suspended licenses obtain a valid license. Our attorneys have a relationship with the Washington Department of Licensing; this, along with our experience, knowledge, and skills allow us to expedite getting you back on the road with a valid license.
Habitual Traffic Offender — A habitual traffic offender is one who has committed twenty or more moving violations or three major moving violations within a five-year period. If you are found to be a habitual traffic offender, you will have your driver’s license revoked for a 7 years. Sometimes we can petition for early reinstatement, thus getting you back driving well before 7 years.The attorneys at The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden can help—Barbara has over 30 years of experience with these types of hearings.
Commercial Driver License — If you have been charged with any major moving violation or a DUI, your CDL license could be in jeopardy. Because your livelihood likely depends on your CDL, it is imperative that you contact an attorney from The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden as quickly as possible. We will work hard to ensure you maintain your employment. We understand the importance of a CDL license and will thoroughly answer your questions and discuss the circumstances and facts in your case.
Arrests and Warrants — Being arrested for DUI or for another traffic infraction can be incredibly stressful and frightening. You may be unsure of what to do or say—or what not to do or say. You do not want to say anything which could come back to haunt you down the line, therefore say as little as possible and ask for an attorney. Contact The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden, and we will ensure you receive exemplary legal representation for your case.
Hit and Run — Hit and run charges are taken extremely seriously in the state of Washington; if you are charged with a hit and run, you are facing many negative consequences, including jail time, a license suspension, and large fines. Whether your hit and run is Attended or Unattended, we are fully cognizant of the differences in charges, fines and potential jail time and will walk you through the steps you need to take, answering your questions in a comprehensive manner.

We understand what you are going through, whether you have been charged with DUI or another traffic offense. We are willing to work tirelessly to ensure your rights are protected and will work to negotiate your charges, whenever possible. Our team is ready to fight for you and advocate for your rights. We believe that one mistake should not result in you having to place your life on hold and miss out on opportunities. Time is definitely of the essence in these situations, and our skilled defense attorneys and traffic ticket team will begin working on your case immediately, using our experience and knowledge to your advantage.