Barbara A. Bowden

Tacoma, WA DUI Attorney

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4 Big DUI Cases You Should Know About

September 10, 2015 By

DUIs happen all over the globe, each and every day.

People believe they are fine to drive, or maybe they have been wrongfully arrested of a DUI. There have been several cases across the U.S. in the last couple weeks.

Drink and KeysCave City, Kentucky

A 39-year-old man was arrested on Saturday, August 29, after being pulled over for suspected intoxicated driving. He was, in fact, under the influence of alcohol, in addition to possessing open containers and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

Although the man was in Kentucky, some similar laws apply to the state of Washington. It is illegal to have open containers in your vehicle in Washington,

Learn more about his arrest here.

Tempe, Arizona

A 25-year-old man was arrested after failing to stop at a DUI checkpoint in Tempe on Sunday, August 30.

The man was driving the vehicle, and another man was in the vehicle, in addition to the driver’s 1-year-old daughter. Law enforcers began to pursue his vehicle after he was seen driving recklessly.

The man was booked into Fourth Avenue Jail with a number of possible charges including DUI, child abuse, possession of drug paraphernalia and more.

You can read more about his arrest here.

Laurel, Delaware

A 38-year-old woman was charged with her second-offense of driving under the influence on Sunday, August 30.

Her vehicle hit a parked police vehicle around 4:00 a.m. on the side of the road. The woman was booked into Sussex Correctional Institution after she was unable to secure her bail.

Learn more about this incident here.

Owatonna, Minnesota

An 18-year-old male was arrested after his vehicle crashed into the median in Owatonna. The incident occurred around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 22. The man was approached by police and told the police that he had consumed marijuana and fallen asleep.

Police officers conducted a field sobriety test, which he failed, and a breath test. The breath test showed that he had a BAC of .156.

The man has since been charged with two counts of DUI causing bodily harm, in addition to possessing marijuana and driving under the influence.

Accidents like these can happen. It’s best to be honest with the officers, but know your rights beforehand. Our attorneys can help you understand your rights in the state of Washington.

You can read more about his accident and other Owatonna incidents here.

Authorities are cracking down across the nation on DUIS in an effort to minimize these incidents.

If you find yourself close to one of these situations, call a cab to take you home. If you know you will be drinking, you should select a designated driver to take everyone home after a night of drinking.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for a DUI in Tacoma or Lakewood, Washington, contact the attorneys at The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden as soon as possible. Our attorneys are here to help you. Call today.

Filed Under: Blog, Driving Under Influence of Alcohol, DUI

September Events in Tacoma

September 1, 2015 By

Summer is coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! There are still plenty of events happening in the Tacoma, Washington area in the next several weeks. We’ve compiled a list for you and the family to enjoy your time together as schedules begin to pick up again.

School is back in session, and work is in full swing, but we know how important it is to be able to enjoy yourself with family and friends, in addition to winding down from a long day or week at the office.

The Broadway Farmer’s Market

When: Every Thursday through October

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where: Between 9th and 11th street, Tacoma, WA

How Much: FREE!

What better way to welcome the fall than with a farmer’s market? The Broadway Farmer’s Market began in 1990, and this will be the place to be on Thursdays this fall. You can enjoy local produce, chef demonstrations, gardening tips and entertainment for the whole family.

Plants Live at the Zoo

When: Sunday, September 6

Time: 10:00 am

Where: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, 5400 N Pearl St., Tacoma, WA

How Much: Free with paid admission or membership

Typically, we go to the zoo the check out all of the incredible animals. On Sunday, September 6, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium will be giving one-hour garden tours of the beautiful plant-life. You can find out more about attracting butterflies and bees, among other animals, to your own garden!

You can learn more about this event here.

Chalk

Frost Park Chalk Off: Season 8

When: Friday, September 18

Time: 12:00 p.m.

Where: Frost Park, Corner of 9th and Pacific Ave., Tacoma, WA

How Much: FREE (chalk included!)

This event will be taking place every Friday through October, but you won’t want to miss the first of the season! Are you looking to revisit your creative youth? The Frost Park Chalk Off is great for the entire family, and it gives you a chance to release your inner creativity via drawing with sidewalk chalk.

This event has a competitive side, too. There will be one weekly winner of the chalk drawing competition, and everyone participating will have a chance to win prizes!

The Washington State Fair

When: Friday, September 11 – Sunday, September 27

Time: Available on their website.

Where: Washington State Fair Event Center, 110 9th Ave. SW, Puyallup, WA, 98371

How Much: Prices Available on their website.

 This is the largest fair in the state of Washington, and you won’t want to miss it! If you’re willing to make the (relatively short) trip over to Puyallup, we would love to see you there.

The fair began in 1900, and it is still going strong every year. You can enjoy delicious food, craft beer and live entertainment. Headliners range from Duran Duran, Keith Urban and Iggy Azalea all the way to Jason Derulo,  Fifth Harmony and Dan + Shay.

Learn more about the fair here.

We are looking forward to seeing you at all of these events! As always, if you are planning on drinking at these events, make sure you have a designated driver to bring you there and back safely.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI or has gotten a traffic ticket in Tacoma or Lakewood, the attorneys at The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden are here to help. Call us today!

Filed Under: Blog, Tacoma, WA

What Happens at Court After a DUI Arrest?

August 20, 2015 By

August Bowden InfographicSo, you were charged with a DUI. Click the infographic to learn about what you can expect on your court date. If you have additional questions, contact the Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden today. We have an office that is conveniently located in Lakewood, WA.

Filed Under: Blog, DUI, Lakewood, Tacoma, WA

What’s Up in Tacoma?

August 6, 2015 By

Is that mid-Summer boredom beginning to kick in? We know the feeling. It’s not quite time for the kids to go back to school yet, but you have just about exhausted all of your planned activities for the family in a couple short months. Summer is never easy because you want to find the perfect balance of productivity, both at work and around the house, and leisurely activities to keep you grounded. We know from experience that the best way to cure a little summer boredom is with some good, old-fashioned, fun! We collected some information about upcoming events near our Tacoma, Washington office in August!

Ferris Wheel

We always advocate for being safe at these types of events which may include having a designated driver to take care of the group’s travels.

Below are some events in the Tacoma area that are coming in the upcoming several weeks:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog, Tacoma, WA

Unpaid Toll Forgiveness Program

July 28, 2015 By

Do You Have the Good to Go Pass?

There is a toll fee to cross eastbound on the Narrows Bridge and also across Lake Washington on the 520 Bridge. People that cross frequently can obtain a Good to Go Pass that is placed on the windshield and have their bank account automatically billed for each toll crossing. Also, on the Narrows Bridge, there are toll booths for people, who don’t have the Good to Go pass, to pay as they go.

As the toll fees continue to rise to the present level of between $5.00 and $7.00, depending upon the method of payment for an ordinary vehicle or motorcycle, the failure to pay the toll carries with it a civil penalty of $40.00, on top of the toll. To the unwary motorist, forgetting to stop at the toll booth during a simple one-time crossing of the bridge can cost nearly $50.00, after everything is all said and done.

However, there is some grace in the Washington State Department of Transportation. DoT has now decided to adopt a program of waiving the $40.00 civil penalty, if you just come forward and pay the actual unpaid tolls that are due. That’s a pretty good deal, especially for Tacoma residents who may have had an occasion to drive over to Bremerton or the Peninsula across the Narrows Bridge, or, who simply forgot to stop at the toll booth on the way back home. To request a waiver of the civil penalty, a person must contact a Good to Go Service office.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Tacoma, Uncategorized, WA

Understanding Your DUI

July 22, 2015 By

UNDERSTANDING TACOMA DUIShould you take the blood alcohol test? Why were you pulled over? Check out this infographic to understand your DUI. Click to enlarge.

Filed Under: Blog, DUI

Washington Supreme Court Takes A Bite Out of Fines

June 29, 2015 By

As Tacoma, Washington DUI attorneys, we are always concerned with how our clients’ finances will be affected due to their criminal traffic cases. And we know that for some people, a small fine can quickly become a larger problem if you don’t have the proper means to pay it.

A recent Washington State Supreme Court decision will hopefully change that.

As it stands right now, legal financial obligations, such as fines in criminal cases, often accrue interest at the rate of 12% per year.  These fines are then turned over to collection companies; they tack on fees, further increasing the amount owed.

In a criminal traffic case, such as a DUI, these fines aren’t just turned over to a collection company by the court. They also get reported to the Department of Licensing, and now the collection company has the added leverage of driver license suspension hanging over a person’s head. Not exactly a fair bargaining position.

The wealthy don’t experience the full impact of our penal fine system. Rather, it is the indigent and financially marginal person whose discretionary fines end up in collections and their driving privileges suspended.

In DUI cases, there are statutory minimum fines that a court must impose. Some courts are more cognizant of financial concerns and have alternative methods of satisfying mandatory minimum fines, such as authorizing community service hours with a non-profit organization of a person’s choice. But not all of them are.

The Washington Supreme Court has recently taken a small step to correcting this by requiring courts to at least take into account the defendant’s ability to pay before imposing discretionary fines.

As a result of the Washington Supreme Court decision in State v. Blazina, et al, a sentencing court must now make an individualized inquiry into a defendant’s current and future ability to pay before imposing legal financial obligations.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog

Brace Yourself: The U.S. Open Championship is Coming to Tacoma, Washington

June 10, 2015 By

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Speith and all of the top golfers in the world will be converging on Tacoma, WA along with thousands of golf fans for the United States Open Championship that is being held at Chambers Bay Golf Course from June 15 to June 21.

This prestigious major golf championship has never been held in the Northwest before. The only major golf championship ever hosted in the Northwest is modern times was the 1998 PGA Championship held at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, won by Vijay Singh. Singh is among 79 top golfers who are automatically qualified to compete in the United States Open this year. The U.S. Open is unique among the major professional golf tournaments in that theoretically, you or I could qualify, because there are qualifying tournaments around the country for just a few open spots, with nearly 10,000 golfers attempting to survive the qualifying tournaments to gain entry into the U.S. Open.

All hotel rooms in the Puget Sound region are being booked to capacity.

The U.S. Open Championship is like the Super Bowl of golf. Millions of television viewers around the world will be focused on the around the clock coverage of this event.

Chambers Bay Golf Course is located along the shores of Puget Sound in University Place in an otherwise quiet residential area. There are no traffic arterials immediately accessing the golf course and there will be no parking at the golf course. Shuttle buses will be providing transportation to event-goers from parking lots around the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup and Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog

Casa Mia: A Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden Favorite

April 29, 2015 By

Casa MiaLets be honest—we all love a good slice of pizza.And when the staff at The Law Offices of Barbara A. Bowden needs a slice of pizza (or two), we look no further than across the street to the delicious Casa Mia Italian Restaurant.

Casa Mia is a Washington favorite, dating back all of the way to 1952 when they opened their first restaurant in Hoquiam. Since then, they’ve opened seven Casa Mia Italian restaurants across the state of Washington—including our favorite in Lakewood. Their hand-tossed, New York-style Italian dishes are awesome, whether we’re looking to dine in or order out. Since they’ve opened they have won multiple awards—including first place in the “Pizza Across America” contest.

We love their fabulous and famous House Vinaigrette Dressing consisting of oil, cider vinegar, and seasoning for our salads. However, there is no denying that their Chicken Pizza with Three Cheeses is one of the best pizzas that you can find in the entire state of Washington. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog, Lakewood, WA

Are Stricter DUI Penalties in Washington’s Future?

April 14, 2015 By

Are Stricter DUI Penalties in Washington’s FutureWith the way that state laws are organized today, the state of Washington has some of the most relaxed laws in the country when it comes to driving under the influence.  According to a study done by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, there were 160 alcohol related motor vehicle fatalities in Washington in 2012. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines these alcohol-related deaths as “fatalities that occur in crashes where at least one driver or non-occupant (pedestrian or bicyclist) involved in the crash has a positive Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) value”.

Today, across the entire state of Washington, a person needs to be convicted of five DUIs before it is considered a felony. This means that for the first four DUIs, the driver walks away with a misdemeanor. If you are thinking that this seems like a very small punishment for someone who has committed a crime that kills so many people a year, you are right. Of the 45 states that have DUI related felony charges, Washington is the only state in which a person needs to receive a DUI five times before it is considered a felony. The majority of other states reach a felony level after four convictions. Idaho and Oregon, however, have the strictest DUI related laws, with felony convictions in these states happening after only three offenses.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog, DUI
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