Karimi Law  /  DUI

RCW 46.61.502 · DUI Defense

There were lights behind you on the way home.

A DUI arrest starts two cases at once — the court's, and the Department of Licensing's. They run on different clocks, and missing one can cost you the other. Both clocks can be managed — but only if they are watched from the first day.

Request a confidential review →Call the office at (206) 222‑3280

Top 100 DUI LawyersFormer King County prosecutorCourt & DOL — both watched

What happens next

  1. The stop

    The stop and the evidence

    How the stop happened, what was measured, and how — examined for what holds and what doesn't. Procedure is not a formality.

  2. The court

    The criminal case

    Arraignment, the file, the options — read the way a former prosecutor reads them.

  3. The license

    The license process

    Separate from court, with its own short window to act. Worth acting on — calmly, and on time.

Two parallel processes

Two cases, one night.

The criminal charge is only half of it. A separate licensing process can move on its own deadline — quietly, and quickly. A prepared defense watches both from the first day.

One arrest. Two deadlines.

Court track

The criminal case

Moves on the court calendar — arraignment, hearings, resolution. The pace you can usually see coming.

Administrative track · Dept. of Licensing

The license clock

Runs separately, and the window to request a hearing is measured in days, not months. The exact deadline is attorney-verified before this page publishes.

It isn't meant to alarm you — it's simply a deadline a prepared defense is already counting, so you don't have to.

Steve Karimi
Steve Karimi
Former prosecutor

How a former prosecutor reads a DUI case

Two systems, watched from the first day.

The factWhat it lets him doWhat it means for you
Top 100 DUI Lawyers · 2014–2016
Recognized specifically for DUI defense.
This isn't a sideline — it's a matter he is known for.
Prosecuted DUI cases as a city prosecutor, 2000–2004
Knows how the State proves impairment — the stop, the testing, the procedure.
The evidence is examined for the weaknesses a prosecutor would worry about.
The court and the Department of Licensing run separately
Knows both clocks — and that the DOL window is short and easy to miss.
Both systems are watched from day one, so neither catches you off guard.

Meet Steve

Common questions

Plain answers.

Does a DUI arrest start one case or two?

A DUI arrest starts two cases at once — the court's, and the Department of Licensing's. They run on different clocks, and missing one can cost you the other.

How long do I have to act on the license process?

Separate from court, with its own short window to act. Worth acting on — calmly, and on time.

Runs separately, and the window to request a hearing is measured in days, not months. The exact deadline is attorney-verified before this page publishes.

What is examined about the stop and the evidence?

How the stop happened, what was measured, and how — examined for what holds and what doesn't. Procedure is not a formality.

What happens in the criminal case?

Arraignment, the file, the options — read the way a former prosecutor reads them.

Is the first consultation free and confidential?

A free, confidential consultation. No obligation. What you share stays between us.

Contacting this office does not create an attorney‑client relationship.

Where to begin

Start both clocks prepared.

A free, confidential consultation. No obligation. What you share stays between us.

Request a confidential review →Call the office at (206) 222‑3280
Callthe office at(206) 222‑3280 Free consultation