If you were arrested for a Tacoma DUI (in the city of Tacoma by Tacoma Police) your case will be filed in the Tacoma Municipal Court located at the Pierce County Courthouse. The filing of your case in the Tacoma Municipal Court means that the prosecutors working on your case will be from the criminal law division of the Tacoma City Attorneys Office. Your judge will be one of the three elected judges for the city of Tacoma.
At this time, DUI cases that are filed in Tacoma Municipal Court will be filed within 72 hours of your arrest or occasionally within two to six seeks after your DUI arrest. This means that you must seek a Tacoma DUI attorney as soon as possible. Not only is your privilege to drive is at risk of administrative suspension through the Washington Department of Licensing (you have 20 days from the date of your DUI arrest to request an administrative hearing) but there are also several steps that you can begin working on now that will ultimately be helpful in the preparation and negotiation of your case. By being proactive you and your Tacoma DUI lawyer will be prepared when your case is filed. This will save you money, time and stress at your arraignment.
In the Tacoma Municipal Court the prosecutors will often ask for conditions of release at the DUI arraignment that will require you to be proactive and prepared. Having retained an experienced Tacoma DUI attorney you will have the benefit of our insights into the issues around these conditions and the judge who will be presiding over your case. This will influence not only the conditions of your release but the future outcome of your case as well.