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The Washington State Legislature made many big changes to how Washington State evictions work. These changes are effective July 28, 2019. You need to make sure that you follow these rules when proceeding with an unlawful detainer (eviction) case. Feel free to call my office, as I do many of these cases each year. I aim to charge landlords an affordable fee in these cases. By hiring a lawyer, you can make sure the process is followed legally and procedurally.

Clients typically ask how court works. I created this flow chart to show you how I expect a typical criminal charge will make its way through the court system, be it in Kittitas County or Yakima County. This is based on my experience working on an approximated 10,000 criminal cases within our Washington State court system. Every case is different, so this is just a model. Your case might be able to skip certain steps, or we might build extra steps in...it all depends on your case.

Tony represents people charged with Washington State traffic infractions such as speeding, expired license tabs, and other offenses cited in Kittitas County or Yakima County. One of the questions that frequently arises is whether an offense is considered a moving violation for insurance purposes.

Clients typically wonder what will happen to their CDL when they get charged with a DUI, even if the Driving Under the Influence case occurred when they were driving a personal car (in other words, they were NOT driving a commercial vehicle). Department of Licensing takes a two-step approach in attempt to revoke your commercial drivers license after you get charged with a DUI.

If you were convicted of a crime, misdemeanor or felony, in Kittitas County, you may be at the point where you want to remove or delete that conviction from your record. Most people call me to ask for an expungement. Washington law is a bit complicated in its terminology for this area.

Clients sometimes ask for help seeking out therapy for their own personal reasons (even when it is not court ordered or required in their case). My best recommendation is: LOCAL - Seek out a local therapist. Some people interact much better with therapy in-person rather than online. If you know you are likely to fall into this category, there really isn't a substitute for in-person therapists. The downside is some locations have no availability, or even worse, it becomes clear to you after your first meeting that the available therapist will not be a "good fit" for you. You really need someone who will fit into your personality. ONLINE - https://www.betterhelp.com/ is a great resource. This is online therapy, but you have such more flexibility in this platform. You can text, call, or video chat with your therapist. Costs average from $60 to $100 a week, it seems. The biggest benefit is they have a ton of therapists available, so if your assigned therapist isn't a good fit, you can just ask for a new one! Mor

This is a very confusing area of the law. It is IMPERATIVE that you call an attorney right after your DUI happens to discuss your specific scenario because the deadlines are very short here and laws often change. If you make the wrong decision, it is not easy, and maybe near impossible, to reverse your mistake. Call me for a free consultation at 509-293-7593 if you need help in Ellensburg, Cle Elum, or Yakima.

Wondering what happens in a DUI? Tony published a new intoxicated driving FAQ for Kittitas County and Yakima County. Check it out by clicking this link.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test is one of three standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) validated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is also a test that police in Kittitas or Yakima County administer frequently during traffic stops when intoxicated driving is suspected. Though NHTSA recognizes the HGN as a valid test, this test is not fool-proof. In fact, it has its disadvantages, which make admitting it as evidence problematic in many cases.

Field sobriety tests are roadside tests police conduct during a traffic stop in Washington to determine if a driver is impaired or unlawfully under the influence of alcohol or another chemical substance. The walk-and-turn test is one of the most commonly used field sobriety tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also considers it as one of three standardized field sobriety tests, which can mean the results can be used as evidence against you in DUI cases.

We cannot all be experts in the law. That said, if we get in trouble with the law (or even if we are just accused of something that may not have happened), we want someone who knows the law to represent us. Fortunately, the backbone of our legal system is each person's right to an attorney. This right is true regardless of whether you can afford one or not. Of course, it is always best to be able to choose who represents you in a court of law in Washington.

The 5th Amendment of the Constitution holds that you have the right against self-incrimination. This means that you cannot be forced to answer questions or otherwise provide information about yourself that will likely result in your facing criminal prosecution. It is also this amendment that gives you “the right to remain silent.” It is possible you have even heard of people invoking this right by “pleading the fifth.” By pleading the 5th Amendment, they have invoked their right against self-incrimination.

When a person is arrested in Kittitas or Yakima County, they have a right to know what their charges are. They also have a right to plead guilty or not guilty. This all happens at the first hearing, otherwise called an arraignment. It can be a particularly nerve-wrecking time for anyone, even those who have been charged with criminal activity previously. Many people without lawyers try to defend themselves or explain their story during an arraignment, which is a horrible idea for many reasons. Knowing what to expect can help relieve some anxiety. Tony Swartz, a criminal defense attorney based in Ellensburg and Yakima, can inform you of the proce

Have you been investigated for, charged with, or found guilty of drunk driving in Kittitas County or Yakima County? As a consequence, you may have been ordered to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle. This can be the result of either an administrative hearing or criminal conviction related to a DUI incident. IIDs can be useful in one way: they are often required when you want to drive but your license has been suspended. They can also cause you problems. These devices are hard to operate and can produce faulty results that can get you into more trouble.

Are you on probation for driving while under the influence of alcohol or another chemical substance in Washington? If so, chances are that you may be asked to provide a urine sample. There are many questions about this type of chemical testing. At Law Office of Tony Swartz, Tony is a DUI defense attorney in Kittitas and Yakima Counties. Here, he will discuss what urine tests are and provide the information you need to understand how this type of chemical test could impact your case. Contact Tony at 509-293-7593 to schedule a free consultation to learn more.

Imagine a country where police hold all the power, yet citizens have no power. That world, for some, may not be so unimaginable. If you have found yourself on the other side of contact with police officers in Kittitas County or Yakima County, you know you can often experience that there are laws in this country meant to protect you from illegal police questioning. We also know, however, that those laws are often violated.

In Washington State as elsewhere in the United States, when a person is charged with a crime, the state or federal government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. When the evidence is not sufficient, a smart criminal defense attorney will file a motion to dismiss. But lack of evidence is not the only reason to file a motion to dismiss. Other reasons exist, and that is why it is important to retain the help of a criminal defense lawyer.