Yakima DUI Lawyer

If you were arrested for DUI in Yakima County, you have two separate fights ahead: one in criminal court and one with the Department of Licensing. Miss either deadline and the consequences get worse — often much worse.


Tony Swartz is a criminal defense attorney based in Ellensburg who represents clients facing DUI charges in Yakima County District Court and Yakima Municipal Court. He handles the full picture: the criminal charge, the DOL hearing, and everything in between.


Call (509) 293-7593 for a free consultation.


The 7-Day DOL Deadline

When you were arrested, the officer likely took your physical license and handed you a paper notice. That paper starts a 7-day clock. You have 7 days from the date of arrest to request a DOL hearing — not 7 days from when you read this, not 7 days from your arraignment.


If you miss that window, your license is automatically suspended on day 60 after arrest. No hearing, no appeal, no exceptions.


Tony Swartz handles DOL hearings as part of every DUI representation. This is not a separate engagement — it’s part of the case.


What a Yakima DUI Actually Means

A first-offense DUI in Washington carries:

  • Minimum 1 day in jail (24 hours) or 15 days of electronic home monitoring
  • $990.50 minimum fine (plus assessments that push the total well over $1,000)
  • 90-day license suspension (DOL action, separate from the criminal case)
  • Ignition interlock device required for at least 1 year after license reinstatement
  • SR-22 insurance requirement for 3 years

A high BAC DUI (0.15 or above) doubles most of those minimums.


These are the mandatory minimums. They are the floor, not the typical outcome. Tony Swartz works to get charges reduced or dismissed so you avoid them entirely.


How Tony Swartz Defends DUI Cases in Yakima

Challenging the Stop. An officer cannot pull you over without reasonable suspicion. If the initial stop was unlawful, everything that followed — the field sobriety tests, the breath test, the arrest — can be suppressed.


Challenging Field Sobriety Tests. The Walk-and-Turn, One-Leg-Stand, and Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus tests are subjective. They are designed to produce failures. Tony examines whether the officer administered them correctly and whether your performance was actually consistent with impairment or explained by other factors (medical conditions, road surface, lighting, footwear).


Challenging the Breath Test. The DataMaster DMT is the primary breath testing device in Washington. It requires regular calibration, proper maintenance, and correct administration. Tony reviews the instrument’s service records, the officer’s certification, and the test protocol for defects that could invalidate the reading.


Plea Negotiations. Even when the facts are difficult, there is often room to negotiate. Prosecutors in Yakima County have discretion to reduce DUI charges to negligent driving, reckless driving, or reckless endangerment — outcomes that carry far lower penalties and no mandatory minimums.


Courts Tony Swartz Handles in Yakima County

  • Yakima County District Court
  • Yakima Municipal Court
  • Selah Municipal Court
  • Union Gap Municipal Court


Free Consultation — No Obligation

Tony Swartz offers a free initial consultation for all DUI cases in Yakima County. You will speak directly with Tony — not a receptionist or paralegal — and get a straight assessment of your situation.


Call (509) 293-7593 or use the contact form below.


The Law Office of Tony Swartz serves clients throughout Yakima County and Kittitas County from its office in Ellensburg, WA. For answers to common DUI questions, see the DUI FAQ.