An alleged drunk driver was arrested in Mercer Island after he reportedly sped up behind a patrol car and then gave up before the officer even gave chase.

The unidentified 22-year-old Bellevue man was reportedly racing along Interstate 90 in Mercer Island when he unintentionally sped up right behind a marked patrol car, reports Patch. The officer in the patrol car says that he noticed the driver coming up behind him at a "very high rate of speed" before quickly slowing down. The officer then slowed down his patrol car.

At this point, the suspect reportedly decided to pull over onto the shoulder and stop without any prompting from the officer. Even had the patrol officer not intended to stop the suspect, the officer was now given very little choice but to investigate.

The officer maneuvered his car behind the suspect's stopped car and contacted the driver. The officer quickly determined that he believed the suspect was drunk. The suspect was given a blood alcohol test and was arrested after testing for a blood alcohol level of 0.104 and 0.090, above the legal limit of 0.08.

The driver of the car now faces very serious penalties. If convicted of the drunk driving charge, he generally would face between one day and one year in jail, monetary fines, and even a license suspension (RCW 46.61.5055). The exact penalty the driver faces depends upon factors like his prior criminal history and possibly even mitigating circumstances like his decision to pull over before the officer gave chase.

If you are arrested for a DUI in the Mercer Island, Bellevue, or other King County area, you should know that while the statutes provide the general framework for penalties, there is a lot of room for a judge's discretion. That is why you will need experienced legal counsel at your side to help you defend against the charges and minimize the potential penalties.

You do not want to fight your drunk driving charge alone. Contact the attorneys at Wolff Criminal Defense at 425-284-2000 to learn about your options and possible defenses. The initial consultation is free.