Washington state has tough DUI laws and even local politicians are not immune.

Snohomish County Councilman Brian Sullivan pleaded guilty to drunken driving charges this week. For the crime, he was sentenced to spend a day in jail, reports the AP.

Over the summer, the 54-year-old Sullivan was stopped by a police officer and tested for a blood alcohol content of 0.16, or twice the legal limit. During the arrest, Sullivan reportedly thanked the officer for doing his job and admitted to drinking four glasses of wine.

Given that the councilman had a blood alcohol level above 0.15, he could have faced the enhanced penalties for high BAC DUI in Washington. In the case of a first-time DUI, this could have resulted in a minimum two-day jail stay.

However, because the councilman entered into a favorable plea deal; presumably, by admitting to the crime and cooperating with authorities, the councilman was able to work out a one-day jail sentence instead.

Plea Deals

Even if you face mounting evidence against you in your DUI case, this does not necessarily mean that you will face the most severe penalties.

The Snohomish councilman did not avoid the minimum two-day jail sentence because of his public office. Instead, the councilman was able to work out a favorable plea deal with authorities.

By working with experienced DUI defense attorneys, you may be able to avoid the most severe DUI penalties. Prosecutors are oftentimes willing to work out plea deals with defendants. The exact plea deal you can get can depend upon factors like:

• any prior history of DUIs
• your level of cooperation
• whether anyone was injured or property damaged
• how much you drank
• and even how busy the prosecutor's office is

If you have been arrested for a DUI and face serious penalties (remember, even a single day in jail is a serious penalty), you will want an attorney on your side. Contact the attorneys at Wolff Criminal Defense at 425-284-2000 if you have been arrested for a DUI in the Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, or other King County areas. Don't fight your DUI case alone.