Introduction

Spokane/Coeur d Alene Living Magazine named Chris Bugbee the Top Spokane DUI Attorney consecutively from 2015 through 2023, a nine-year streak that reflects both the volume of DUI cases he handles and the outcomes he produces. Before founding Bugbee Law Office, P.S., Bugbee spent over 20 years as a prosecuting attorney in the Spokane court system, which means he has spent his entire career on one side or the other of the same criminal courtroom where his clients now appear.

Practice Areas

Bugbee Law Office concentrates on criminal defense and DUI representation in Spokane County, Washington.

DUI defense forms the core of the practice. The firm handles every category of DUI charge prosecuted in Washington State: first-time DUI, underage DUI, multiple DUI offenses, marijuana DUI, and prescription drug DUI. Chris Bugbee understands the specific legal and factual issues that distinguish each category. For example, Washington sets the blood alcohol concentration limit at 0.08% for drivers over 21, 0.04% for commercial drivers, and 0.02% for drivers under 21. Marijuana DUI carries a separate threshold of 5 nanograms per milliliter of THC in blood for drivers over 21. The penalties for conviction scale sharply with repeat offenses. A first DUI offense in Washington carries 24 hours to one year in jail, fines from 40.50 to ,000, and license suspension from 90 days to one year. A second offense increases the jail range to 30 days to one year, fines from ,195.50 to ,000, and suspension from two years to 900 days. A third offense means 90 days to one year in jail, fines from ,045.50 to ,000, and suspension from three to four years. Ignition interlock devices are required following all DUI convictions.

The firm also advises clients that Washington and Idaho are implied consent states, meaning that refusing a breathalyzer test can itself result in license suspension of up to one year, separate from any criminal conviction.

Criminal defense beyond DUI covers drug charges, felonies, and misdemeanor offenses in Spokane County courts.

Attorney Profiles

Chris Bugbee brings nearly three decades of legal experience to every case at Bugbee Law Office. His background as a former Spokane County prosecutor for over 20 years is operationally significant: he understands how prosecutorial decisions are made, how charging decisions are weighed, and what arguments are most effective at each stage of a criminal case in Spokane courts. That institutional knowledge informs both his negotiation strategy and his trial preparation. His recognition as Top Spokane DUI Attorney from 2015 through 2023 by Spokane/Coeur d Alene Living Magazine reflects sustained performance, not a single-year result.

Location and Service Area

Bugbee Law Office, P.S. is located at 1312 N Monroe St, Ste 147, Spokane, WA 99201. The firm is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 509-410-4876. Chris Bugbee represents clients throughout Spokane County and the broader Spokane region.

Firm website: bugbeelaw.com

Client Focus

Anyone facing DUI or criminal charges in Spokane County benefits from representation by an attorney who understands the prosecution from the inside. Chris Bugbee provides one-on-one representation, meaning clients work directly with the attorney of record rather than being passed to junior staff. The 24/7 availability reflects the reality that DUI arrests occur at any hour and that clients need access to counsel immediately, not during standard business hours. The firm approaches cases with what it describes as expert preparation and skilled execution, whether that leads to a negotiated reduction in charges or a contested trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

What DUI categories does the firm handle?
The firm handles first-time DUI, underage DUI, multiple DUI offenses, marijuana DUI, and prescription drug DUI charges in Washington State.

What are the penalties for a first DUI offense in Washington?
A first offense carries 24 hours to one year in jail, fines ranging from 40.50 to ,000, license suspension from 90 days to one year, and mandatory ignition interlock device installation.

What happens if I refuse a breathalyzer test in Washington?
Washington is an implied consent state. Refusing a breathalyzer can result in license suspension of up to one year, separate from any criminal penalties.

What is Chris Bugbee’s background?
Bugbee served as a prosecuting attorney in the Spokane court system for over 20 years before entering private defense practice. He has nearly three decades of total legal experience.

Is the firm available after hours?
Yes. Bugbee Law Office is reachable 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 509-410-4876.

Has Chris Bugbee received any professional recognition?
Yes. Spokane/Coeur d Alene Living Magazine named him the Top Spokane DUI Attorney every year from 2015 through 2023.

Closing

Bugbee Law Office, P.S. brings nearly three decades of Spokane courtroom experience to DUI and criminal defense clients throughout Spokane County, grounded in Chris Bugbee’s two decades as a prosecutor before crossing to the defense side. For clients facing DUI, drug charges, felonies, or misdemeanors in the Spokane court system, direct, around-the-clock representation is available at 509-410-4876. More information is available at bugbeelaw.com and at the office located at 1312 N Monroe St, Ste 147, Spokane, WA 99201.