Hire a Lawyer When Faced with the Grave Consequences of a DUI Conviction
Per the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over one million drivers have been arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence of narcotics or alcohol in 2016. That’s only 1% out of the 111 million self-reported, alcohol-impaired driving episodes involving adults in the United States every year.
Those numbers are staggering, and part of the reason why the government has become serious about holding citizens accountable and prosecuting them when charged with driving while ability impaired or driving under the influence.
If you have been caught driving while under the influence you face serious consequences. Representing yourself in court is a risk, especially if you have also been charged with vehicular assault or vehicular homicide.
You Need a Skilled Lawyer to Protect Your Rights
Over 26,000 arrests for DUI happen across the state annually. Drivers arrested for DUI, whether for the first time or after being charged with previous offenses, need a DUI lawyer.
Hiring a lawyer is a wise choice. You can depend on legal counsel to protect your rights, make sure you’re treated fairly, and provide you with the best possible outcome.
Drunk driving is a serious offense that could significantly impact the rest of your life in a negative way. Make sure to get legal protection immediately after being arrested for a DUI. The outcome of your case depends on it.
DUIs Come with a Wide Range of Penalties
Are you ready to face the penalties that come with a DUI? DUIs are more than just traffic tickets. This type of offense can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor with a wide range of penalties.
A first-time DUI conviction may come with a fine between $600 to $1,000 along with sentencing of confinement in jail for five days or up to one year. You may even be ordered to finish alcohol education courses. Those are just a few of the penalties.
Attorneys with a focus on drunk driving defense know the ins and outs of the state’s mandatory sentencing requirements. Utilize their knowledge, so a lesser penalty can be negotiated if possible.
Your DUI Attorney Has Complete Knowledge of State Laws
You can be arrested for driving while intoxicated if your blood alcohol level is at least .08%. People with a BAC of .05% could also be charged as driving while ability impaired, otherwise known as a DWAI.
The exact BAC level is what will determine the type of charges you could be facing, as well as other circumstances. DUI lawyers know the law and continue their education consistently to stay up-to-date on DUI and DWAI charges. This gives them the ability to draw on their knowledge to establish a strong defense for clients.
A DUI Lawyer Knows How to Counter Evidence
A DUI is based on evidence. Such evidence includes how a driver performs on the roadside as well as Breathalyzer tests. If you fail those tests, there are factors involved that could affect the results. A lawyer knows about all of those factors, including what could affect the results of breath tests and field sobriety tests.
An attorney, who actively handles DUI cases, will know all about the factors that could cause poor performance on roadside tests, or elevated blood alcohol levels that could be false. They use this kind of evidence and call it into question during trials to better help with a client’s defense.
Did you refuse to be tested after being pulled over for the suspicion of drunk driving? DUI lawyers might be able to persuade a jury that any refusals were due to the fact that you know your rights. Skilled legal counsel knows how to communicate to a jury that it had nothing to do with trying to hide something.
Overall, drunk driving is a serious offense. It stands to be aggressively prosecuted. Protect your rights and obtain diligent legal representation to get confident guidance through the legal process.