Driving under the influence is a serious offense in all states. The penalties for such an act can include high fines; community service; suspension of your license; increased insurance rates; and even jail time. There are also penalties for refusing to take a sobriety test. Driving under the influence is a generic term used for driving while impaired. This can include driving while intoxicated or under the influence of illegal drugs, or even prescription or over the counter medication if doing so has impeded your ability to drive a vehicle safely.
If you have been stopped and arrested on a charge of driving under the influence, it is very important to find a good DUI lawyer to defend your case. You may be able to avoid some of the more extreme measures taken against you or even possibly have the case dismissed entirely. Some consequences of driving while impaired can stay on your record for life, preventing you from getting a job or even leaving the country for travel in some areas.
Not all attorneys are well versed in driving under the influence defenses. It is important to find a DUI lawyer who is skilled and has vast experience in this type of case. Ask potential attorneys for their track record in this type of situation. Specifically ask them how many cases of this sort they have defended; how many years experience they have; and how many cases they have gotten completely dismissed.
For your specific case, it is important to divulge all necessary information to your attorney. Your attorney will also get all the information possible from the district attorney who will be prosecuting your case. Your attorney will look for several possible challenges in order to reduce or dismiss the charges against you.
Because the penalties for driving under the influence are so severe and so long reaching, it is often best to try to fight the case. Even if you are not successful in completely getting the case dismissed, there is a very good chance you will have reduced charges and avoid serious jail time. This is especially true in a situation where the blood alcohol level is barely over the legal limit and where there was no accident or injury associated with the offense.
The district attorney’s position is to make the strongest possible case against you. The defense attorney’s job is to make as many arguments as possible to weaken that case. There are several variables that are common in these types of cases that can be challenged. Among them are the arresting procedures and whether they were done properly; the reliability of the testing equipment; and the certification of the person administering the test.
Getting arrested for driving while under the influence can be a very frightening experience. Not only is the arrest traumatic, but the long reaching affects a conviction may have are equally so. Hiring an DUI lawyer who is skilled in the defense of these cases is the best possible alternative. You will have a greater chance of reducing or even dismissing the charges against you.
