| Wondering If It's Worth Hiring A DUI Attorney? Are | | | | manythings to help you avoid criminal DUI charges. |
| youthinking of acting as your own lawyer? Or worse | | | | Things likereview the case for defects of law and |
| yet, justpleading guilty to criminal DUI charges? Before | | | | suppress damagingevidence. Demand maintainance |
| you dosomething that often has far reaching and | | | | records and calibration levelsfor the breathalyzer |
| severe consequences,you need to reconsider. | | | | machine used on you. |
| The very first thing to ask yourself in deciding if | | | | And there are other defenses related to the reliability |
| youshould consult an attorney is: "What's at stake?" | | | | ofthe breath and blood test results. Some people just |
| When yourfinances or liberties are in serious jeopardy, | | | | are notsuitable for breath testing due to dental or |
| the obviousanswer is to get legal help. | | | | medical problems. |
| Depending on where you live the penalties for a | | | | Many of these problems can cause false readings in |
| DUIconviction are quite severe. You could be facing: | | | | breathtests. |
| 1)Large Fines | | | | Also, it takes only a tiny fraction of a fluid ounce |
| 2)Immediate Suspension or Revocation of Your | | | | ofalcohol to register a .10 on the breath test machines. |
| Driver's License | | | | This isabove the legal limit in every state, and can |
| 3)Alcohol/Drug Assesment and Treatment Program at | | | | result in acriminal conviction unless fully defended by a |
| your expense. | | | | qualified DUIor DWI defense lawyer. |
| 4)Community Service | | | | Field Sobriety Tests are notoriously bad indicators |
| 5)Ignition Interlock Devices so you're car won't start | | | | ofintoxication. A good DUI lawyer knows many of |
| unlessyou're sober. | | | | these fieldsobriety tests have been proven to be |
| 6)Possible Probation for as long as three years. | | | | 65-77% ineffective,thereby leaving their results open to |
| 7)Significantly Higher Insurance Premiums if you can still | | | | dispute in courtproceedings. |
| getinsurance. | | | | These tests give false positives, and people are |
| 8)Possible Jail Time - especially if you were involved in | | | | wronglycharged, nearly 1/3 of the time. Also, very few |
| a caraccident where somebody else was hurt or you | | | | police officersactually conduct these tests in |
| did propertydamage! | | | | accordance with establishedprocedures reducing their |
| BUT you are not necessarily guilty just because a | | | | accuracy even further. |
| machinesays you are above the legal limit. There are | | | | Most importantly, a good DUI lawyer knows what to |
| many defenses to | | | | doinstantly, and is ready to take action on your behalf. |
| DUI or DWI cases, and these need to be explored | | | | He orshe will have a successful track record of helping |
| before evenconsidering pleading guilty to DUI or a | | | | people inyour situation. |
| related drunk-drivingoffense. | | | | A good attorney knows there are numerous defenses |
| Drunk driving defense is a very complicated area of | | | | availableto people who are accused of driving under |
| lawwith increasingly harsh penalties. Defense against | | | | the influence. Sincethe prosecution has the burden of |
| criminalcharges may come from complicated | | | | proving each and everyelement of the case beyond a |
| procedural, evidentiary, orconstitutional law areas, and | | | | reasonable doubt, the defenseattorney will work to |
| consultation with a DUI defenselawyer is critical to | | | | create reasonable doubt in any one ormore of these |
| finding a winning defense. | | | | areas in order to prevail against a drunkdriving charge. |
| What can a lawyer do? A competent attorney can do | | | | |