| harges are a serious offense. There’s no doubt | | | | committed the DUI offense whether you or anyone |
| about it. Most charges stemming from driving under the | | | | else feels that you were truly impaired. The BAC is |
| influence of alcohol and/or drugs will result in a stiff fine, | | | | determined by a breath, blood or urine test. |
| loss of your driver’s license, and even a stint in | | | | There are several ways that DUI attorneys can do |
| jail. If you’re arrested for DUI it’s a good | | | | you a lot of good if you’re charged with this |
| idea to obtain legal counsel from one or more DUI | | | | offense. |
| attorneys. | | | | A DUI lawyer speaks the language of the court. Many |
| Driving under the influence means that while operating | | | | court terms have legal definitions that don’t |
| your vehicle you were either impaired due to the | | | | necessarily coincide with the common usage of the |
| consumption of alcohol and, or in combination with, | | | | word. The court room may lead you into a confusing |
| drugs. It can also mean that your Blood Alcohol | | | | jungle of terminology that prevents you from making |
| Content (BAC) exceeded a .08. To convict you of a | | | | your best defense. |
| DUI charge the police officer needs only to prove one | | | | DUI attorneys are also knowledgeable concerning DUI |
| of these elements of the offense. | | | | laws, case law, and various types of defenses. |
| The first part of the offense is driving while impaired. | | | | Laymen typically don’t do well in the criminal |
| The presumption is that you are impaired, you cannot | | | | justice system because of a lack of this specialized |
| safely drive your car. If you were unable to operate | | | | knowledge. |
| your vehicle in a safe and legal manner and it can be | | | | DUI attorneys are also experienced in applying the law. |
| showed that you were impaired by either alcohol or | | | | There are many ways to defend against the charge |
| drugs. The officer will bring into evidence your physical | | | | but the defense must be crafted not only with a logical |
| state, the things you said, how you were driving and | | | | argument or series of arguments but also within the |
| the results of any Standardized Field Sobriety Tests | | | | context of proper courtroom procedure. The |
| that you performed. These tests were developed by | | | | prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt |
| the National Highway Safety Administration and are | | | | that you were operating a vehicle while under the |
| very effective in allowing an officer to be able to | | | | influence of alcohol and/or drugs. DUI attorneys can |
| determine that you have a BAC of .10 or mroe. If the | | | | win a case by creating enough doubt in the minds of |
| sum total of the officer’s observations provide | | | | the judge or the jury that the legal standard of beyond |
| him with probable cause to believe you operated the | | | | a reasonable doubt can’t be met. Chances are, |
| vehicle while impaired, you’ll be arrested and | | | | you can’t accomplish this without the |
| charged. | | | | assistance of a DUI attorney. |
| The second part of the offense involves your Blood | | | | The information you obtain from this article is not, nor is |
| Alcohol Content, or the amount of alcohol in your blood, | | | | it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an |
| breath, or urine. If your BAC is at or above .08, there is | | | | attorney for individual advice regarding your own |
| probable cause to believe that you’ve | | | | situation. |