When Do You Need An Experienced DUI Defense

December 2, 2018 Posted in Goodyear

In most cases, it is probably a good idea to get a DUI attorney as quickly as possible as being charged with this offense. See, driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol is not a minor traffic violation. It is considered a criminal offense.

The charges for a DUI offense can depend upon several things. Typically, a first offense where there are no injuries or deaths might be considered a misdemeanor crime. Repeated offenses and situations where there are injuries and deaths might get the charges raised to a felony. Laws differ in each U.S. state, so it is impossible to make a blanket statement.

In any case, it is much better to avoid being charged with any DUI offense. Even misdemeanor offenses often carry fines, jail time, license revocations, and a permanent criminal record. Felonies carry much higher sentences that might even involve long prison sentences. After being charged with this crime, it might be hard to get a job, get your drivers license back, and conduct many other normal activities.

How Can A DUI Attorney Help You?

If a police offer believes you are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they will try to gather proof. They may have the authority to administer breath, blood, or urine tests. However, these tests have to be done accurately and in a legal way. In many cases, a DUI attorney can demonstrate that was not the case and the proof the prosecutors believe they have is really invalid. In this case, your Goodyear DUI lawyer might be able to get charges dismissed.

If the lawyer cannot get charges dismissed right away, he might be able to help his clients by negotiating for reduced charges, lower bail, or other accommodations. The court might be willing to grant these in order to save time or because of extenuating circumstances.

In any case, your advocate should be able to help defendants cope with their legal situation better. He might be able to refer a client to counseling, and in some cases, completing a drug and alcohol abuse counseling program might even get charges reduced. After all, the main point of the charges and the penalties is to keep people from every driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol again.

If the officer or state department of public safety stripped the defendant of his driver’s license on charges. a good DUI lawyer might be able to help him get it back. Some states will allow defendants, pending conviction, to have a restricted license so they can drive back and forth to work. A good lawyer should know how to get this for their client, so he can keep his job.

What If You Cannot Afford A DUI Attorney?

If you cannot afford to pay for a lawyer, every US legal jurisdiction has to help you get a criminal legal defense. In some cases, you might be assigned a private attorney who gets paid by the court. In other cases, your jurisdiction might have a pubic defenders office. Call the Law Offices of Gary L. Rohlwing in Goodyear for a free initial case consultation at (623) 937-1692.