DUI charges can happen to just about anyone. However, when someone is arrested and learns that criminal charges are being filed, it often leads to a larger sense of worry. Hiring a criminal law attorney can immediately ease those concerns and provide you a sense of hope.
The main reason to have a DUI lawyer in your corner is that there is always the chance your charges could be dismissed. A DUI charge does not mean you are instantly convicted. A good criminal lawyer can discover if there were any missteps made by law enforcement during the arrest. For example, the reason for the actual traffic stop needs to be justified by the officer.
There is also the area of field sobriety tests to consider. The arresting officer will need to document which field sobriety tests were performed and what compelled him to charge you with DUI. A lot of these tests can be questioned and there may be quite a bit of wiggle room around their authenticity.
Even if you failed a breathalyzer test, that could also come into question. An officer has to be certified to use a breathalyzer and the device needs to be calibrated correctly. The timing of the breathalyzer is another area that could be questioned. Alcohol does not immediately enter your bloodstream. So if you had one drink and were pulled over and then the officer waited to administer a breathalyzer, you could have been legally sober when you were actually pulled over.
Also, your Miranda rights should always be read upon an arrest and if they were not, that gives you a distinct advantage in beating your DUI charges.
These are just a few of the many topics a criminal defense attorney will look into in great detail. And even if this evidence does not get your charges thrown out completely, it could allow you to plead guilty to lesser charges. That could mean no criminal charges and much less in fines and driver’s license suspension times.
It also helps to have an attorney familiar with the local court system. Certain judges and prosecutors have certain tendencies and knowing those tendencies will provide you with one more advantage. Remember that every advantage helps when facing DUI charges and going through the process without an experienced criminal defense attorney puts you at a distinct disadvantage.
If you are facing DUI charges or other criminal charges, it is important to give yourself as many advantages as you can. The Law Offices of William H. Harding can be your advantage while relying on a wealth of experience when it comes to criminal defense cases.