Immediately after being pulled, you will most likely have dozens of thoughts running through your head. ‘Can I win a DUI case?’ is probably the first question that will come to mind, and the answer might not be as straightforward as you think. Winning a DUI case can be a complex process, but this type of legal battle is much easier with an attorney by your side. The average driver doesn’t have the time, energy, or expertise to tackle the legal system alone. If you are facing these grave charges, then now is the time to contact an attorney who can show you how to win a DUI case as quickly as possible.
Can I Win a DUI Case?
All drivers who are facing these charges should first take a look at some of the reasons why winning a DUI case is so important. These misdemeanors and felonies have ruined countless lives over the last few decades, and many drivers are illegally arrested and convicted every year. Some drivers accidentally admit guilt without even realizing it, and beating a DUI after making certain statements will be nearly impossible. Others think that it is going to be easier to plead guilty and move on, but that is often a serious mistake. The very first step in this process is to reach out to an attorney who can help you avoid the life-altering penalties of a DUI conviction.
Why Winning a DUI Case Is So Important
The financial penalties you face after a DUI conviction are staggering. Depending on where you were arrested and your driving record, a DUI could end up costing you over $20,000 after all of the expenses have been taken into consideration. In some states, the initial fees from the DMV and court will quickly move into the range of thousands of dollars. That includes expenses such as reinstating your license, posting bail, and getting your vehicle out of the impound lot.
While those expenses are staggering, the true cost of a DUI won’t become apparent until after your license suspension is up. Once the judge and DMV hearing administrators have decided that you can drive again, you will then need to begin speaking with insurance providers about SR-22 insurance. This type of specialty insurance is designed for high-risk drivers who have major misdemeanors and felonies on their records. You could end up spending hundreds more every month on the exact same coverage that you had before.
Being convicted of a DUI isn’t just going to impact your finances. At the very least, you can expect some community service or a short stay in jail. Repeat offenders often face jail sentences of six months or longer if they aren’t able to pay the exorbitant fines and fees. After you have completed your sentence or community service hours, you must then sign up for sobriety classes. In order to track your driving habits, the judge might also require you to have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle. All of these individual expenses must be taken care of by the driver before they are able to get back on the road.
How to Move On With Your Life
Beating a DUI will never be a simple task. Even though this process often feels overwhelming, it is important for all drivers to realize that there is help out there. After you are officially charged with a DUI, you must immediately get in touch with a local attorney who has experience dealing with these specific cases. Unlike other attorneys who focus on family or corporate law, traffic attorneys spend years learning about the unique challenges of DUIs and other similar cases. They will pour over all of the data and evidence so that they can come up with a strong case. There is no guarantee that the charges will be dropped entirely, but an attorney can help you explore the pros and cons of every option.
Tactics Used to Beat a DUI
One of the most common misconceptions about DUIs is that a single strategy can be used to win every case. While there are some extremely promising tactics, these cases are quite complex. You and your lawyer will need to consider dozens of different variables before deciding how you should proceed. Issues such as your driving record and criminal history will play a major role in your case. Your attorney must also take a close look at exactly what happened during your arrest and booking.
A law enforcement officer isn’t allowed to pull you over and force you to take a chemical BAC test for no reason. Throughout the country, law enforcement officers must follow very specific rules during traffic stops and DUI checkpoints. If they break any laws while questioning or booking you, then you might be able to have the case thrown out. Field sobriety tests such as reciting the alphabet or touching your nose are another major point of contention. These tests depend on many different factors, and some drivers aren’t physically capable of completing the tasks. Over the years, countless studies have shown us that these tests are not only unscientific, but they are also completely subjective.
Once the officer decides that they want to test your blood alcohol content, they will most likely use a field testing kit such as a breathalyzer. Much like the field sobriety tests, breathalyzers are not always accurate. They must be calibrated at regular intervals, and officers need to undergo quite a bit of training to use them correctly. Whenever your attorney is able to invalidate a piece of evidence, it is only going make your case that much stronger.
A Look at Police Reports
Carefully inspecting the police report is one of the most difficult and time-consuming steps in this process. Even if a driver understands the nuances of these reports, they might still have a tough time building a case from the information that is contained in their file. The report that was written immediately following your arrest contains almost all of the data that the prosecutor will use against you. If there are any inconsistencies in the report or multiple officers contradict one another, then the report could be invalid. An attorney who is able to subvert the credibility of the officer might have quite a bit of the evidence tossed out.
Building a Case One Step at a Time
Beating a DUI rarely involves the use of a single tactic that will force the judge to drop the case entirely. Instead, you and your lawyer will need to scrutinize each individual piece of evidence that the prosecutor brings to the table. You must then prove that the incriminating data is too weak to use or completely invalid. As the evidence used against you is weakened, it will increase your odds of the charges being reduced or dropped entirely.
There is too much at stake to ever leave a misdemeanor or felony DUI up to chance. These charges are very serious, and a conviction will result in much more than fines and fees. Those who fail to beat their charges could face a variety of life-altering penalties that will impact everything from their career options to their personal relationships. Even if you believe that your case is unwinnable, you should still contact an attorney through DUIWise to discuss all of your legal options. These professionals offer free and low-cost consultations so that you can make an informed decision.
No matter how bad your case seems, a DUI conviction is never a sure thing. All drivers who are charged with this type of offense must retain a criminal defense attorney who has experience dealing with these complex and convoluted charges.