Sunday, June 6, 2010

DUI Lawyer - Find the One Who Can Help You Fight Allegations

If you have been accused of driving under the influence, you face several types of punishment. They likely include fines, loss of your driver's license, and possibly jail time. Though punishment varies by state, the rules have become much stricter in the last several years, so you can expect harsh consequences. Avoiding at least some of them is possible, but typically only if you have a DUI lawyer.

Most cases involving drunk driving are not clear cut. Though all states have a legal blood alcohol content limit, or BAC, you could even get in trouble if your BAC is below it. In some cases, if you have one drink, wait an hour, and then drive and get pulled over, you can get into big trouble. Even if you are not affected by the alcohol anymore, if there is a trace in your blood, you can face fines.

A DUI lawyer is likely to know the loopholes and little known rules that could get you out of a conviction. Considering that most fines are thousands of dollars, not to mention the cost of your car insurance in the future and missing work due to jail time, hiring a DUI lawyer is well worth the money.

There is a lot of room for error when you get in trouble for drunk driving. The police first have to note whether you look or act under the influence, which is what leads them to give you a battery of tests. Then you will usually take a field sobriety test, which typically does not have clear cut answers.

Again, it is up to the officer to decide if you seem drunk, and a policeman who is biased for some reason just may decide that you are definitely drunk, whether you are or not. It is your word versus the police officer's in court, and if you go alone, you will likely lose.

Another issue with the system is the equipment used. When you take a breathalyzer test or blood test to determine your level of intoxication, it is possible for the equipment to be wrong. Unfortunately, many people believe that such tests are always right, and may base their judgment on that alone.

Many machines have been found to be out of date, broken, or not calibrated, which means that their results are likely wrong. You cannot determine that on your own, though. Even if you know you were not drunk, you have no resources and no way to test the equipment. You also cannot determine whether the police officer was biased or incorrect. However, a good DUI lawyer can, saving you thousands of dollars and your dignity.

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