Just like most lawyers, a DUI lawyer has a number of different areas in which they can specialize. While some lawyers exclusively represent DUI clients, most lawyers who specialize in these cases also represent other criminal defendants, including theft, assault, and possession cases. Other common specialties of a lawyer who specializes in DUI cases are cases involving dangerous driving, driving with a suspended license, and driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
A DUI is a serious offense, and a conviction can be devastating, both financially and socially. Still, the penalties and consequences for a DUI conviction are rather mild compared to what could happen if you were injured or killed while driving drunk. That is why it is so important to get legal representation if you have been arrested for a DUI. Your main goal in hiring a dui defense attorney is to make sure you are treated fairly and to assist you with the following:
Advise you to keep quiet when it counts
Keep quiet when it matters most. When police pull over a driver, they are asked questions concerning their driving history, and field tests are performed. If the driver has been drinking and driving, they might find themselves asked to perform sobriety tests on the side of the road. If a driver fails alcohol tests, they are arrested and taken into police custody. An officer will read them their rights and inform them of the consequences of refusing to participate in alcohol tests. Also, it is important to remember that different states have different laws regarding drunk driving, so you have to be wary of that. If you live in say Arizona, you could click here for a complete understanding of DUI laws in Arizona, and accordingly decide if you need to retain legal counsel or not. A DUI lawyer is a valuable resource if you find yourself dealing with a DUI offense.
Negotiate with tough prosecutors
Many individuals, particularly first-time offenders, are shocked when they learn that a DUI conviction can result in anything from increased insurance rates to the loss of a job. Plus, prosecutors often refrain from taking a DUI charge lightly. But this is when the services of a defending DUI Attorney could prove to be valuable. He can help individuals get the best possible outcome for their individual cases. A DUI may be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the individual involved and whether or not alcohol was a factor in the arrest. A misdemeanor conviction can result in fines up to $500 or jail time of up to one year (or both), while a felony conviction can result in fines up to $10,000 or jail time of between one and five years. An experienced DUI attorney can negotiate a favorable plea bargain on the defendant’s behalf.
Help to expunge your conviction.
Expunging a criminal record can be an important option for people with convictions they cannot remove on their own. The expungement process has changed in recent years, making it an easier process than it once was. It used to take years, but today the process can be completed in a matter of months. Along with an expungement, some people whose reputation may be at stake-such as business owners, political persons, people in power-may wish for a mugshot removal from the Internet as well. While this may be a fairly easier process, an expungement has many nuances to it. There is a lot of confusion out there regarding expunging a criminal record. People think it involves wiping the record clean so it cannot be discovered, while others assume it is a limited means to seal or expunge the record. The truth is an expungement is a type of relief available to those charged with or convicted of a crime.
A DUI lawyer’s job is to defend your case in court by arguing for reduced charges or getting the charges dropped entirely. The lawyer will usually send in an application to the prosecutor with supporting documents, such as police reports and blood sample results, in order to persuade them to drop the charges. In some cases, this is not enough, and the lawyer will need to prepare for a trial in order to convince the presiding judge that the charges are unjustified. Either way, the right lawyer will know the best way to negotiate on your behalf and fight your case to achieve the best possible outcome for you.