DUI Information
Driving under the influence is a serious crime—no matter where you live. Due to public pressure, lawmakers pass stricter laws regarding drunk driving year after year and law enforcement agents are dedicated to catching drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.Depending on the state, there are different acronyms used to refer to drunk driving. These include DUI (driving under the influence), DWI (driving while intoxicated), OUI (operating under the influence), and OWI (operating while intoxicated). Regardless of which charge you receive, it is important to hire a skilled defense attorney. DUI law is extremely complicated, and the consequences of a guilty verdict are life altering.
If convicted of DUI, you may be sentenced to jail time, probation, community service, expensive fines, and a suspended license. The judge may also order you to attend DUI School or receive drug and/or alcohol counseling and treatment. Habitual offenders risk increased jail time and fines, and may be ordered to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle.
In addition to these court-imposed penalties, your auto insurance rates may increase and you may have trouble finding future employment.
Most states have two separate classifications for a DUI offense. One is a “less safe” driver violation. This means that the driver was less safe due to impairment by alcohol and/or drugs. The other classification is the “per se” violation. If a driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) is over the legal limit (0.08 percent in most states), he or she will be charged with drunk driving, even if his or her driving was not impaired due to alcohol.
There are many who mistakenly believe that just because they are charged with DUI, they will be convicted. Nothing could be further from the truth! An experienced DUI defense attorney can carefully investigate your case to look for evidence that can be used on your behalf. For example, if you were charged with drunk driving because you failed the breath test, but your attorney determines that the machine was faulty or the test was administered incorrectly, that evidence may be suppressed in court.
If you have recently been arrested and charged with DUI, contact a defense attorney in your area today!
