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You’ve been arrested and charged with driving under the influence, or DUI. You may be thinking that you can handle things on your own, that you don’t need a lawyer’s help. You couldn’t be more wrong. There are many things a lawyer can help you with after your arrest according to a DUI lawyer in Rockville, MD from the Law Office of Daniel J. Wright. To start, though, here are four of the biggest things a lawyer can help with.
Get Your Case Dismissed
A DUI lawyer may be able to get your case dismissed entirely. They might be able to find evidence that your arrest was unwarranted, such as the breathalyzer being incorrectly calibrated or the police officer having no probable cause for pulling you over. Armed with that knowledge, they can fight for you in court to get all the charges against you dropped. There are many scenarios you may not be aware of that you could have said ‘no’ to when an officer pulled you over and asked you to complete a task, and that’s where a skilled attorney can come in and say that cannot be applied to your case.
Keep Your License and Maintain Your Driving Privileges
There are two types of driver’s license suspension at work in DUI cases. The first is an administrative suspension, which happens when the police officer arrests you. You have a limited amount of time to request a hearing at the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to try to keep your license until your case is resolved. A DUI lawyer can fight for you at the administrative hearing to help you keep your license.
The second type of driver’s license suspension happens after you’ve been found guilty of DUI. Your lawyer can advocate for you to keep your license, at the very least to get to work and back, perhaps with an ignition interlock device — a breathalyzer attached to your ignition so your car won’t start unless you’re sober.
Have Your Charges Reduced To Avoid Penalties Like the Ignition Interlock
Another option a DUI lawyer can pursue is getting your charges reduced, so you can avoid license suspension, ignition interlock device, a fine of up to $1,000 and possible jail time altogether. One example would be having the charges reduced to reckless driving, which carries no license suspension, no ignition interlock device, no jail time and half the fine of a DUI. You want a lawyer’s help with this, since they know the prosecuting attorneys, the judges and the best way to negotiate your charges being reduced. They will also be most familiar with the laws in your area of the state when it comes to DUIs.
Whether it’s your first DUI arrest or your fifth, you want to have a lawyer in your corner, fighting for you to keep your license and stay out of jail. A DUI attorney knows the havoc a DUI conviction can wreak on your life, from losing your job to spending time in jail. Let an attorney help you avoid those consequences — contact a DUI lawyer today.
