Driving under the influence (DUI) offenses can lead to numerous penalties. Defendants are at risk of incarceration or probation. They may be subject to court-ordered fines and an obligation to pay court costs. They can lose their driver’s licenses and face much higher premiums for their mandatory car insurance.
Individuals arrested based on allegations of DUI offenses frequently assume they have no options. After all, DUI cases often involve failed chemical tests. Even people who insist they only had one drink or didn’t drink at all may feel as though they have no option other than pleading guilty.
Is it actually possible for those accused of drunk driving to successfully fight the charges that they face?
There are many possible DUI defense strategies
A variety of unique details influence how to handle a DUI charge. The prior record of the defendant and the circumstances leading to their arrest largely influence the best defense strategy. In some cases, there may be a straightforward defense available.
Perhaps the defendant has a unique medical condition, takes a certain medication or follows an unusual diet that may have affected the accuracy of the breath test. Despite the amount of faith that people put in them, breath tests are not necessarily as reliable as the public believes. If the only compelling evidence of impairment is the chemical test results, then providing an alternate explanation can be a viable strategy.
In some cases, issues with the training of the police officer regarding the administration of the breath test or the calibration of the device used for chemical testing could create a reasonable doubt about the accuracy of test results. Other times, a defense attorney may be able to show that the traffic stop that occurred was illegal.
In such cases, it is possible to suppress evidence gathered during an illegal traffic stop, as the searches and questioning that occurred represent a violation of the driver’s Fourth Amendment rights. Sometimes, defense attorneys can even negotiate plea bargains that reduce the charges or the penalties imposed by the courts.
People who want to avoid the consequences of a DUI conviction might benefit from sitting down to talk with a criminal defense attorney. Mounting a reasonable DUI defense strategy can help people mitigate the impact of a recent DUI arrest.