Driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol can be dangerous in the first place. Plus, if you get pulled over while drunk, you could get charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (a DUI). That means you have a court case coming up that you’re hoping to win.
Well, the good news is that you’ve come to the right place by reading this article. Detailed below are seven essential strategies to remember when you’re building your DUI defense. You want to do everything you can to avoid getting convicted, after all.
You’re not alone in dealing with a DUI charge, by the way. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that in the year 2016 alone, over 1 million drivers were arrested for a DUI.
Make sure you have the best chance of winning your upcoming DUI court case. Keep reading to start building the most reliable defense strategy.
1. Were You Experiencing a Medical Condition?
There are a lot of factors that go into getting charged with a DUI. When you were pulled over while driving, the officer in charge should have followed a specific protocol. There are certain steps they’re required by law to take to determine your level of sobriety.
One of the things that should have happened is that you would be asked to take a breathalyzer. This technology can tell by a person’s breath how much alcohol he or she has in their system at the time of the test. Sometimes, though, a breathalyzer is not the most accurate way to know.
This is of particular importance if you were experiencing some sort of medical condition at the time of the breathalyzer. One example is that of diabetes. It’s an unfortunate truth that in some cases, diabetes causes your breath to smell like alcohol.
Some neurological conditions or just simple fatigue can cause symptoms associated with being intoxicated. Those symptoms include things like slurred speech or trouble focusing. The police officer at the scene might misinterpret your lethargy and charge you with an unfounded DUI.
Get a medical professional to sign off on the fact that you were experiencing a medical condition during the time of your arrest. Doing so might give you the best chance of defending yourself against a DUI charge.
2. Present a Sophisticated Appearance While in Court
Another key tip to remember when defending your court case is to present yourself well. Showing up before the judge in slovenly or unkempt attire is not in your best interest.
Instead, take the time to choose an outfit that is at least sophisticated enough to be business attire. Get your hair cut or put it up in a fashionable style.
The more professional you appear to the judge and potential jury, the better your chances will be. It proves that you’re taking your responsibility as a law-abiding citizen seriously.
Take care to control your emotions when you’re in the courtroom, as well. It is understandable to feel intimidated and upset about the trial you’re going through.
At the same time, don’t let the judge see you lash out in anger or frustration. Rather, stay calm and collected as you answer any questions and present your case.
In addition, limit the number of visitors or guests who attend the court hearing as your support system. It’s true that having family members or friends around might bring you a little bit more comfort.
Still, you don’t want them to cause any sort of scene during the legal proceedings. Talk to the people who will be attending before they actually show up in the courtroom. Make sure they know that their behavior is a reflection of your own.
3. Be Willing to Do Plenty of Research Ahead of Time
It’s also worthwhile to do plenty of background research leading up to the court case. Know about previous DUI court cases in your local area, for instance.
Knowledge might be one of your best defenses. As an example, if you learn that the police officer who pulled you over broke protocol, you have a great legal argument.
After all, different states have different DUI laws. It’ll be your responsibility to research the regulations and policies in your local area.
Also, reach out to your close friends and family members. Did any of them go through the process of being charged with a DUI? Do they have any guidance as to what kind of legal defense worked to clear their names in the past?
4. Stay Well-Connected to Your Support System
Speaking of friends and family members, don’t underestimate the value of having them around as you go through this trial. Their support and encouragement might keep you sane throughout the process.
Plus, they might have their own guidance and suggestions that could help your defense case. They might even recommend a reliable attorney with previous success in similar cases to your own.
Remember, going through ay trial where you’ve been charged with something serious like a DUI can be daunting. Handling it might tax your emotions to quite an extent. Keep your loved ones around so you feel comfortable and confident to present your case when the time comes.
5. Don’t Break Any More Laws in the Meantime
It’s essential that you remember this tip about getting charged with a DUI. The worst thing you can do to your chances of winning the case would be to get arrested again.
For that reason, be sure to respect even the most simple of tax laws as you await your upcoming DUI trial. Imagine you get pulled over and are charged with another DUI in the meantime.
It’s unlikely that any person would be acquitted of two back-to-back DUI charges. Don’t give the legal system any more reason to charge you with something that could result in severe penalties like heavy fines or even jail time.
6. Ensure the Officer Was Following DUI Protocol Upon Arrest
It’s important to note that a police officer is required to have a reasonable cause to pull you over in the first place. One strategy to defend yourself against a DUI charge is to put the officer’s conduct in question. For instance, does the officer have proof that you needed to be pulled over due to suspicious activity?
As mentioned above, there are other protocols that police officers must abide by. When performing field sobriety tests (FSTs), a police officer can’t be intimidating or threatening to the subject in question.
If you feel as though the police officer who arrested you was exhibiting inappropriate conduct, you might have a great defense case. For that reason, it’s always smart to gather video evidence of your interactions with the police. That way, you have recorded documentation of how the officer will end up treating you.
7. It’s Worthwhile to Hire an Expert Criminal Attorney for Your DUI Defense
The best thing you can do for your defense against a DUI charge is to hire a reputable lawyer. A lawyer who specialized in criminal law will help you gather evidence and draft the ideal defense to represent your rights as a citizen.
Still, not all criminal attorneys are going to be worth your investment. Take the time to hunt for a reliable one in your location. For a specific example, check out this reputable DWI lawyer available in the Texas area. If you’ve been injured, you can also hire a personal injury attorney.
Be willing to check out the online presence of your potential attorney. For one thing, do they have a website that is regularly updated? Is it quick to load, easy to navigate, and engaging?
Does the attorney have a significant social media presence? If so, you can trust the fact they have their clients’ genuine interests as a priority.
It’s also worthwhile to search for any potential online reviews or testimonials from previous clients. Doing so could give you a great idea as to whether you can expect a positive experience from them, too. That way, you have a real shot at winning that DUI case.
Continue to Stay Well-Informed of Your Legal Rights
At this point in the article, you have a thorough understanding of how to start developing your winning DUI defense case. There’s no need to cut corners when it comes to ensuring your rights and liberties are well-protected. That’s why you’ll take the above guidelines seriously.
Still, there are a lot of ins and outs to navigate in the modern justice system. It can be in your best interest to work with experts on the matter. Hiring a reliable lawyer will give your legal case its best chance of winning.
In addition, it’s worthwhile to keep yourself well-informed of industry trends. In fact, that’s where this website can come into play. We prioritize bringing readers like you the most relevant and useful legal guidance on the market.
For that reason, we encourage you to browse through the rest of our website today. On our blog, you’ll find the latest and greatest content that could come in handy in your own future. To start, comment below this article about how it inspired you to build your perfect defense case against a DUI charge.