Archive for the ‘DUI/DWI’ Category

Do You Need to Submit to the Field Sobriety Tests in a DUI Stop?

Imagine a situation when you are driving down home from the party at a friend’s place. You did have a few drinks, but nothing that had any effect on your driving capabilities. Suddenly a law enforcement officer stops you and starts questioning you. This is a common happening in Seattle; however, what you need to understand is that this may be the first stage of a DUI (driving under influence) investigation.

Often the officer asks you to perform certain tests (field sobriety tests) to know whether you are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) authorizes certain tests (the horizontal gaze nystagmus, the one-leg stand and the walk and turn) to determine impairment of drunk drivers. However, the laws of Washington State do not make it mandatory to submit to these tests.

You have every right to refuse these field sobriety tests. However, make sure you do this politely. This may or may not lead to an arrest. Also, make sure to get a competent Seattle DUI Attorney as soon as you get the chance if you indeed face an arrest. It may not be possible for you. Ask a family member or friend to find a legal advisor for defense and get a consultation.

Combating DUI Charges

Road accidents have become a common issue in US. Whether it is Orlando or Tempe, Philadelphia or Texas, DUI has become a major problem. This is the reason that all the states have introduced strict penalties for people who commit this crime.

If you drive under the influence of drug or alcohol you can be arrested. Don’t take it lightly like other people, because DUI is not at all a mild crime. Many people do the mistake of not considering DUI to be a major offense. But in reality DUI is quite a major criminal charge that can take you behind the bar.

DUI offenses can result in heavy penalties. So as a responsible citizen you should never drive under the influence of drug or alcohol. Drunk driving can lead to accidents that may result in serious injury or even death. Depending on the consequence of drunk driving penalty can range from monetary fine, suspension of driving license to jail time.

If you are a first time offender and you have not caused any major accident you may only be asked to pay fine. But in all cases your driving license will be suspended. In fact the first thing the arresting officer does is to suspend your driving license.

When you have been convicted with DUI charges, you should not take things in your hand. It is not a wise decision to represent yourself in the court. You should always hire a DUI lawyer who has experience in this field.

While selecting a layer it is better to go for a local lawyer who is well aware of the local law. Suppose you live in Orlando or Tempe you should look for Orlando DUI Lawyer or Tempe DUI Attorney. Similarly if you live in Texas you need to hire a Texas DUI lawyer. Before hiring a lawyer do a thorough background research to ensure that you are hiring the right person who has expertise and experience in this field. The main point is that you should choose a lawyer with high success rate and satisfied clients.

Significance of Hiring DWI Lawyer

Driving while intoxicated is considered to be a serious crime everywhere in US. Whether you stay in Cherry Hill or New York, Miami or Florida, you can not escape verdict if you have committed a crime like driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of drug and alcohol. The penalty may be different according to the place you live in. But this is for sure that you can not escape penalty.

Driving while intoxicated can be harmful for yourself as well as other innocent pedestrians or drivers. When you drive under the influence of alcohol or drug chances are there that you will be responsible for road accidents. You may hurt others as well as yourself. People can be injured or even die as a result of that accident. No matter whether the accident is major or minor, you will be arrested for it. The level of penalty will decrease or increase depending on the seriousness of the situation.

 

Those who drive while intoxicated need to go through a breathalyzer test. The arresting officer may also ask them to go through some sobriety tests. DWI charges are brought against people who fail in these tests.

However there is nothing get upset if DWI charge has been brought against you. It may happen that you fail the breathalyzer test. But chances are there that you don’t get punished in the court even after that. How is that possible? Well, you can not do the magic yourself. You need a DWI lawyer to represent you in the court. A lawyer with years of experience and expertise in this field can easily prove you innocent.

When you hire a lawyer make sure you hire a local lawyer who is not only aware of the local laws but is also acquainted with the judge or jury. This can influence your case to a great extent. For example if you live in New York you should opt for a New York DWI Lawyer, or a Cherry Hill DWI Lawyer if Cherry Hill is the place where you live. Choosing the right lawyer maximizes your chance of winning the case. So be careful while selecting a DWI Lawyer.