Building an Ellicott City DUI Defense
There are two categories of drinking and driving: DUI and DWI. In today’s definition, DWI stands for driving while impaired. It has a low threshold. It does not require any particular level of blood alcohol content. DUI is driving under the influence, which is a harder category. One facet of a DUI is called DUI per se, which carries up to a year in jail and that requires a BAC level 0.08 or higher.
A DWI is the lesser of the two charges. Many people believe if they blow a 0.07, they are fine. That is not true. A person can be charged with a DWI if they are under 0.08. The question is simply whether they are impaired, and impairment has a very low threshold.
Penalties for driving under the influence can be serious. If you are facing DUI or DWI charges, you should invest in a highly experienced attorney. Contact a DUI lawyer today to begin building an Ellicott City DUI defense.
Being Charged With a DUI
DUI charges can be intimidating. Doctors, teachers, college professors, businesspeople, investors with security clearances who have never had a run-in, even remotely, with a police officer when all of a sudden they are arrested with criminal charges.
Oftentimes, a DUI is someone’s first interaction with the criminal justice system. The charges are serious–it could lead to up to a year of incarceration on the first offense, including fines, and could lead to the loss of driving privilege. On top of that, someone with a DUI conviction deals with the prevalent stigma of having a criminal record and being considered an alcoholic.
Role of An Attorney
One, a lawyer can explain to the client what they can do to help themselves when building their DUI defense. Attorneys interview the client and find out whether the police made a mistake. In certain scenarios, an attorney might able to convince the judge that the police officer overreacted or made a mistake. A lawyer can present evidence and build these kinds of defenses that an individual could never present on their own.
Two, there are a lot of things that need to be done to build a defense in advance of going to court. An attorney knows all of the precautionary steps that the accused should take to help their defense before trial.
Three, an attorney can answer any questions an individual has. That includes defending them, challenging everything, and negotiating and discussing it, because a defendant cannot speak with prosecutors. The prosecutor cannot talk to the individual beyond asking for their plea. No negotiation, no deliberation. Only an attorney does those things, and a good DUI attorney knows exactly how to negotiate with the prosecution.
Therefore if you are facing DUI or DWI charges in Ellicott City, begin building your defense as soon as possible. Reach out to an attorney today.