Washington DUI Lawyer

Many people consider a DC DUI charge as only a minor offence, but in reality being charge with driving under the influence in Washington DC is very serious and the penalties can be severe and potentially life changing.  For those who have been charged with DUI offences it is important they seek the services of DC DUI lawyer as soon as possible to represent them in court.

If it is your first offence under DC DUI law then you maybe offered the option of attending a pretrial driver program which if successfully completed can see the charge being struck from the record.  This is not always an option in every case so it is wise to seek advice from an experienced DUI lawyer about pretrial programs.

The penalties for DUI can vary from mandatory jail terms, fines and community service orders.  In nearly all cases the driver’s license is suspended and even if acquitted of all charges later on, the defendant will still need to apply to the state motor vehicle department to get their license back.

For anyone who has previous convictions for DUI either in DC or any other state the penalties are more severe and become progressively so the more times they have offended.  If the driver has caused death or serious injury then the charge maybe upgraded to a felony and a longer jail term of several years may be handed down.

Evidence in DUI cases is usually gathered at the time of arrest and consists of a range of field sobriety tests, the observations of the officer at the time and a blood alcohol test.  It is this last test which will carry the most weight in court and which can influence the severity of the penalty given to you.  In all states the minimum blood alcohol level is 0.08%.  If the level is lower than this then you stand a better chance of being acquitted.  For those with levels higher then 0.08% the penalties become more severe, particularly if the test revels a result which is significantly higher.

There are also other penalties and repercussions for DC DUI offences.  If you are convicted and drive for your livelihood then you may face the sack.  This can include lorry drivers, school bus drivers, taxi drivers etc.  Your insurance company may also refuse to insure you or increase their premiums to a much higher amount.

Hiring a qualified DC DUI lawyer will help you to understand the charges against you, the penalties you could face and how the legal process works.  A good lawyer will be able to prepare a defense for you with the aim of achieving the lightest possible sentence or even acquittal.  It is important to understand that not all lawyers deal with or have experience of DUI cases so it is best to look for lawyers that specialize only in DUI cases.

The penalty that is handed down to anyone on a charge of driving under the influence can depend on many factors.  These include any previous convictions, state law, the strength of the evidence against them and the judge’s discretion at the court hearing.

Originally published here.

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