Despite what most people think, a charge of DUI in Washington DC is a serious offence and shouldn’t be considered as merely a minor traffic offence. Being charged and convicted of DUI can result in penalties ranging from large fines running into thousands of dollars to lengthy and mandatory jail terms. If you are charged with driving under the influence then you should seek the services of a DC DUI lawyer as soon as possible.
Given the complex nature of DUI cases representing yourself is ill advised as those that do rarely succeed in successfully having themselves acquitted. Hiring a DC DUI lawyer will give you the best chance of understanding the charges against you and the evidence gathered by the prosecution. Evidence in DUI cases comes from medical and scientific tests carried out at the time of your arrest and requires some technical expertise to be able to interpret it.
The evidence against you will usually consist of the observations of the police officer who arrested you, and a blood alcohol test which will show the levels of alcohol in your system at the time. You do have the right to refuse to take this test, however this can be seen as an admission of guilt and could result in further charges being brought at a later date.
Your DC DUI lawyer will seek to disprove this evidence by either offering alternative explanations for the results or to question the procedures and personnel used at the time the tests were conducted. It can be possible to have evidence deemed as inadmissible because the correct procedures where not followed. Your lawyer may also look for other witnesses to help your case.
If you have previous convictions for DUI then you can expect the penalties to be more severe. The penalties for repeat offenders will increase with each subsequent conviction and can also result in a lengthy jail sentence being passed. Any driver charged with DUI will have their license immediately revoked and will have to reapply for it should they then be acquitted. Special considerations exist for those whose livelihoods depend on having a driving license, however there will be sanctions imposed on where and when you can drive. In some instances those whose jobs include driving school buses, taxis and goods vehicles could be sacked and many find that their insurance premiums rise or they become uninsurable.
Many lawyers will take on DUI cases but you are advised to seek the services of a specialist DC DUI lawyer to take on your case. Lawyers who specialize only in this type of case will have an up to date knowledge of the relevant state law and processes that are involved. They will also have the necessary expertise to successfully defend your case.
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