What To Look For In A DUI Attorney

By: Peters Percy
Submitted: 2009-11-04 18:00:43
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Driving under the Influence or Driving while intoxicated are the charges that instigate an immediate need of expert legal counsel. The first thing that an accused of these cases can do is to contact an attorney who specializes in handling DUI cases. The government has become increasingly strict about prosecuting DUI cases and the accused may be levied with a hefty fine, may face a license suspension or even may even have to spend time in jail or on probation.

If one is ever pulled over by the traffic police under the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs, following few steps recommended by DUI attorneys must be kept in mind:

1. One must be careful about their pullover gesture.  The officer’s report on the behavior of the trespasser begins the minute he signals for a pull over. Therefore, it is always advisable that one pulls over very smoothly and at a safe place.

2. One ought not to make any sudden movements which may alarm the police officers. It is suggested for the driver to remain in the car only with hands on the wheel until asked by the officer to come out of the car.

3. Politeness is the key to get favorable reports.  Hostile or provoking attitude of the trespasser may result in the filing of an inaccurate report by the traffic police officers.

4. If the accused feels at any point of interrogation that answering the questions asked may incriminate him/her in the future, they can politely refuse to answer. Such questions may include how much amount of alcohol was consumed by the driver and the like. 

5. The officer may then try to administer an FST or Field Sobriety Test. One must know that these tests are 100% voluntary and he/she is under no obligation to take one. Such tests are very subjective and will depend upon the officer’s judgment of the driver’s condition.

6. The officer will then attempt to administer a hand-held breath analyzer test. Although the officials may endorse that a breath-analyzer or a blood test is a must yet the accused may refuse for the same as well. This is because the device is highly inaccurate.

7. These tests are further followed by a Chemical test at the police station, which is advised against a blood test to measure the alcohol levels in the body of the accused, versus a breath analyzer test. This is because a blood test can be verified at a later stage which can go against the accused in court. However, a DUI attorney will find it easier to contest or prove the inaccuracy of a breath analyzer test. However if  one is absolutely certain that he/she is  under the legal alcohol limit then opting for a blood test may aid the case greatly.

8. Last but not the least; one must make accurate notes about what happened before being detained by the police after getting released. These notes may include what one had to drink, how much, how the officer behaved, and what was said, etc. These notes will definitely come handy to the DUI attorney in putting together a strong case for his/her accused clients.

To sum up, a DUI attorney must be contacted as soon as possible after the pulling over incident by a traffic police inspector. The attorney can advise the accused about the case and would also help to contact the DMV or file any forms in order to procure a speedy hearing. It is therefore reiterated time and over again to hire an attorney with proven experience in dealing with DUI cases in the state.

Article source: Expert Articles