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When to Hire a Lawyer for a DUI Charge?

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When to Hire a Lawyer for a DUI Charge?

DUI Charge

The first recorded drunk driving arrest happened in 1897. George Smith crashed a taxi cab into a London building after drinking and had to pay 25 shillings as a fine. Not long after that, New York became the first state to create drunk driving laws.

Drunk driving laws have evolved over the years. These days it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. If you’re caught driving under the influence then you’re charged with a DUI.

Keep reading to find out when you should hire a lawyer for a DUI charge.

Blood-Alcohol Level

When it comes to a DUI offense, your BAC decides if you’re guilty or not. If your BAC is above the legal limit of your state you can be found guilty of DUI. It doesn’t matter if you don’t appear intoxicated, or if you feel perfectly fine, your BAC is the only thing that counts.

If your BAC level is above the limit then there is little doubt that you’ll be convicted and face consequences like fines and having a DUI conviction on your record. A lawyer won’t be able to get you out of the mess, but they might be able to save your license or reduce your fines.

When You’re Innocent

If you haven’t been drinking but failed the field sobriety test or the breath test, you need to hire a DUI attorney as soon as possible. You will need legal counsel to fight the charge as it won’t be an easy road.

Your lawyer will need to help you prove that either the field test or the breath test malfunctioned.

Get a Lawyer to Be Safe

When it comes to a DUI offense, it’s always better to hire a local DUI defense lawyer.

Even if your lawyer can’t get the charges dropped, they will make sure you’re prepared to go to court. They will make sure you understand what to expect and help you complete any required paperwork beforehand. Do not try to argue on your own behalf, you need legal counsel.

Your lawyer might recommend that you complete an alcohol education or treatment program before your court date to regain your driving privileges. If you’ve rightfully been charged with a DUI, the role of a lawyer is to guide you through the process, not get you off the hook.

A lawyer will help you quickly navigate this process so that you can have your driving privileges restored as quickly as possible.

Know When to Hire a Lawyer for a DUI Charge

A DUI charge can have severe consequences. Many states will treat a first offense as a misdemeanor so you might not face long periods of imprisonment, but you’ll be left with hefty fines and community service. If you’ve been charged with a DUI you should immediately contact a DUI attorney to see what they can do for you.

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