If you are convicted of an OWI/DUI, you may have to face serious consequences, incarceration, fines, community service, and the loss of your driver’s license. You may also have to leave school or lose your job. Your reputation and social life will be greatly impacted.
Because of the potentially devastating consequences, you need a Lansing DUI lawyer from DeBruin Law if you’re facing OWI/DUI charges. By working with attorney DeBruin, you gain an objective and analytical opinion regarding your case and your next best steps.
Call today at 517-324-4303 to schedule an initial consultation.
When Should I Fight an OWI/DUI in Court?
Some attorneys will tell you to always fight an OWI/DUI charge while others will advise you to always take a deal. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Whether it is better to fight or negotiate your punishment for a guilty plea depends on the circumstances of your arrest. You may want to go to trial for an OWI/DUI if you are confident you were not intoxicated at the time of your arrest.
You are more likely to prove your innocence during an OWI/DUI trial if you can point to why the police officer may have believed you were intoxicated when you were not. For instance, if you had a medical condition or injury that caused symptoms similar to inebriation like jerky eye movement, poor coordination, or slurred speech, tell your attorney immediately. If you were on any medications at the time, let your attorney know as well. Some medications affect the outcome of alcohol breath tests.
If you submitted to field sobriety tests, go over how these tests were administered and the environmental conditions at the time of your arrest with your attorney. Some field sobriety tests are inaccurate and not supported by the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration. These can be easily attacked in court. The legally endorsed tests are not perfect and can also be questioned. Two of the tests – the walk and turn and the one-leg stand – are greatly affected by your physical abilities, what you were wearing, and the terrain. For instance, if you were asked to perform these tests in four-inch heels on gravel, it is not surprising you failed even while sober.
Also, if you had not had any alcohol to drink that day or for hours before the breath test and it came back with an impossibly high blood alcohol content (BAC), ask your attorney to investigate the breath test you were given. Roadside breath tests can be inaccurate for a number of reasons, and even professional breath test machines can be poorly calibrated. Despite what law enforcement may want you to think, BAC tests are far from 100 percent accurate and can be attacked from multiple fronts.
A Lansing DUI Lawyer is Here to Help
If you have been charged with an OWI/DUI, you may be unsure of what to do next. Do you fight as hard as possible in court or do you cut your losses and accept a plea? Lansing criminal defense lawyer Tiffany DeBruin can review your case and help you make the right decision for you and your family.
To learn about your options and protect your rights, call her today at 517-324-4303.