Tens of thousands of people are arrested for driving under the influence each year, and the vast majority of them hire experienced criminal defense attorneys to advocate on their behalf. If you ever find yourself facing drunk driving charges, you may wonder if retaining the services of a lawyer would make things better. You may feel that the evidence against you is strong and a conviction is inevitable, so why should you spend your hard-earned money on legal representation? Here are four reasons why hiring a lawyer after a DUI arrest is a good idea.
Drunk Driving Penalties Are Severe
A drunk driving conviction can have severe consequences. In California, even first-time DUI offenders can be sent to jail for up to six months and fined up to $1,000. If you have prior drunk driving convictions, caused an accident that resulted in serious injury or death or were transporting a minor at the time of your arrest, the penalties could be even more severe.
A DUI Conviction Will Remain on Your Driving Record for Years
Employers and landlords do not always run criminal background checks on job applicants or prospective tenants, but they usually check their credit reports and driving records. DUI convictions remain on DMV records for 10 years in California, which could make finding a job or renting an apartment much more difficult.
Toxicology Evidence Is Not Infallible
If you are arrested for drunk driving after failing a breath test, you may believe that a criminal defense attorney will not be able to do much to help you. This is not true. The breath-testing devices used by police departments only provide accurate results when they are properly maintained and regularly recalibrated, but many law enforcement agencies neglect these important tasks. Experienced criminal defense lawyers ask to see maintenance logs when their clients are accused of drunk driving, and they may seek to have toxicology evidence excluded if these records reveal that strict protocols were not followed.
Criminal Defense Attorneys Know How Prosecutors Think
Criminal defense lawyers negotiate with district attorneys on a regular basis, so they know how prosecutors think. District attorneys have heavy caseloads and are judged on their results, so they tend to avoid going to trial whenever possible, even when their evidence is strong. This is why the overwhelming majority of criminal cases are settled at the negotiating table and not in court. Prosecutors may be willing to make significant concessions to avoid the risks of arguing the facts in court, but they rarely make generous plea offers unless they are dealing with criminal defense attorneys who understand how the system works. If you want to have the best advantage possible during plea negotiations, look for a defense attorney who can take on your case.
Don’t Take Chances With Your Future
If you are charged with DUI or any other crime, you should at least speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney before you accept a deal and plead guilty. If you are innocent, retaining the services of a qualified professional becomes imperative. Your future is on the line, so you should not take any chances.
Published by: Khy Talara
