Will I Need a DUI Lawyer If I Was Only Just Over the BAC Limit?
Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is something that many people find themselves accused of. Just because it is a common charge, however, does not mean that it is something that can be taken lightly. Whether the prosecutors treat it as a felony or a misdemeanor, the impact on a person’s life can be huge and the repercussions life-changing. Fines are a problem, but imprisonment or the loss of your license can be something that will cause collateral damage for the rest of your life. For this reason, if you are accused of or charged with DUI you should contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible.
It is in your best interests to hire a DUI attorney, however, many people have misgivings about this idea and feel that they would be just as well off with a public defender, or even that there is no sense in fighting the charge. A DUI attorney in Houston, however, will be more committed to working toward your defense and will protect your rights every step of the way. They are your best chance of reducing the impact of the charge on your life. The legal limit is set at 0.08BAC, but law enforcement officers may arrest you and charge you even if your BAC is lower than that if they believe that you were too impaired to be driving a vehicle. Whatever your BAC was at the time of the test, it is important that you work with a lawyer.
What A DUI Attorney in Houston Can Do To Help With Your DUI Charge
A lawyer will help you to fight for a positive resolution. You have the right to have representation, and depending on the nature of the case your representative will either work with you to ask that the charges are dismissed or reduced, or to reduce the penalties that you face. If you need to keep your license, then this is something else that a DUI attorney can try to do for you. They will defend your driving privileges. If you are going to consider pleading guilty, then remember that a guilty plea means that you will not have the opportunity to work toward a better resolution.
It is a good idea to challenge the case that the prosecution put forward. You have the right to challenge the arrest, the evidence, and the protocol that the law enforcement officers followed. If your BAC was at or only just above the legal limit, then working with an attorney could help you to put together a defense that will give you a positive resolution to your case. Public defenders do their best, but they do not have the time or resources of a paid attorney. They are often overworked and underfunded, and they are typically newer attorneys that have less experience. This means that they are not always able to defeat DUI cases. Why put your trust in a system that is set up with handicaps?
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