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The police arrested you while you were driving drunk. You decided to take the risk, and you got caught. Is there anything a DUI lawyer can do to help, or should you accept the consequences and move on?
Even if you were driving under the influence when the police arrested you, there are still several ways a New Jersey DUI lawyer may be able to help. That said, you should work with an attorney right away who will do everything possible to help you avoid a conviction at trial.
5 Ways a New Jersey DUI Lawyer Can Help if You Were Driving Drunk
Here are five examples of ways a New Jersey DUI lawyer may be able to help you if you were caught driving drunk:
1. Challenging Your Traffic Stop
Why did the police officer who stopped you pull you over? Did he or she really suspect that you were driving drunk, or could you be a victim of profiling? If the officer stopped you without “reasonable suspicion,” then the prosecution’s entire case against you could be inadmissible in court.
2. Challenging Your Arrest
The same types of questions can be asked about your arrest. Did the officer follow the necessary procedures, and did the officer base your arrest on probable cause? If not, this could provide a defense to your DUI even if you were drunk behind the wheel.
3. Challenging Your Breathalyzer and/or Field Sobriety Test Results
New Jersey prosecutors often rely heavily on breathalyzer and field sobriety test results to pursue convictions in court. Could your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reading be flawed? For example, did the officer fail to calibrate the device or administer the test improperly?
With regard to the field sobriety tests, did the officer administer them in accordance with standard protocols? Did the officer have adequate expertise to judge your drunkenness? Here, too, any questions can potentially provide you with a defense to your DUI.
4. Challenging the Prosecution’s Other Evidence
From eyewitness testimony to body camera footage, prosecutors can use various other forms of evidence in DUI cases as well. But, there are grounds for challenging all of these types of evidence, and your New Jersey DUI lawyer can use his or her experience to keep as much evidence out of your case as possible.
5. Reducing Your Sentence
Finally, if it is not possible for you to avoid a DUI conviction, your lawyer can focus his or her efforts on reducing your sentence. DUI charges carry substantial penalties in New Jersey (including possible jail time for a first-time offense), but it is possible to avoid the worst of these penalties in many cases.
Discuss Your Case with a New Jersey DUI Lawyer
If you got caught driving under the influence, we strongly encourage you to discuss your case with one of our New Jersey DUI lawyers. To schedule a confidential initial consultation as soon as possible, call 877-435-6371 or tell us how we can reach you online now.
Over 20 attorneys at HCK have extensive experience in defending DUI cases as they were former assistant prosecutors and/or police officers for a combined total of over 600 years of law enforcement experience. You can find out more about them on our site, and you can call Managing Partner Ron Helmer on his cell phone at 609 685-0665.
