Walk the (Straight) Line - DUI Lawyers

Drunk driving is a very serious crime, endangering the lives of everyone on the road.  At first glance, it may seem like a lawyer who represents drunk drivers is the biggest slime ball on the face of the earth, but the truth is not that simple.  A DUI lawyer knows the law and can help protect the rights of citizens so that the police do not overstep their boundaries when dealing with drunk drivers.  Moreover, there are different degrees of drunk driving and some drivers who have consumed alcohol are not considered legally drunk at all.  If you have had a drink and the police stop you for driving drunk, requesting a DUI lawyer can save you a great deal of legal trouble. 

DUI: Then and Now

Drunk driving was not always considered to be as serious a crime as it is now.  If you were caught driving drunk, you might get a fine, lose points off your license, and have to spend the night in jail to keep you off the streets until you were sober.  In some jurisdictions you would have to take a class.  As government and society have become more aware of just how serious a crime DUI is, the consequences have become much more severe even for first time offenders.  Offenders can end up with serious jail time with or without prior convictions.  The amounts of the fines have gone up considerably, with lawmakers determined to “get tough” with drunk drivers.  Community service is also a common part of a drunk driver’s legal sentence, along with extensive classes on why drunk driving is such a serious crime. 

A DUI conviction doesn’t end with the legal ramifications, however.  It can also create some serious insurance headaches, as many insurance companies will drop you automatically if you get even one conviction.  Many states require car insurance by law and will suspend your license if you are without insurance.  Even if you keep your insurance, you can be sure that your rates will go up – a lot.  And that’s only for the first conviction. 

DUI Lawyers Can Help

Keeping all these consequences in mind, it should be very clear that you want to avoid a DUI conviction if at all possible.  On the slimier side of things, DUI lawyers can and do get cases thrown out of court when the police or the prosecution fail to follow procedure.  While it may seem horrible that actual drunk drivers go unpunished, it is important to keep in mind that all citizens have rights whether or not they have broken the law.  Other techniques used by DUI lawyers include trying to get your case before a judge who is more understanding with first time offenders, and making a plea bargain.  Finally, when you are stopped by the police, DUI lawyers can save you from sobriety tests not required by the law and the legal complications that could result if you try to argue with the police.