If you’re facing DUI charges, it’s essential you realize that there’s always an opportunity to contest the charges or minimize their impact on you.
Here are three questions to ask yourself when hoping to understand what defense options you could use to fight a DUI charge you face:
Was the traffic stop legal?
While police officers have the right to stop individuals under specific circumstances, members of the public also have the right to freedom from unwarranted police stops. If the police cannot justify their reason for stopping you, a court may consider that any evidence the officers obtained during the stop is inadmissible. This could potentially result in the dismissal of charges.
Were the tests accurate?
People make mistakes, no matter who they are, and that includes police officers conducting roadside tests. The same could apply to any lab technicians the police use to process test results taken from drivers suspected of drunk driving. Mistakes could lead to you testing over the limit for alcohol when you were not.
Was the evidence handled, stored and documented appropriately?
People have gone to jail because the police mixed up evidence taken from different places or people. Thus, the law expects the police to carefully document the movements of every piece of evidence they collect. If you can show errors in the record-keeping, it could open the door to suggesting errors in who or what the evidence relates to.
Fighting a DUI won’t be easy, of course, so it’s crucial you take appropriate legal guidance to do so if you want to increase your chances of acquittal.