Driving while intoxicated (DWI), also known as driving under the influence (DUI) in many jurisdictions is a very serious offense that can come with some heavy consequences. When a person is intoxicated with alcohol or is under the influence of illegal drugs, it is against the law to drive a vehicle; this is a law that is taken seriously because of the risks and dangers that committing such an act poses. As a result, many jurisdictions have taken a zero tolerance approach to driving while intoxicated and will usually give a suspect the worst possible punishment. For a convicted individual who has learned his or her lesson, it can be quite difficult minimizing the punishments that come with drunk driving. That is why it is important to receive legal representation from a DWI lawyer.
A DWI lawyer is
a practitioner of the law who is quite knowledgeable and experienced
when it comes to court cases involving drunk driving and driving under
the influence of drugs. DWI lawyers know every aspect of DWI laws and
regulations and do everything in their power to minimize the sentencing
for their client or to have the case dropped completely if possible. DWI
law is an ever-changing and evolving aspect of American law, and hiring
a DWI lawyer who keeps up to date with new provisions and statutes is
extremely important to provide the best legal representation possible.
Since the 1980's DWI law has tightened up considerably and persons
driving impaired and under the influence of drugs can no longer get away
with doing so if they are pulled over by a police office. If a police
officer finds that a person shows a blood alcohol content over .08, the
person will automatically be arrested and booked.
Once a person
has been arrested and charged with DWI, there are a number of scenarios
which may occur during the entire legal process, depending heavily on
the severity of the DWI charge and the number of past DWI convictions
the individual has accumulated. It is important for that individual to
hire a DWI lawyer immediately so that he can properly prepare for the
case at hand with the help of the DWI lawyer. In today's day and age,
DWI lawyers specializing in impaired driving court cases are no longer
difficult to find. Doing a quick Internet search will yield many results
within the person's general area. Most searching websites can allow an
individual to even select specific states, counties and cities to find a
DWI lawyer that will help him or her. The individual should narrow the
list down based upon DWI lawyer descriptions and pick only a few that
seem most qualified for the job of legal representation. This is one of
the most important decisions he or she will make during the course of
the court case.
DWI lawyers have a lot of knowledge about the
law, and they will apply it to your particular case, while explaining a
person's rights and a course of action. Some DWI cases can be treated as
felonies if an injury or death is involved in the incident. Legal
representation in this situation is as important as ever and can mean
the difference between serving prison time or being charged with fines
and community service. Though the court will usually require that the
person receive legal counseling with a public defender if the defendant
cannot afford one, it will not be as useful as if the individual had
hired his or her own DWI lawyer.
Once the trial commences and
comes to a conclusion, DWI lawyers will do everything in their power to
have their client receive the best possible outcome. This can mean
making a deal with a judge or fighting for their client's innocence.
Possible outcomes of the case can include a driver's license suspension,
having a breathalyzer device installed on the defendant's car to
prevent him or her from driving drunk, hefty fines, or even prison time
if the DWI is a felony. If the defendant is a repeated drunk driving
offender, the case may be eventually treated as a felony in the third or
fourth case. DWI lawyers will do everything in their power to prevent
this and minimize all of these punishments, even if it means absorbing a
few large fines.