DUI Charges Can Be Costly, And You Need Experienced Counsel If You Hope To Avoid Substantial ProblemsM

Those facing charges of driving under the influence might seem like obvious criminals to anyone who never indulges in drink, but those cases are not as clear-cut as some might imagine.

It can’t be denied that an individual whose judgement and reflexes are seriously impaired by alcohol is like a time bomb when operating a 4,000 pound car. Whether or not a person drives while impaired, misuse of alcohol can cause many debilitating problems that tear families apart and destroy lives.

Perhaps many Americans who do consume alcohol are less sure that any alcohol consumption at all is justification for arresting the driver. Not all drinking gets a bad rap from doctors, who say that a small amount of alcohol can actually be helpful.

For many, moderate alcohol use is a means to unwind at the end of a work day. The law doesn’t say that you can’t drink and drive, but you must retain a certain level of sobriety behind the wheel to avoid arrest.

If it were a standard set by the doctors, a blood alcohol level of .15 or above would indicate that a driver is intoxicated. But in present-day law, a .08 blood alcohol level is the point where someone driving a vehicle is deemed impaired.

MADD, or Mothers Against Drunk Driving, has successfully lobbied government to reduce the blood alcohol level for those operating motor vehicles to be considered intoxicated. The original label of operating a vehicle while intoxicated has become “driving under the influence”.

Perhaps one-fifth of those who were stopped for DUI registered a lower-than-criminal level of intoxication, but were apprehended nevertheless, one study indicates. It just takes a little lingering alcohol in the mouth to affect breathalyser tests, according to one study.

You’ll lose your license and be the recipient of public scorn if you are apprehended on this charge. Auto insurance rates for those who are arrested on a DUI charge increase dramatically, and total costs including fines and legal fees can be in excess of $15,000.

For a breathalyser test to give accurate readings, it must be administered under rigid guidelines, which almost never happens, an Orange County DUI attorney would likely point out. Tests are often given without sufficient reason, and are justified by unclear and inconsistent standards which would not pass muster in court.

All that it takes to ensure a breathalyser test is answering in the affirmative when an officer asks you if you’ve had anything to drink prior to being stopped. A Santa Ana DUI attorney might suggest that police rely on more clear signs of impairment, such as the inability to walk straight, before administering the test.

A knowledgeable DUI attorney can be critical in saving you from the extreme penalties and public disgrace you’re apt to face.