Despite the perception by some people that a drunk driving charge is a “minor” crime, the fact is that a conviction for this charge can have serious real-life consequences. First and foremost, your driver’s license could be suspended. Just think of how hard it would be to accomplish many of the day-to-day tasks in your life without the reliable ability to drive where you need to go when you need to do it.
A drunk driving conviction also usually comes with an extended period of court supervision, during which you will likely also need to attend some type of alcohol or substance abuse treatment.
There is no doubt about it: A DUI conviction can have a serious impact on how you live your life. That is why it is so important to examine your defense options in the immediate aftermath of your arrest. Start with what happened during your DUI traffic stop.
Why? Well, if there were any procedural irregularities committed by the law enforcement officials who conducted the stop, there may be a chance to point that out and, possibly, get the case dismissed.
Examining the stop
When any traffic stop is initiated by a law enforcement official, there has to be a legitimate reason for the stop. In DUI situations, the official will usually cite the observance of some traffic violation, like swerving in a lane or speeding, for example.
And then, when the DUI stop occurs, the official must conduct field sobriety testing and breathalyzer tests properly. If there are any issues with what occurred during your DUI traffic stop, that may be a path toward challenging the charges.
