Being arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated is a serious matter. If you are facing DUI charges, it may be well-advised to get help defending yourself by enlisting the services of an attorney. To learn more about how an attorney can help you overcome your Indiana DUI, continue reading.
Many people don’t take drunk driving charges as seriously as they should. The fact is, even being arrested for an operating while intoxicated (OWI) charge can haunt you for the rest of your life, let alone a conviction.
Let’s start by looking at the legal ramifications of an OWI conviction. First, you could be ordered to pay a sizable fine and be sentenced to time in jail or state prison.
The amount of time will be based on several factors, which includes how many prior OWI offenses you have on your criminal record, if any, and whether you seriously injured someone else in the process. Other consequences for a guilty OWI verdict include the following:
Additionally, your OWI conviction will also appear any time you need to have a background check. If you were interested in moving into a new apartment building or are finally going for that job you’ve been hoping to get, your OWI could prevent you from attaining these goals.
Needless to say, being convicted of drunk driving can negatively impact your life for years to come. For this reason, you must take steps to clear your name.
Regardless of whether you were drunk driving, you have the right to defend yourself in court. There are a couple different defense strategies available to avoid being found guilty of an OWI. If you know you are guilty, and that the evidence will clearly support your guilt, it may be in your best interests to work with the prosecutor to obtain a plea agreement.
People who have a lot to lose if they are found guilty of an OWI may have their charges reduced to a wet reckless. A wet reckless is not a criminal charge like an OWI is, it’s a traffic citation that says you were driving recklessly and there was alcohol involved.
You’ll likely pay a considerable fine and perhaps participate in a substance abuse course, but the incident will not appear on your criminal record. Your attorney can assist you in working with the prosecution to obtain such a deal.
Other possible defenses could include questioning the validity of chemical test results or whether law enforcement had probable cause to pull your vehicle over in the first place. Your attorney will carefully examine the circumstances of your case to determine which strategy is most likely to work for you.
If you would like to learn more about how a Terre Haute criminal defense lawyer at Rowdy G. Williams Law Firm could help you clear your name of all drunk driving charges, schedule a free consultation at our office. To do so, fill out the convenient contact form on our website or call us directly at 1-812-232-7400.
