Drunk Driving Charges in Washington DC
Drunk driving charges are severe offenses, and they can have an adverse impact on your life. You may have to spend some time in jail, pay high fines, do community work, and your car insurance rates will increase, not to mention that you will have difficulties finding a job in the future. If you want to prevent any abuse in your case, you need to be aware of your rights, and make sure that they were respected after your arrest. You should hire an attorney if you get arrested for drunk driving in Washington, DC.
Every state in the United States relies on BAC or blood alcohol concentration when it comes to establishing whether a driver is impaired by alcohol or not. You can face charges for DUI, DWI, and OWI in Washington. DUI stands for driving under the influence, and you can get charged if you operate a motor vehicle when your BAC is between 0.05 and 0.08. Police officers can arrest you if they notice signs of impairment, including slurred speech, watery eyes, bloodshot eyes, as well as if you fail field sobriety tests. However, your lawyer can contest this evidence and provide proof to counter these claims.
Driving while intoxicated or DWI is a more severe charge than DUI. You can get arrested for this offense if your BAC level is 0.08 or higher. In these situations, police officers don’t need further evidence to make an arrest, due to the “per se” provision, and you can get convicted based on the results of blood, breath, or urine tests. You can also face charges of operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and this offense is called OWI. Keep in mind that chemical test results are not required to get convicted of OWI. You can get arrested based on circumstantial evidence, including slurred speech, and bloodshot or watery eyes, as well as on the failure of field sobriety tests.
Driving while intoxicated or DWI is a more severe charge than DUI. You can get arrested for this offense if your BAC level is 0.08 or higher. In these situations, police officers don’t need further evidence to make an arrest, due to the “per se” provision, and you can get convicted based on the results of blood, breath, or urine tests. You can also face charges of operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and this offense is called OWI. Keep in mind that chemical test results are not required to get convicted of OWI. You can get arrested based on circumstantial evidence, including slurred speech, and bloodshot or watery eyes, as well as on the failure of field sobriety tests.
Importance of Hiring a Lawyer
If you get arrested under the suspicion of driving drunk, it would be the best idea to hire an attorney who specializes in these cases. No matter in which state you live, these offenses can ruin your life. Consuming alcohol or illegal drugs before operating a vehicle can result in a permanent criminal record. Don’t let one mistake have an impact on the rest of your life. You have the best chances of avoiding DUI conviction if you give a call to an experienced attorney.
Hire one of the best legal experts you can find, and explain your situation. Tell the whole story, and make sure you don’t leave anything out. Having an expert by your side is the only way to avoid punishment for driving while intoxicated. He or she will collect evidence, talk to witnesses, and try to find proof of your innocence. DWI lawyers specialize in these cases, and they know how to determine whether the field sobriety tests were performed properly or not. They are also aware that these tests are not completely accurate, and can use it to your advantage.