District of Columbia DUI Lawyers
If you face drunk driving charges in the Columbia District, you need to hire an attorney as soon as possible. You need to be aware that having a conviction of driving drunk on your criminal record won’t do you any good, and can have a negative impact on your life. For example, you can have troubles when trying to find a new job in the future, as most employers don't look forward to hiring people with drunk driving conviction. Also, you may not be able to find an apartment to rent, as some landlords don't want to hire someone who doesn't have a clean criminal record. That’s why it is crucial to hire a legal expert with experience in handling DWI cases immediately. The sooner you give them a call, the better for you. If this is your first drunk driving offense in Washington, contact Bruckheim & Patel leading DC DUI lawyers.
It is crucial to find an experienced and trustworthy attorney who will represent you in court and protect your interests. He or she will also make sure that your legal rights weren’t broken during the arrest. A legal expert will go through your case and do everything possible to find missing evidence of your innocence. If a police officer who arrested you missed something important or didn’t follow legal procedures, your lawyer will find it out and use it to free you of drunk driving conviction. Thanks to the right professional, you can avoid facing severe penalties for a crime that you didn't commit. You need to be aware that every year hundreds of innocent people are dragged to court although they are not at fault. It happens from time to time due to the inaccuracy of field sobriety tests. They are not 100% accurate, and an innocent driver can suffer as a consequence even though he is innocent. Hiring an attorney is crucial as he can prove your innocence and help you win the case. If you are guilty, he or she will fight to reduce charges.
DUI Penalties in DC
If it is your first offense, you can encounter up to three months in jail and have to spend between $300 and $1000 on fines. Additionally, you will be enrolled in an alcohol intervention program. If by any chance, your blood alcohol level is above 0.2 perfect, you will be incarcerated for at least 10 days and a minimum of 15 days for BAC higher than 0.25. Finally, people with blood alcohol concentration of 0.3 or more will spend at least 20 days in jail.
Penalties are more severe for second-time offenders. If it is your second drunk driving conviction within 15 years of the first offense, you will be obligated to spend between $2,500 and $5,000 on fines. Additionally, you will encounter a mandatory incarceration of 10 days or more, depending on the alcohol concentration. Finally, you may also be required to do community service.
Penalties are more severe for second-time offenders. If it is your second drunk driving conviction within 15 years of the first offense, you will be obligated to spend between $2,500 and $5,000 on fines. Additionally, you will encounter a mandatory incarceration of 10 days or more, depending on the alcohol concentration. Finally, you may also be required to do community service.
Third-time offenders may have to pay fines of between $2,000 and $10,000, face a two-year driver’s license suspension, and spend a year in jail. As you can see, operating a vehicle while intoxicated is not worth it, especially if you do it repeatedly. Keep in mind that this offense has severe penalties, and you can avoid them if you drive sober. Also, remember that someone can get injured, or worse, because of your impairment.
DUI Under 21
You need to be aware that the District of Columbia has some of the strictest laws in the United States to discourage underage driving under the influence. It has a “zero tolerance” law, which means that, if you are under 21, and get pulled over, you will be arrested if you have any measurable amount of alcohol in your system.