DUI is a criminal offense that carries significant penalties if a driver is convicted. Therefore, it’s not something a driver should take lightly or accept a plea agreement just to get the case over with quickly. The consequences are long term, and a conviction will remain on a driver’s criminal record forever unless they can get it expunged in the future. Instead of agreeing to a deal they don’t fully understand, drivers should always consult with an attorney before going to trial on a DUI case.
Due to the very nature of this charge, it’s quite possible the driver doesn’t remember everything that happened before, during and after the traffic stop. This is why a DUI lawyer in Ocean City, MD may contact potential witnesses and look for surveillance cameras along the route their client took prior to their arrest. Witness statements and camera footage might be a major part of a driver’s defense so it’s important for them to try to remember every place they were and everyone they came in contact with before the traffic stop.
Law enforcement officers must have probable cause to arrest a driver for DUI. The law is vague in the definition of probable cause but it can mean as little as crossing the double yellow line to completely missing a stop sign or red light. When the officer approaches the car, they may be able to legally test a driver’s blood alcohol content if the driver is exhibiting behaviors such as someone who was intoxicated might. The smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath or inside the vehicle may also give them probable cause to arrest a driver.
A DUI lawyer in Ocean City, MD might challenge any element of the officer’s probable cause in order to get a more favorable outcome for a client. In a criminal case, it doesn’t matter whether the driver was actually intoxicated but whether the prosecution can prove that fact beyond a reasonable doubt. With an aggressive Ocean City lawyer on their side, many drivers are able to avoid the penalties associated with a DUI conviction and go on with their lives.
