Lawyers who practice in the area of DUI/DWI Defense represent citizens who are charged in the criminal justice system with violating Driving Under the Influence or Driving While Impaired statutes. A conviction for DUI/DWI in many states can carry a mandatory jail sentence, suspension of driving privileges, significant fines, and other collateral consequences.
A qualified DUI/DWI lawyer may be able to identify legal and factual defenses that can help minimize or avoid the severe penalties associated with a DUI/DWI conviction. Lawyers who limit their practice to the defense of DUI/DWI cases have training and experience that allow evidence such as blood or breath tests and roadside sobriety tests to be challenged in court.
In many cases, where evidence has not been properly gathered, or where police fail to follow proper procedures, a DUI/DWI Defense lawyer can plea bargain with the state prosecutor to reduce or even dismiss the charges before trial. If a DUI/DWI case has to go to trial, a DUI/DWI Defense lawyer will have expertise in trial techniques to show that the state cannot prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Since DUI/DWI and driver’s license laws vary widely by state, it is important to identify a lawyer who not only practices this area of the law, but also in the jurisdiction where the charges are filed.