Picking up a conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI) could have more of a negative effect on your life than you might realize. You could face fines, jail time, a license suspension, increased insurance premiums, fees for things like ignition interlocks and more.
That’s why it is important to realize that you may have a chance to beat the charge, rather than just accepting it. Here are a few ways you might set about that:
Contesting the police procedure
Did the police officers comply with all aspects of the law throughout? Can they justify why they stopped you, why they asked you to perform tests and why they arrested you? Did they afford you all your legal rights once they arrested you? Any failure to observe procedures on their part could be enough for a court to overturn your charge.
Contesting the test results
Failing a test does not mean you are over the limit. Sometimes test results are wrong, because the officer carried out the test incorrectly, because the police force had not calibrated their testing equipment appropriately or because the evidence (in the case of blood or urine tests) was mixed up with another person’s.
Breathalyzers can also be caused to read high by medication a person has taken or alcohol in the immediate atmosphere, say from a freshly spray-painted car. While these arguments may seem like a long shot, they are certainly worth considering where there is a chance they could succeed.
Learning more about all possible defense options is wise if you are facing a DWI charge. While accepting the charge might seem like the easiest option now, it’s important to think long-term and realize how damaging a conviction would be.