If you have recently been charged with a DUI, this likely occurred after you were pulled over by law enforcement officials and asked to perform a Breathalyzer test. If this was the case, you must take swift action to adequately defend yourself. Failing to do so could mean that you will lose your driver’s license, pay significant fines and perhaps even face jail time.
There are many different possibilities when it comes to defending yourself against a DUI charge. Some of these you may be already aware of, and others you may not be. Take the time to understand all of the possible defense routes available to you before deciding how to move forward. The best defense will depend on the specific circumstances pertaining to your case. The following are some defenses that you may be able to use.
The inaccuracy of the Breathalyzer test
Breathalyzer tests used by law enforcement officials are notoriously inaccurate. While they are considered to be adequately accurate for field use, they can commonly provide false-positive results. Therefore, if you believe that you were not under the influence of alcohol when you were tested, consider disputing the results of the test.
Rising blood alcohol concentration
If you were tested at a police station after being pulled over, your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) may have risen between the time you were driving and the time that you were tested. Therefore, you may be able to successfully argue that you were not under the influence of alcohol when operating your vehicle.
Law enforcement officials made an improper stop
To be successfully charged with a DUI, the police officer must have had probable cause to make the initial traffic stop. If the police officer was acting out of discriminatory reasoning or if they had no probable cause to make the initial stop, you will likely be able to have all charges dismissed.
Being charged with a DUI can negatively affect every aspect of your life. It may mean that you are unable to do the simplest things like travel to work or do grocery shopping. Therefore, do not delay taking action, and make sure that you aggressively defend yourself against a DUI charge.