A person who has been arrested and charged with a DUI for the first time might feel lost and confused on how to proceed. Is hiring a hiring a DUI attorney in Williston ND really necessary? Is there anything an attorney can do if they did fail the BAC (blood alcohol content) test? The answer to both of these questions is going to be yes. Even if a person failed the BAC test, it’s a good idea to hire an attorney to see what they can do to help.
If the person is convicted of a first offense, it stays on their record for five to seven years and can be counted against them toward penalties if they are arrested for a second or subsequent DUI. They also face $500 to $750 in fines and 91 days to 180 days with a suspended license. If they are ever arrested again, the penalties become more severe and could mean they face up to five years in jail or $5,000 in fines. The penalties can also be more severe if there was a minor in the vehicle at the time or if there was an accident as a result of them driving under the influence.
A DUI Attorney in Williston ND can start by taking a look at their case to determine if there is any way to have the charges dismissed. This can be done if the BAC test was not calibrated properly, not administered properly, or if the person was pulled over without a reasonable suspicion. There are other ways an attorney can prove the charges are invalid as well, so it’s important for a person to work closely with a lawyer to find out what could apply in their case. If none of these apply, the attorney will likely still have other options.
Hiring a DUI attorney shouldn’t be something a person avoids simply because they know they are guilty. They may not have had as high of a BAC as was recorded during the stop or they might be able to have the charges dismissed because the police did not follow proper procedures. Hiring a lawyer can help them avoid serious penalties.
