How You Can Respond Legally When Facing a DUI Charge
Getting pulled over for a DUI (driving under the influence) can be a scary situation to face. If found guilty, this charge could affect your future. When facing a DUI charge, these legal options are worth considering.
Plead Guilty
If there isn't any evidence that supports your innocence in this whole legal dilemma, it may be best to just plead guilty. You'll save yourself a lot of time and money dealing with court proceedings that probably won't work out in your favor anyway.
You should probably consider this option if your blood alcohol content (BAC) was over the legal limit. There is no excuse for driving under these conditions, and the judge won't take pity on you for your mistakes. When you do plead guilty, this is an admittance of guilt and thereby counts as a conviction. You can't reverse this conviction if you have a change of heart for any reason.
Plea Bargain
If you believe you're guilty to some extent in this DUI matter yet don't want to suffer the full blowback of this charge, then you might consider plea bargaining. This is where you plead guilty to some part of the charge in exchange for a lesser sentence or punishment.
Plea bargaining typically works best if you have a clean driving record before this DUI charge occurred. If your plea bargain is considered by the prosecuting attorney, you'll probably have to plead guilty to reckless driving. This charge is a lot better than a DUI and won't affect your record as much.
Fight the Charge
If you firmly believe you're completely innocent in this whole ordeal, you might consider fighting the DUI charge. However, to have any hopes of winning in court, you'll need to work with an attorney. They'll be able to put together a sound defense strategy, showing that you were not in the wrong.
For example, the arresting officer may have administered the sobriety test wrong, or their equipment may have been faulty. Your attorney will gather evidence that supports your defense case. With their investigative tactics and negotiating skills, your attorney will help you receive the best outcome possible.
DUI charges are no laughing matter. They can seriously impact your life in a negative way. That's why it's so important to follow the right legal protocol when dealing with one. There are many paths you can go down. You just need to decide on what legal option works best for your particular situation. Contact businesses like the DUI Lawyers of Las Vegas for more information.
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