More than 7.8 million people live in Long Island, and many of them have the belief that defending against a DWI charge is something that can be impossible to do. In fact, it’s so commonly believed that most people won’t even seek out assistance defending themselves from the charges – they’ll just plead guilty and hope for the best.
The fact is, however, that it is indeed possible to successfully defend against a DWI charge. The key is having a good criminal defense attorney on your side and understanding what your options are.
There are several possible ways that a DWI charge can be defended against, and while sometimes it’s possible to achieve a not guilty verdict it’s much more common for an attorney to focus on getting charges dropped entirely. A few things could lead to this, including:
- Improperly Maintained Equipment – Breathalyzer machines have to be calibrated to exact specifications. If the equipment isn’t kept in the right working order, charges could be dropped.
- Improper Stop – Police officers have to stop you according to strict laws. If they stop you improperly or for no reason at all, it’s possible that charges could be dropped.
- Other Misconduct – From not explaining all of your rights to you to conducting illegal activity at the scene of the stop, it’s far too common for police officers to behave inappropriately. When they do, you could have your charges dropped entirely.
Obviously, all of the points above will be dependent upon your specific situation. As such, it’s important that you find a good attorney. They’ll begin by reviewing your case and helping you determine what your best course of action is. There’s a chance that you need to simply plead guilty, but there’s also a chance that you could have your charges removed. Speaking with a qualified attorney is the first step towards figuring out the right option for you.
It’s also important to remember that you need to speak to an attorney before talking to anyone else – especially prosecutors or authorities. Talking too much can ruin your chances for a successful defense, so don’t make that mistake.
There’s no question that DWI charges can be among the most difficult to defend against, but that doesn’t mean that you should just plead guilty immediately. Talk to an attorney first to find out whether or not you have any other valid options. You could be able to escape these charges entirely.