Your Options When Facing A DWI Charge

Posted on: 2 July 2020

Being convicted of a DWI or DUI is never a favorable event to have on your record, but what can you do about it if you were arrested for one of these charges? You have a few options to consider, but you will not know these options until you visit a lawyer who handles DWI defense cases. Once you visit a lawyer, you can learn more about the possibilities for your situation.

Plead Guilty for the Charges

Whenever you face criminal charges, you have the option of pleading guilty for the charges. You have two main ways to plead guilty. First, you can avoid a trial by telling the court that you are guilty of the charges. If using this option, you can plead guilty at your first court hearing. By doing this, you can settle the case quickly, but you could face serious consequences.

The other way to plead guilty is through a plea bargain. Using a plea bargain will take longer than the first option, but it might present some advantages. A plea bargain requires that you admit guilt, but the court might reward you by lowering the charges or consequences. Pleading guilty eliminates your rights to fight the case, so keep this in mind before choosing this route.

Fight the Charges

If you decide that you do not want to plead guilty to the charges, you can fight them. To fight charges, you must go through a court trial. Court trials take time and cost a lot of money, but a trial is your only option if you want to fight these charges.

With this option, you must develop a strategy, and this is where the assistance of a lawyer comes in handy. Your lawyer will review every detail of your case to determine the best approach for fighting the case.

One defense strategy you can use is proving the police did not ask properly during the arrest or while conducting the sobriety tests. This defense strategy is commonly used in DWI cases, but it will require work from your lawyer. Another defense strategy is proving that the equipment used by the police was faulty. People also fight DWI cases by proving they were on medication and not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Your lawyer will determine your options and advise you on what the best route is for you to take. If you have questions, talk to a criminal lawyer who handles DWI cases.

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