DUI / DWI Attorneys Lassen County California

Drivers arrested for DUI / DWI in Lassen County, California are often frightened and embarrassed, and may not be sure of the next step. However, time is of the essence after a drunk driving arrest - the accused driver needs a skilled defense attorney fighting for his or her rights from the start.

Driving under the influence convictions carry harsh consequences, including hefty fines, long driver's license suspensions, and even time in jail. But the severe repercussions of a drunk driving conviction aren't inevitable - not even close. A skilled Lassen County, California criminal defense attorney from 1800DUILaws.com will work hard to obtain a favorable resolution to any drinking and driving charge.

Oftentimes, accused drunk drivers are understandably uncomfortable about facing a jury of their peers, but it's definitely possible to fight the charges and win. For many drivers, learning how driving under the influence cases are prosecuted helps to put their minds at ease.

Lassen County, California DUI / DWI cases are prosecuted with four types of evidence - driving patterns, physical symptoms of intoxication, field sobriety test results, and chemical test results. Although this evidence may seem daunting, it doesn't equal an automatic conviction. All of the prosecution evidence in a drinking and driving case can be effectively challenged by a skilled Lassen County, California drunk driving defense attorney.

The arresting officer in a Lassen County, California drunk driving case is typically the first prosecution witness called to the stand. The officer will testify about the accused motorist's driving patterns just before the traffic stop was initiated. Certain driving behavior is linked with impaired motorists, such as driving too slowly, abrupt braking, and weaving from lane to lane. But there are many circumstances that can cause this behavior - the driver may have been briefly distracting while reaching for something on the floor and inadvertently drifted between lanes.

If the arresting officer cites speeding as the reason he or she initially pulled the driver over, probable cause to make an arrest may not have existed, and any evidence gathered may be excluded at trial. Speeding isn't recognized as a drunk driving pattern by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The officer will also describe any physical symptoms of alcohol intoxication observed in the motorist before, during and after arrest. Signs of intoxication that the officer may cite include red, watery eyes, slurred speech, and an odor of alcohol. However, these so-called signs of alcohol impairment could easily have stemmed from conditions that were completely unrelated to alcohol use, such as illness, allergies, or even fatigue.

The driver's performance on a field sobriety test will also be used as prosecution evidence in a Lassen County, California DUI / DWI case. Field sobriety tests are extremely subjective - whether or not the driver "passes" hinges solely on the officer's opinion. Effective field sobriety tests challenges are often built around a simple precept - when a driver becomes intoxicated, mental impairment always occurs before physical impairment. Individuals with a high tolerance for alcohol can often hide the resulting physical impairment, but mental impairment can't be masked.

Because mental impairment can't be disguised, a motorist who were unable to perform physical aspects of a field sobriety test correctly, but who displayed no mental impairment, can't have been under the influence of alcohol. The driver's physical difficulties could have stemmed from any number of factors unrelated to alcohol use, such as illness, an injury, or even fatigue.

Chemical tests are usually a key piece of evidence in any Lassen County, California driving under the influence prosecution, but a test result that indicates a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or greater can certainly be challenged. Blood and breath tests can be prone to error, and so can the individuals who perform them. An experienced DUI / DWI defense lawyer will examine the accused driver's chemical test from every angle to devise an appropriate challenge.

An individual's blood alcohol level can fluctuate considerably in a short period of time because the body continues to absorb alcohol after the last drink is taken. Therefore, a driver who "failed" a chemical test at the police station could easily have been within the legal limit when behind the wheel.

Refusing to take a chemical test can bring additional complications for the driver, both in court and at the DMV. Every state has an implied consent law, which dictates that every suspected drunk driver must submit to a chemical test after a valid arrest. Drivers who refuse the test can face longer license suspensions, additional criminal penalties, and the refusal may be used as evidence of consciousness of guilt.

Even though prosecutors inundate the jury with evidence in a Lassen County, California driving under the influence case, a DUI / DWI conviction is far from unavoidable. An experienced Lassen County, California DUI / DWI defense lawyer will fight to protect the accused driver's rights and secure the most favorable outcome in a drinking and driving case.

However, locating the right defense attorney can be difficult, especially if the driver has never been in trouble with the law before. 1800DUILaws can help any driver find a qualified DUI / DWI defense attorney. 1800DUILaws will help any Lassen County, California driver locate an aggressive local defense attorney who will work hard to minimize the negative consequences of a DUI / DWI arrest.