Get The Defense You Need To Overcome The Challenge You Face
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The prosecutors like to say, let the punishment fit the crime. We like to say, let the defense fit the charge. By that we mean, with multiple offenses obviously comes a more complicated legal process and the potential for more stringent punishment, and thus what is needed more than ever in such cases is the intervention of a highly capable and experienced criminal defense attorney known for a focus on drunk driving cases and an aggressive strategy.
Because our team brings to the table a particular focus on drunk driving cases, including felony DUI charges, we offer assets you may not find in abundance elsewhere. Any criminal defense attorney worth his salt must be well versed in the law, evidence, criminal procedure, jury selection, and trial presentation, but a good DUI attorney also has an in-depth understanding of the science behind such cases. Considering, for example, how often we’ve managed to invalidate the results of a breath test, you can imagine the advantage of having one of our advocates by your side.
Aggravated DUI
You are normally considered driving under the influence if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08. However, if your BAC is .15 or higher, you may face an aggravated DUI. Having an aggravated DUI will increase the severity of your charge, whether this is your first, second, third, or fourth drunk driving offense. There has been a flurry of activity lately amongst law-makers trying to increase penalties for an aggravated DUI, which is all the more reason to secure for yourself a criminal defense attorney who is aware of all the latest changes to the DUI laws and their implications for your legal defense strategy.
What is an Aggravated DUI?
Whereas a standard DUI is a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher, an aggravated DUI is a BAC of .15 or higher. Alabama lawmakers recently tried (and failed) to double the existing penalties for an aggravated DUI.
Why You Need A Good DUI Attorney On Top of Latest Changes in The Law
In July of 2009, the Alabama Senate tried and failed to pass a law that would have created a new second level offense for aggravated DUI. The bill would have, among other things, mandated the following:
- Any conviction in a DUI offender’s entire lifetime to count as a previous conviction (as opposed to current law, which would only count a conviction in within the prior 5 years), thus ensuring harsher penalties.
- Increased mandatory jail time.
- Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) into the offender’s vehicle. These are the devices in which you must blow and have your BAC measured before your vehicle will start.
As we said, the law didn’t pass. But the political will is still there to keep on pushing for similar reforms regarded aggravated DUI. The legal landscape is always shifting, and the only way to be sure your rights are protected in the event of an arrest and ensuing charge is to secure the services of a good DUI attorney who tirelessly follows the slightest changes in the laws and knows exactly how they might impact your particular case.
Why Hire An Experienced DUI Attorney?
Many people charged with a DUI, whether it be their first or multiple offense, assume the deck is stacked against them and resign themselves to a guilty plea. After all, a breath test “proves” they were driving while impaired… a police report details their failed field sobriety test. At our Law Firm in Birmingham, Alabama, we understand how an individual can feel dwarfed by the court system. It’s the age-old story of David vs. Goliath: the average man alone against a giant foe. But you do yourself a disservice by surrendering. By finding the right legal representation to fight for your rights, you procure for yourself an indispensable legal toolkit that serves to level the playing field.
Don’t Settle For Less Than The Most Seasoned and Competent DUI Defense
The question remains: why hire an experienced DUI attorney? Why not any ol’ garden variety criminal defense attorney? Let us answer the question by returning to the above example of David and Goliath. If you remember, David put Goliath down with a slingshot, and it is from this parable that we get the adage, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” You see, WE ARE THE SLINGSHOT. Every defense demands a specifically tailored arsenal (of skills, experience, and knowledge). Our focus for years has been on drunk driving charges, handling a wide variety of cases including clients faced with losing their commercial driver’s licenses to clients facing jail time for multiple DUI felony conviction. We have insight and time-tested strategies that other attorneys simply lack. Our track record of success also gives us the confidence to take a more aggressive approach to defending our clients. We don’t sit back and react to the prosecution; we come in firing off that slingshot and seizing control of the situation.
The Consequences of Choosing A Second-Rate Defense
If you choose an advocate who doesn’t have the kind of focus we describe, you won’t get a slingshot. Maybe you’ll get a nice little club that you can beat Goliath about the ankles with. We’re being a bit facetious, but the situation is really very serious: depending on your offense, you could lose your driver’s license, watch your insurance rates skyrocket, pay large fines, and perhaps even see jail time. When you get right down to it, this is why you hire an experienced DUI attorney: because, as they say, you don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. And especially when your career or very freedom may be at risk, you don’t bring in anyone but the very best to protect your legal rights.