Important Facts About DUI offenses

• Posted by aubrey day August 31, 2014 - Filed in Entertainment - #Attorney  #san diego  #criminal defense  - 1,200 views
  To begin with, it is essential to note that driving while impaired is not only illegal; it is also extremely dangerous, judging from the countless number of alcohol-related fatalities that occur each year. You should therefore avoid getting behind the wheel while being under the influence of alcohol. However, if you have been arrested for driving under the influence, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have to suffer a conviction. You have the option of hiring a riverside criminal defense attorney, who will have the requisite knowledge and experience in employing the various defenses available for DUI offenses. This will improve your chances of having a more lenient conviction, or even having your charges dropped entirely. Here are some important facts about DUI offenses.

  Devastating facts about DUI

  Alcohol is responsible for about 40% of all the fatal crashes happening in America. Alcohol related crashes costs the U.S. taxpayer an approximate of $51 billion every year. Drivers with Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of only 0.02-0.05% are seven times more likely to die in a car crash than sober drivers.

  DUI penalties

  A DUI conviction will carry a variety of penalties that will depend on the laws in your state. Such penalties include but are not limited to:

  License suspension. Jail term. Multitudes of fines. Having your car impounded. Having your car auctioned to recoup costs in the event that you are unable to pay fines. Available defenses against DUI charges If you decide to mount a defense for your DUI charges, there exist a number of affirmative defenses, which include:

  Necessity: If you can show that you had to drive under the influence to prevent a greater evil; that the harm you were seeking to avoid was more serious as compared to the potential harm cause by DUI, you may get a less harsh sentence or even get discharged.

  Duress: This defense is available for an intoxicated person driving under a threat or coercion; driving in order to avoid serious bodily injury or death.

  Mistake of fact: This is applicable where a person honestly believes that they are not intoxicated. For instance, you may have valid reasons to believe that the impairing effects of your prescription medication have already worn off.

  In the event that you get arrested and charged for driving under the influence, hiring a DUI Defense attorney will go a long way in having your charges reduced or even dismissed altogether. Contact Parkman