Sand Springs DUI Lawyer
If you were recently arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Oklahoma, your top priority should be crafting your defense. One of the most common tactics used for challenging a DUI arrest involves questioning the validity of the charges against you based on the term’s legal meaning. Since driving under the influence is defined as operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, your chemical test results are a good place to start for your defense.
The Role Chemical Tests Play In Determining BAC
To determine a driver’s BAC, Oklahoma officers rely on chemical testing methods, such as breathalyzers. If the test finds that you have an illegal blood alcohol content, you will almost certainly be arrested and charged with driving under the influence. What’s more, once you are arrested, your driving privileges will be suspended before you have even been found guilty of the offense in court. Under state law, simply being arrested for DUI carries a license suspension—and since this suspension is automatic (a type of sentence known as an administrative penalty), it is entirely separate from the criminal penalties you will also be facing.
The Consequences Of A Drunk Driving Conviction
In Oklahoma, your driving privileges will be revoked immediately if you are arrested for DUI. Because this suspension is mandatory, it is considered an administrative penalty (a sentence that is required under state law). As a result, you will not only face a second set of criminal DUI penalties, but your suspension could actually remain in effect if the charges against you are dismissed. In terms of criminal penalties, even a first DUI offense carries up to $1,000 in fines, an additional 30-day license suspension, and up to 10 days behind bars—and your sentence will be even harsher if you have a prior drunk driving conviction on your record or were involved in a serious auto accident at the time of your arrest.
Fighting A DUI Arrest
Despite all the penalties that go along with a drunk driving conviction, the most important thing to remember is that not every driver arrested for DUI is found guilty of the charges in court. Like any other crime, the prosecution must present evidence to show that the charges against you are legally valid—and there’s almost always a way to challenge the state’s case against you. From questioning the officer’s reasons for stopping you to appealing your chemical test results, the Edge Law Firm is well-versed in the most successful defense strategies for winning a DUI case.
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