Getting pulled over by the police on suspicion of DUI can be an unsettling experience, whether or not you actually get arrested. Performing sobriety tests, interacting with the police, and trying to remain calm, can be highly stressful, and it will be a whole lot worse if you are in fact under the influence. If you find yourself getting pulled over in Harrisburg, PA, or Mechanicsburg, PA, getting in contact with a skilled DUI attorney is an absolute must.

Just because you have made a mistake and broken the law in this way does not mean you should resign yourself to the worst possible outcome. There are still options open to you. There are a lot of things your attorney can do that will have a significant impact on the court’s final decision. Staying positive and working with your lawyer goes a long way, and you can rely on their experience to see you through.

9 Ways an Experienced DUI Attorney Can Help Reduce Penalties

1. Examining the Evidence Thoroughly

It might seem like an obvious thing to say, but the defense your attorney mounts on your behalf will be based on a careful and thorough investigation of all the available evidence. Just because the outcome seems obvious does not mean it is set in stone. It is the attorney’s responsibility to know the case inside and out, and when you are the defendant, it is essential that the person representing you has all of the information they need.

2. Determining the Legality of the Arrest

If the police officer who pulled you over and made the initial arrest under suspicion of DUI can be shown not to have had ‘probable cause’ for doing so, that could throw the entire case into question. Even if you were unaware of the illegality of the traffic stop, your lawyer can establish using other evidence that it was unlawful, which might result in a reduction in sentence or even a dismissal of your case.

3. Determining the Legality of the Sobriety Tests

Much like with the legality of the initial traffic stop, the police officers who are determining your sobriety through tests are required to follow procedures to do so. If they can be shown to have coerced you into taking a blood test, if the sobriety tests were improperly administered, or if the equipment used for blood tests fails to function properly, it might allow your attorney to argue for a reduction in sentencing or charges.

4. Experience With the Legal System

5. Experience With the Law Itself

Once you have engaged the services of an experienced DUI attorney, you no longer have to try to keep abreast of every detail of the case or somehow become an expert in this field of the law. If your lawyer is qualified, dedicated, and skilled at their job, you can let them worry over the ins and outs of the case, safe in the knowledge that they are working to secure your best interests.

6. Working Out the Best Plea

7. Negotiating Plea Deals for You

8. Obtaining Alternative Sentencing

9. Keeping the Court to Its Proper Timescale

Once your case has begun being processed through the legal system, there is a time limit placed upon it. If the process ends up taking too long through delays or postponements, your attorney will be able to use this factor to request that the entire case be dismissed. Of course, you won’t want to simply try to wait it out, but it’s worth knowing that this is one possible result, and your lawyer will keep you informed of these things.

Finding a DUI Attorney in Harrisburg, PA or Mechanicsburg, PA

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence, don’t let the situation overwhelm you or make you feel like this is the end of the line. There are still lots of different outcomes that could be reached, depending on the details of your particular case, and as outlined above there are lots of factors that go into a court’s final decision about your sentence. Don’t let yourself panic or despair, because the case is far from decided.

What is most important at this point is that you make sure you have found the best legal representation possible, because it is your attorney who will make the difference between a light sentence and a harsh one. Having an experienced lawyer on your side is halfway towards getting a favorable outcome. Get in touch with the team at Jameson Stone Law right now, and start your defense on the strongest possible footing.