What is DWI?
DWI stands for Driving While Impaired. Other common terms include: DUI, OMVI, OVI and OUI. They all mean the same thing, though, which is driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you ever find yourself driving while drunk or intoxicated, expect to pay heft penalties.
Drunk Driving Laws
All 50 states in the United States sees DUI or DWI as a crime, says the DMV. So if you drink while you’re alcohol-impaired or on a high from illegal chemicals and substances, you could be liable for charges. A blood alcohol concentration or BAC that’s around .08 percent or even higher is also considered a crime. In worst-case scenarios, there are certain types of DUI that could be charged as a felony. If you’re dealing with the latter, you could end up going to prison.
Possible Consequences
If you injure or kill someone because you were high or drunk behind the wheel, you could end up with a prison sentence. This is especially true if you get charged with a third or fourth count of DUI or DWI. In this case, it wouldn’t matter if you killed or injured no one else. You’ll end up going to prison based on your record.
Why Get Legal Help
If you are charged with DUI or DWI, make sure you seek out legal assistance as soon as you can. Consult one for legal advice on how to proceed. Your DWI lawyer in Mercer County will let you know what kind of laws apply to your case and what possible defense you have.
On Hiring a Lawyer
Get references before you hire anyone. Go for lawyers who specialize in these cases. Make sure your lawyer is licensed in your city or state. When you finally have a few potential names on your list, schedule a consultation as soon as possible.
