A lawyer such as Corbin T. Volluz in Mount Vernon WA defends clients against charges of driving under the influence of alcohol. One strategy a defense attorney uses is to focus on a lack of evidence or technical problems with the collection of evidence. There may be issues with a breath test or field sobriety test, for examples. Also, law enforcement officials may not have had any legitimate reason to stop the driver.
A breath test can be suppressed for numerous reasons. For example, the Breathalyzer equipment at the police station must be compliant with certification as required by state codes. On the road, the police may use a portable device to determine blood alcohol content, but those test results are not admissible in court.
Police officers in Washington State are not allowed to stop drivers without cause. Sobriety checkpoints are not allowed. The driver must commit a traffic offense or do something that indicates intoxication or the vehicle must have a safety issue.
For example, drivers are allowed to turn right at a red light after stopping unless a sign prohibits this. If a driver rolls through the red light without stopping, this is a traffic offense. Police can pull this person over and determine whether this is evidence of intoxication. Admissible evidence might include the odor of alcohol on the person’s breath or slurred speech. An example of an action that is not a traffic offense but may indicate the driver is having some trouble is coming to a full stop at a flashing yellow light.
Hiring an attorney such as Corbin T. Volluz in Mount Vernon WA is essential for preventing the worst DUI penalties allowed by law. In Washington State, even a first offense can result in a jail sentence of a full year and a fine of $5,000. A lawyer may be able to have the charges dropped or the case dismissed because of technicalities. If this is not possible, the prosecution may be willing to reduce the charges to reckless or negligent driving. Anyone who needs skilled legal representation after being charged with DUI may Visit Website to schedule a consultation.
