What is a DWI Attorney

A DWI attorney defends people who have been charged with the crime of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These crimes are variously known as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) depending on the jurisdiction where the offense was committed. These are considered serious crimes and all fifty states have stringent DWI laws. A person can be charged with a DWI if they are stopped by a policeman on suspicion of being intoxicated and fail a BAC (blood alcohol content) test. Generally, the legal limit is.08% BAC although some states have set a BAC of as much as 0.10 percent; however, the BAC limit is much lower for drivers under the legal drinking age of twenty-one. If you are charged with a DWI or DUI, you must engage an attorney who specializes in these cases, since a general criminal attorney may not be familiar with all the intricacies of DUI law.

The job of the DWI attorney can begin as early as when the client is being held in a holding cell pending their first appearance before a judge. The lawyer can arrange for their client’s release until the first trial date. To prepare for the case, the DUI lawyer will interview the arresting officers and potential witnesses as well as reviewing all the pertinent documents and test results from the BAC tests.

During the trial, the DWI attorney will raise questions about the arresting process, as well as the results of the BAC tests. The tests may not have been conducted correctly, for example, or the arresting officer may not have informed the suspect of their rights. The client may also not have been driving while under the influence of alcohol at all, but may have a medical condition which registers as a high BAC in tests. If the client is found guilty, the DUI lawyer will negotiate the most lenient sentence with the judge, arguing extenuating circumstances as well as stressing the client’s willingness to attend counseling for alcohol problems.