When it comes to criminal arrests in Rile County, allegations of DUI make up a large share of cases. Prosecutors in Riley County are known to aggressively pursue these cases, to the point that charges are often brought when they are unwarranted.
If you currently face accusations of DUI, it is vital that you seek assistance from an experienced defense attorney. The state will rely on all of the resources they have available to convict you. A Riley County DUI lawyer could help you even the playing field and fight against a wrongful conviction.
There are two ways for the prosecution to secure a DUI conviction. The first—and most common—option is to establish that a motorist has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or more. The second option is for the state to show a driver was impaired by drugs or alcohol to the point that they were incapable of driving safely.
Most of the time, prosecutors will build their case around a defendant’s BAC result. This is because this approach is fairly objective. If the state can provide a breath, blood, or urine sample from the defendant that registers a BAC of .08 or more, they could have enough evidence to secure a conviction.
Of course, there are cases when a driver fails to provide a sample. That does not mean a conviction for DUI is impossible. In such cases, the state has the option to pursue a conviction based on more subjective grounds.
There is no test result that can prove a defendant is impaired to the degree that they can no longer drive safely. The prosecution must use other types of evidence, including witness testimony, to make a case for impairment. In these situations, A determined Riley County attorney could secure an acquittal on DUI charges by showing the jury that the evidence brought by the state is not enough for a conviction.
There are numerous strategies a DUI lawyer in Riley County might employ at trial, but most boil down to two common strategies. These strategies include challenges to the police stop and challenges to the admissibility of any chemical test results.
It is not unusual for the police to pull over drivers for no valid reason. When this happens, a proactive legal professional could use the unlawful police stop as a defense. Any evidence obtained by law enforcement during an unlawful police stop should be barred from the trial due to a legal concept known as the “fruit of the poisonous tree.” The evidence that could be thrown out following an illegal traffic stop could include breath test results or an admission to drinking.
There are also ways to challenge the results of a chemical test. The police or lab technicians must follow certain guidelines any time they collect a blood, breath, or urine sample. When they violate these guidelines, it could render the results of the test unreliable.
While the prospect of a DUI arrest and conviction is troublesome, it is important to remember that your conviction is never certain. With the right strategy and legal counsel, you could win at trial and beat DUI charges.
Let a Riley County DUI lawyer help you pursue the right defense strategy for your case. Call right away for a confidential consultation.