Speaking with a drunk driving defense attorney, once you have been released from the city or county lock up, can mean the difference between a rushed and unsuccessful defense and a dismissal of all of the charges against you. The penalties of a DWI conviction can have long term and devastating effects upon your professional, personal and financial future. So the sooner you deal with the allegations the better.

An experienced lawyer can review the details of your arrest and evaluate the validity of the evidence that law enforcement officials claim to have against you. Did you blow higher than a 0.08% on your breathalyzer? Perhaps you did. But was the breathalyzer test administered in a timely manner in order to accurately reflect your blood alcohol content at the time you were actually driving? Did you perform poorly during the field sobriety testing? Perhaps you did. But did the officer make any inquiries pertaining to any physical limitations, handicaps or conditions that might hinder your performance of the tests?

You may be under the impression that your DWI charges are simply yours to accept, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Many elements must be considered before you decide to just throw in the towel and accept the penalties. First time offenders convicted of driving while intoxicated, as an example in the State of New Jersey, will face a suspension of their driving privileges, fines, fees to the state, surcharges to the DMV, incarceration and an obligation to complete a course in Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation. In total, you could be facing more than $3,800 in fees and fines. The various €fees€ various states have imposed on DWI charges generate millions of dollars in revenue and taxes on an annual basis. On top of that, there are the financial penalties that will be imposed by your insurance company or the expenses that you will be obliged to pay for drug and alcohol counseling, the installation of an ignition interlock device (if it's mandated) or probationary supervision.

The details and processing of a DUI can be incredibly complex and confusing. Facing the courts without the aid of a legal professional is virtually the same as submitting a guilty plea or pleading no contest to the charges. The prosecutors are not interested in pursuing the validity of your evidence or ensuring that it was not obtained by the means of an illegal search and seizure €" their job is to win cases. The job of the drunk driving attorney is to question all evidence.