Repeat DUI Offender? Understanding Your Legal Options
If you’re charged with your first DUI, losing your license is a possibility. If you have a history of DUI convictions, losing your license for a significant period of time is a bigger possibility. And if it’s your third time, you stand to lose your driving privileges for a long, long time.
To prevent such possibilities from occurring, you need to consult a Pittsburgh DUI attorney before the case moves ahead.
Losing Driving License on a Third Offense
A third DUI conviction, in many cases, can result in a 12-month license suspension. This means you cannot legally drive anywhere for a year. So, at this time, you can either have family and friends driving you everywhere or deal with the additional costs of paying for Lyft and Uber rides. Before this, you also need to consider the expenses of a DUI trial, which is costly and inconvenient enough.
License suspension for a year probably won’t be the only punishment. It can also result in penalties like heavy fines and jail time.
Factors Determining an Extended License Suspension
Certain factors complicate a DUI charge and make it even more serious.
- The first possible issue is the blood alcohol content (BAC) during your arrest. You’ll be charged with a high BAC if it exceeds specific limits. If it’s your third offense, you face license suspension up to 18 months.
- The second factor that complicates the situation is if you have a minor in the vehicle. If a child is present during your DUI arrest, your license will be suspended for more than a year.
Consult a DUI Attorney
No attorney can guarantee a particular result, but you can still have a better result with an attorney instead of not. There are 4 ways a Pittsburgh DUI attorney can help you:
Analyze your arrest circumstances
A Pittsburgh DUI attorney will evaluate your arrest files. They will do so to review whether the arresting officer adhered to the law. If it’s discovered that the officer didn’t, your charges might be dismissed. Some common circumstances include pulling you over with no probable cause, incorrect documentation of the situation, and so on.
Look for flaws
A skillful attorney will carefully evaluate the circumstances regarding the BAC test. The prosecution has to show you were actually driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. However, if there are any flaws in the testing procedure, your results will be dropped as evidence during the trial.
Negotiations on your behalf
The prosecutor is against you when it comes to negotiating. However, if you have a Pittsburgh DUI attorney on your side from the beginning, they may help you avoid the worst consequences.
Help you not lose your license
Your driving privileges are instantaneously suspended when you’re arrested for DUI–and it remains suspended until further notice. An attorney specializing in DUI cases can lower your charges to a point where you can get your license back after the case is over.
If you’ve been charged again for driving on a DUI license suspension, consult with a seasoned Pittsburgh DUI attorney at Logue Law Group. Working with experienced attorneys is the best way to build a strong defense and avoid potential incarceration. Contact us at sean@seanloguelaw.com or call us at 844.PITT.DUI for a free consultation.