There are many people in West Virginia who think that they could never be arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving. It is natural to believe that you are somehow immune from attention from police attention on the road, until the night you see the red and blue lights flashing in your rear-view mirror.
Police efforts to make as many DUI arrests as possible do not just ensnare hard-core criminals or those struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction. As we like to remind our clients, virtually anyone can be charged with drinking and driving, including people who would never knowingly break the law.
Maybe you are driving home from an anniversary dinner with your husband or wife, where you had a glass of wine or two but felt okay to drive. Or maybe you are taking a new prescription that has stronger side effects than your doctor told you about.
No matter the circumstances, DUI charges can have serious consequences. Besides possible fines and jail time, you could lose your driver’s license, limiting your ability to get to work. In certain professions, such as the law or medicine, a DUI on your record can cost you your ability to practice.
Fortunately, none of these frightening outcomes is inevitable. A skilled defense attorney will examine the evidence and determine how to fight the charges to get them dismissed or reduced, possibly eliminating the possibility of jail time and preventing or reducing a driver’s license suspension. Even someone with prior DUIs on his or her record may have legal options.
