East Providence DUI Lawyer

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East Providence DUI Attorney

It can be frightening to be charged with a DUI, especially if you are unfamiliar with how the legal system handles these cases and what options you have to defend yourself. Fortunately for its citizens, the United States presumes innocence until otherwise proven guilty. To maximize your chances of having the DUI charges against you reduced or dropped, hire an East Providence DUI lawyer to collaborate with you on a defense strategy.

At Ellison Law LLC, our DUI defense attorneys have spent years understanding the nuances of DUI law and the criminal defense system. The knowledge and experience we have developed in this space allow us to offer quality, comprehensive legal support to those who have been accused of driving under the influence in East Providence, Rhode Island. If you have recently been charged and are not sure where to turn, consider hiring us as your legal advocates.

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What Defense Strategies Can Help Combat a DUI Charge in East Providence, RI?

Because drunk driving cases are heavily impacted by the circumstances of the alleged crime, there are many different approaches you and your defense attorney could take to challenge the accusations. Depending on your objectives for your case, consider if one of the following defense strategies would help:

  • Challenging the Legality of the Traffic Stop: It’s not uncommon for a DUI lawyer to question the rationale for why their client was stopped. The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution requires law enforcement to have “reasonable suspicion” to pull someone over, like witnessing someone driving recklessly.If your lawyer can demonstrate there was no reason to pull you over, this can help. For example, challenging a claim that you were “weaving” through lanes with body cam footage when scenarios show you were driving safely.
  • Questioning Field Sobriety Tests: Law enforcement uses different field sobriety tests to help them prove that someone has been driving under the influence. However, the results of these tests are not always accurate.Environmental factors like poor lighting or even a medical condition could cause someone to fail these tests without ever having taken a sip. Bringing these other factors to the court’s consideration can help to weaken the prosecution’s argument against you.
  • Disputing an Officer’s Observations: A lot of trust is placed in law enforcement officers in these interactions. After they have made an arrest, they will create a police report that details all of their observations. In this report, they may make claims that they observed things like bloodshot eyes or slurred speech that made them believe the individual was under the influence during their interaction.After reviewing these observations, your defense lawyer can combat these remarks by suggesting other factors, like being tired or having allergies, were the true cause of what they observed at the scene. If there is sufficient evidence to make a point like this, it can help to discredit what law enforcement witnessed and cast doubt on whether you were truly under the influence at the time of your arrest.

Plea Bargaining for Lesser Charges

In cases where the evidence against you is compelling, a DUI defense attorney may explain what options you might have to enter a plea bargain. This is where an attorney tries to exchange a guilty verdict on your behalf to secure reduced charges or penalties. If successful, this can help those charged with a DUI avoid some of the most severe penalties, like a longer license suspension and incarceration.

For example, if a prosecutor has presented evidence that shows you were slightly over the legal limit, this can be difficult to combat. However, if there were no aggravating factors in your case, like causing an accident, your attorney could use that detail to try to reduce the DUI charge to reckless driving. This could help secure a lighter penalty.

East Providence DUI Law FAQs

Q: How Much Does a DUI Lawyer Cost in East Providence, RI?

A: The total cost of hiring legal representation for your DUI case depends on how complicated your case is and how much experience your lawyer has in this space. Most defense attorneys charge by the hour, so the longer they need to compile evidence and construct their arguments, the more you will have to pay. However, it’s important to recognize how these upfront costs could secure a larger return on investment if they help you win your case.

Q: What Is the Legal Limit for DUIs In East Providence, RI?

A: No one in Rhode Island who is 21 years old or older is legally allowed to drive over a 0.08% blood alcohol concentration level. If you are under 21, this limit is reduced to 0.02%. Commercial truck drivers who have more responsibility for keeping others safe on the road have a reduced figure as well, sitting at 0.04%. Regardless of what your blood alcohol concentration level was at the time of your arrest, you can still contact a defense attorney for help.

Q: Can My DUI Charge Be Dropped in East Providence, RI?

A: Yes, there is a chance that your DUI charge could be dropped in Rhode Island if certain conditions of your case are met. Examples of these conditions include suspicion that the breathalyzer results are not accurate or if you were unlawfully pulled over. To make this happen, a defense attorney can help you make these points in court. They can take time to understand the details of your case and spot vulnerabilities in the charges against you.

Q: What Should I Do After Being Pulled Over for a DUI in East Providence, RI?

A: If you have been pulled over for a DUI in East Providence, RI, it’s crucial to stay calm. There is nothing you can do to reverse an officer’s decision to pull you over, so it’s important to follow their orders and remain quiet as you wait to secure your legal representation. If you want to decline to take a sobriety test, you have the right to do so, but at the expense of an officer likely arresting you on the spot.

Contact Ellison Law LLC Today

If you have recently been charged with driving under the influence in Rhode Island and are not sure what to do next, it’s time to hire a criminal defense attorney from Ellison Law LLC. We have years of experience defending clients against these types of accusations and would be honored to leverage the lessons we have learned to help support your case now. Contact us today to begin the process and learn more about how we can help.

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