Johnston DUI Lawyer

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Johnston DUI Attorney

Anyone caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is at a serious risk of facing long-term legal consequences. Fines, license suspension, community service, or a jail sentence are all possible repercussions that can be part of someone’s final verdict if found guilty and charged with a DUI. To ensure your rights are protected, hire a Johnston DUI lawyer. They can help build a strong legal defense and find areas to try and minimize the penalties you face.

At Ellison Law LLC, we have helped many clients who were in the same position as you. We know how to investigate the validity of traffic stops and ensure that no one takes advantage of your legal rights in this process. When we spot errors in these standard procedures, it opens up the possibility of dismissing evidence in your case. This could include the results of a sobriety test. To help us learn more about how we can help you, set up a consultation as soon as you can.

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Common Defense Strategies in DUI Cases in Johnston, RI

It’s impossible to know what defense strategy could be the most effective in your case before consulting with a DUI lawyer in Johnston. Once you consult with your attorney, they will be able to assess your case and provide their professional recommendation on what angle you should take to maximize your chances of earning a lighter penalty or having your case dropped.

Some of the most common defense strategies employed in these cases include:

  • Challenging Why You Were Stopped: One of the first areas a DUI attorney will look into is why their client was pulled over in the first place. The details of this question alone can be revealing, as law enforcement is not able to pull someone over unless they have reasonable suspicion that someone is breaking a traffic rule. If your attorney successfully proves that an officer had no merit to pull you over, this act alone could have enough power to dismiss any evidence collected during that interaction.
  • Challenging the Results of a Field Sobriety Test: Field tests like walking in a straight line or reciting the alphabet backward are some common examples of how law enforcement measures your sobriety after being pulled over, in addition to measuring your blood alcohol concentration. While these tests can be useful, they are also not always the most reliable. For example, even a minor medical condition could impact someone’s ability to pass these tests even when they are completely sober.
  • Challenging an Officer’s Account of What Happened: A huge piece of evidence in any DUI case is the police report generated by the officers who reported to the scene. In this report, they will detail their initial observations, including their impression of the defendant’s sobriety and behavior before being pulled over.As they review this report, a defense attorney will look into what an officer recounted to try and spot irregularities. Sometimes, these are genuine mistakes, while other times, an officer might try to manipulate the facts to support their account of what happened. To ensure an officer was not acting in bad faith, an attorney will compare surveillance footage with the officer’s testimony to ensure it matches.
  • Plea Bargain: If the evidence stacked against you is strong, you can work with your DUI attorney to enter a plea bargain. This is when you choose to exchange a guilty verdict for a lighter punishment. For example, your guilty verdict could prevent you from having to spend time in prison and rather be issued fines and community service hours. Work with your lawyer to create a compelling plea bargain to protect you.

Johnston DUI Law FAQs

Q: How Much Does a DUI Cost in Johnston, RI?

A: The total cost of being charged with a DUI in Rhode Island will vary based on many different circumstances. For example, those who are first-time offenders and did not injure or kill anyone as a result of their intoxication will likely pay the least amount of money for their legal services. This is because there won’t be as much time needed to spend working on the case. More complicated cases, like those involving a defendant with multiple DUIs, will result in higher costs.

Q: What Is the Worst DUI You Can Get?

A: The most severe DUI you can be charged with is an aggravated DUI in Johnston, RI. This means that there were specific aggravating factors involved in your case. Some common examples of this include driving with an extremely high blood alcohol concentration, driving intoxicated with a minor in the vehicle, or causing a car accident that results in an innocent person’s death. These cases are met with some of the highest penalties, like extended jail time and longer license suspensions.

Q: What Is the Legal Limit to Avoid a DUI In Johnston, RI?

A: To avoid being charged with a DUI in Rhode Island, your blood alcohol concentration level needs to be below 0.08% if you are 21 years of age or older. Newer drivers under the age of 21 are held to a higher standard, where anyone higher than a 0.02% BAC level will be held accountable. If you have been pulled over and your BAC was found to be higher than these levels, you need to hire a defense attorney to see what options you have to defend your position.

Q: Can a DUI Conviction in Rhode Island Be Expunged From My Record?

A: It is possible to have a DUI conviction expunged from your criminal record in some instances in Rhode Island. First-time offenders are the most likely candidates to have this request honored after waiting the required time period. Additionally, a defense attorney can help find ways to dismiss specific pieces of evidence in your case that can prevent you from being charged in the first place.

Contact Ellison Law LLC Today

If you have recently been charged with a DUI in Rhode Island, contact the attorneys at Ellison Law LLC today. We would be honored to learn more about what happened and find the strongest ways to support your defense case. Contact us today to learn more.

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