He knew he had been drinking too much at bars, but he hadn’t handled the divorce well. Now, with an arrest and charge of driving under the influence, he faces a big blow to his reputation as an animal doctor in his community. Will pet owners still bring their furry friends to the clinic, knowing about his irresponsible behavior? The veterinarian decides to hire a DUI Lawyer in Jefferson County MO to see if there is any way to have the case dismissed.
Procedural Irregularities
A DUI Lawyer in Jefferson County MO looks for irregularities in the process that took place before charges were filed. Law enforcement officials may have made an error, for example. A police officer must have probable cause to stop a driver on suspicion of drunk driving. The driver must have behaved erratically or unusually, or there must have been a safety issue with the vehicle like a burned-out taillight.
Reduced Charges
If there was no procedural issue, the prosecuting attorney may still be willing to reduce the charge, especially if this is the person’s first offense. The client will need to plead guilty to a charge called wet reckless, which means reckless driving related to alcohol use.
The plea bargain may still be a tough choice for the person who doesn’t want community residents to know that he was drinking and driving. However, there are several advantages to accepting this deal. There is no risk of a jail sentence as there is with DWI conviction. The driver’s license will not be suspended. There is no DWI on the person’s driving or criminal offense record.
Learning a Hard Lesson
An attorney with an organization such as Wegmann Law Firm provides legal representation for clients charged with this offense. Whatever happens with the case, the person has learned a hard lesson. There will be no more drinking and driving, since losing clients and ruining a strong career is unacceptable. It’s time to move forward with life and stay out of legal trouble in the future. This, in fact, is the goal of jurisdictions imposing such harsh penalties for drunk driving convictions. Follow us on Twitter.
