We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Finance

What does a Drunk Driving Lawyer do?

By Keith Koons
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

When a person is arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or other mood-altering substances, he will often hire a drunk driving lawyer to represent him. This type of attorney would research each aspect of the arrest to ensure that it was conducted in accordance to local laws. The legal representative would then negotiate stipulations with the court like bail costs, temporary driving privileges, or postponing the trial. Once the case is heard by a judge, a drunk driving lawyer would speak on the defendant's behalf in order to minimize legal penalties.

Different regions have various laws that pertain to driving a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance. A drunk driving lawyer specializes in interpreting these laws, and this type of attorney often has additional insight into how the local regulations are enforced. Once a drunk driving lawyer is retained, he will study the details of the case to see if there are any circumstances that would benefit his client. Occasionally, enforcement officers will unintentionally violate the suspect's rights by not following local procedures or forgetting to file a document. This type of circumstance could result in the charges being dismissed immediately, or it could lead to a type of plea bargain that would reduce the charges.

If there is not sufficient reason to have the case dismissed, a drunk driving lawyer would then approach the court to negotiate on his client's behalf. For example, some areas seize a driver's license on the spot if they are arrested for drunk driving. An attorney can sometimes convince a judge to issue a temporary license so that the defendant can drive to work or handle personal affairs. The legal representative would also attempt to get the bail amount set as low as possible in order to assist his client. Other requests pertaining to the upcoming trial would also be handled by the attorney.

A drunk driving lawyer also represents his client in court once the case is called. The attorney would discuss each of the client's legal options before entering the courthouse, and he would create a plan on how the case should be handled before a judge. As the trial unfolds, the drunk driving lawyer would interpret the evidence that the prosecuting attorney introduces. He would then make an argument to disprove the charges. If the defendant is found guilty of the drunk driving charge, the attorney would then advise him on how to proceed with appeals.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By Markerrag — On May 24, 2014

@Melonlity -- good points, but there is still a lot a drunk driving attorney can do to help a client even if the defendant is guilty and the police followed all the correct procedures. For example, a drunk driving attorney may be able to get the sentence reduced so less or no jail time is served. He or she might be able to get fines reduced, shorten the amount of time the client is without a license, help secure a client a license to drive to and from work, etc.

A drunk driver will be found guilty most of the time unless the police dropped the ball on the stop and arrest. Still, a good drunk driving attorney can do a lot more than try to beat a charge when the defendant is guilty and the state can prove its case.

By Melonlity — On May 23, 2014

This is a tough area to specialize in. Why? If a drunk driver was stopped properly, the field sobriety tests were conducted properly and either a breathalizer or blood test shows someone was drunk while driving a car, what's left to argue? Police have gotten very good over the years at following the correct procedures when stopping, testing and arresting drunk drivers.

Throw harsher legislation pushed by advocacy groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) into the mix and you have a situation where it is tough for someone to beat a drunk driving charge.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.