How Do I Beat Fourth of July Drunk Driving Charges?

Cops are always on the lookout for drunk drivers, but they are even more tenacious about catching them on holidays like the Fourth of July. If you got swept up in this furor and believe that your drunk driving charges were a mistake, it is time to fight back. You need an experienced Bergen County DWI attorney on your side.

How Can I Be Punished for Drunk Driving on the Fourth of July?

A DWI conviction can result in hefty fines, jail time, and a variety of other inconvenient punishments that most drivers want to do their best to avoid. If these are your first drunk driving charges, you can expect to be punished with:

A fine of $250 to $400
A prison term of up to 30 days
The suspension of your driver’s license until an ignition interlock device is installed
The mandatory use of an ignition interlock device for three months
12-48 hours in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center
Other fines and fees to the state, court, and DMV

If this is not your first time facing drunk driving charges, the punishments can be even more severe. Repeat offenders can lose their license for up to eight years and spend up to 180 days behind bars.

How Can I Defend Myself Against Drunk Driving Charges?

So now you know how important it is to avoid a DWI conviction, but how do you defend yourself from drunk driving charges? Our knowledgeable lawyers know a few different ways to establish an affirmative defense. We can even try to get the results of a sobriety test thrown out.

Your lawyer can argue that:

The breathalyzer was wrong: Many different factors can affect the accuracy of a breathalyzer test. Maybe it was poorly calibrated. It is also possible that it picked up alcohol in your mouth, and that threw off the reading. If the breath test was bad, then the state does not have much evidence to use against you.

You have a medical condition: An injury or medical condition, not alcohol, caused you to fail a field sobriety test. Perhaps a leg injury caused you trouble when you were told to walk in a straight line or a speech condition made you sound inebriated when you were not.

There was no good reason to stop you: A cop needs probable cause to stop you. If they do not have that, it is considered a “bad stop” and any evidence gained cannot be used against you.

These are just a few ways we can approach your case.

Do I Need a Criminal Defense Attorney?

Drunk driving charges need to be taken seriously. A DWI can result in harsh penalties, and a conviction stays on your record. That could have lasting consequences. You should hire an experienced criminal defense attorney who can help you fight these charges and get them dismissed.

Contact Us If You Were Charged on the Fourth of July

So if you were charged with drunk driving during the holiday weekend, do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Attorney Conway. We can schedule a consultation and tell you more about what we can do to assist you with your case.