Police can make mistakes that can affect your DUI/DWI defense

One of the defining characteristics of human beings is their capacity to make mistakes. Police officers are not perfect, and they can commit errors during a traffic stop that can have serious implications for you if you are charged with a DUI offense.

A consideration that may arise if a drunk driving charge is leveled at you is that you may not know whether the police officer who initiated the properly followed all procedures. What should you be aware of? What should you look for?

To begin with, police must have a legitimate reason to pull you over in the first place. Did such a reason exist in your case? We can explore that question.

Furthermore, the technology that police rely upon is not infallible, and humans who can make mistakes are responsible to ensure that equipment such as Breathalyzer and blood test devices are properly calibrated and maintained. Were they?

Even field sobriety tests can be challenged if they are not conducted properly, and a seemingly minor mental lapse such as neglecting to inform you of your legal rights if you are arrested or to stop questioning you if you ask for an attorney can have a significant impact on a prosecution against you.

The bottom line is if you should find yourself being accused of a DUI or DWI offense, you should not despair of defending yourself or protecting your legal rights. You are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and that means that the police must do things properly from the initial stop all the way through to an arrest.

You may not be able to become an expert in what to look for when defending yourself against a drunk driving charge, but we have considerable experience in such matters. Our DUI/DWI page on our website can provide you with more details of how we can help.