In New Jersey, you can face serious penalties when charged with driving while intoxicated or DWI. If you have been charged with a DWI, you must act quickly. Also, you must be careful not to make costly mistakes. That is why you should contact Law Office of Matthew V. Portella, LLC as soon as possible for a strong legal representation. Your criminal defense attorney can help you avoid making the following mistakes:
Not Taking Your DWI Charge Seriously
A DWI charge will follow you forever when convicted. The extra insurance charges and surcharges could already cost you no less than $10, 000. Thus, you should take action right away to avoid a conviction. You should start by hiring an attorney who can guide you through each step of the legal process.
Assuming the Court Will Find You Guilty
The stakes in DWI charges are quite high. Also, even if you were truly drunk while driving, you could have defenses that a skilled lawyer can assert for you. When it comes to DWI charges, making assumptions is usually costly and you must make informed decisions according to your attorney’s legal advice.
Thinking the Judge Will Favor You
Judges in the state take DWI cases seriously. They will impose a serious sentence if it is warranted. Once you get convicted and you do not take steps to reduce the consequences, you could spend time in jail for a long time and face other penalties.
Not Paying Attention to the Risks Associated with a DWI Conviction
Again, DWI charges carry huge penalties. No matter your record, there is a possibility of jail time. Also, a conviction can result in fines, loss of driving privileges, insurance surcharges, and other penalties.
Additionally, a DWI conviction can result in you facing academic or professional discipline, job loss, and other consequences in your everyday life. As this conviction will change your life, you must handle it properly.
Overlooking Possible Defenses
You can defend yourself against a DWI charge in many ways. When being charged with a DWI, work with an experienced defense attorney. Your attorney can use factual defenses to strengthen your case. These include asserting the arresting traffic officer failed to sufficiently explain your field sobriety test or saying the breathalyzer device was not calibrated properly. Overlooking such defenses can result in you getting convicted.
Read also: Navigating DUI Charges in Charleston: Finding the Right DUI Lawyers in Charleston
Not Using Your Constitutional Rights as Defenses
Under the law, the police can only perform a traffic stop if they have reasonable suspicion. Also, they can only arrest you if they have probable cause. You should be informed about your Miranda rights before being questioned in custody. If the arresting officer violated such rights, the evidence they collected will not be admissible in court. The prosecutor needs admissible evidence to convict you.
Moreover, if prosecutors withhold exculpatory evidence, they violate your constitutional rights. if you hire a skilled defense attorney, they can determine if the police or prosecutors violated your rights. If so, they can use this violation to fight your DWI case.
Making Decisions According to the DWI Cases of Other People
You probably know some people who have been charged with DWI before. So, you may want to ask about how they handled their case. Although nothing is wrong with this, you must not make decisions based on what these people tell you. Your defenses will depend on your case’s facts.
Handling Your Case without a Lawyer
When you face a DWI charge, you shouldn’t risk facing jail time to handle it without legal guidance. Hiring a respected criminal defense attorney increases your chances of avoiding unnecessary consequences. Also, hiring an attorney can cost you less than losing your DWI case at trial.
