Washington DC Drunk Driving

DC drunk driving laws are some of the strictest in the nation. Every single day there is a good chance someone in the District is spending their first night in jail on a drunk driving charge. Whether charged with DUI or DWI, a DC drunk driving attorney can help you make the best of your situation. Your outlook might be bleak, but an experienced lawyer is a crucial advocate to have in your corner.

Your first contact with the DC criminal system will likely be on the side of the road. Do not be fooled by the police officer’s conversational and even potentially friendly demeanor—they are investigating you for drunk driving. An experienced attorney would advise you to be cooperative but to not volunteer any information. Simply telling the officer you would prefer to speak with an attorney should stop their line of questioning. Many people do not realize they do not have to answer questions like “How much have you had to drink” and “Where are you coming from”.

The officer will like use a variety of methods to determine if you are, in fact, under the influence of alcohol. From analyzing your appearance, your speech, and even your scent, they will make mental notes of all evidence. In addition, they will likely ask you to submit to both field sobriety tests and a breath test. The results of these will likely be used in court.

A DC drunk driving charge can carry consequences that last a lifetime. From fines to the loss of your driving privileges, and even jail time, such charges should not be taken lightly.

An experienced attorney knows that not every case is as cut and dry as the police and prosecution would have the court believe. There could be issues with how the traffic stop was executed, how the sobriety tests were performed, and the reliability of any results of those tests. Discussing your case with an attorney should be done early in the process. Contact Jason Kalafat for a consultation on your case and to discuss how he might be able to help.