How a Highly Skilled Lawyer Can Defend Your DUI Charge in Groveland Township, MI

If you’re facing a DUI charge in Groveland Township, MI, you need an attorney with extensive knowledge of DUI laws and procedures. He or she should also have vast experience in challenging evidence from the prosecution.

Since each DUI case is unique, the strategy your attorney chooses will depend on many factors. These include gathered evidence, details of the arrest, and the laws as they apply to Groveland Township.

To maximize your chances of a successful defense, time is of the essence. So consult a highly experienced DUI attorney as soon as possible.

What Might Happen in Defending Your DUI Charge in Groveland Township, MI

When you begin the vetting process, you’ll want to look for a Groveland Township DUI lawyer who knows all the factors that determine whether or not a DUI charge can stick.

In structuring your defense, a skilled attorney will start with everything that led to your first contact with the police all the way through to the reasons for your arrest. From there, he or she may present any of the following defenses:

Illegal Traffic Stop

It’s not unheard of for an officer to stop a motorist based on a hunch. It’s also completely illegal. Just because you’re leaving a bar or driving late at night does not automatically flag you as a driver who is under the influence.

By law, you can’t be stopped unless the officer has probable cause to believe you violated a traffic or other law. Furthermore, according to the Fourth Amendment, you can also not be seized unless a violation has occurred. In addition, if you were not given the opportunity to contact a lawyer, this will also work against the officer(s).  

If there is any question that your DUI charge in Groveland Township, MI, was the result of an illegal traffic stop, your attorney can determine if a Motion to Suppress Evidence should be filed.

Invalid Field Sobriety Test

If you weren’t aware that you had the right to refuse field sobriety tests, you may have taken some and received unfavorable results. This was intentional. Field sobriety tests are NOT considered an accurate predictor of intoxication and are inaccurate 30-40% of the time.

In fact, the ‘finger to nose’ test, reciting the alphabet, and various balance tests are not even recognized by the Federal Government and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and are considered completely invalid when performed on those who are overweight, elderly, or disabled. And if an officer does not properly administer these dubious tests, they’re even more in question.

An experienced Groveland Township DUI attorney knows all of this and can disqualify these field sobriety tests on your behalf with a fair amount of effectiveness.

Inaccurate Breathalyzer Test

Breathalyzer tests measure the particles of breath alcohol in your lungs to provide a percentage of the alcohol in your blood. In theory. The problem is, they are often inaccurate. Especially if only a single test was administered. There are so many variances in human physiology from one person to another that can result in false high readings. Furthermore, the instrument itself already has a 10% margin of error.

In consulting with a forensic toxicology expert, your DUI lawyer can identify some of these issues and create a valid defense against the breath test results presented in your case.

No Evidence That the Driver Was Controlling the Vehicle

Perhaps you had a bit too much to drink and decided to take shelter in your vehicle while awaiting sobriety because there was no other place to go. And perhaps you had the key in the ignition because you wanted to turn on the heat while you waited. This does NOT qualify as driving under the influence because you were not actually in control of the motor vehicle.

An experienced DUI attorney in Groveland Township would likely take a case like this to trial because this sort of case is predicated on a jury’s review of the “totality of circumstances” to determine whether you were a present or imminent danger to yourself or others. And juries are often sympathetic to people who make a conscious effort to not endanger others.

An Experienced DUI Attorney Knows All of the Best DUI Defenses

DUI cases can present some truly challenging issues regarding legal and scientific defenses. That’s why you need a highly experienced DUI lawyer who knows this terrain.

Don’t hesitate to contact us or call (248) 645-1400.

And let criminal defense attorney José Fanego meticulously analyze your case so you can get out of your DUI charge in Groveland Township, MI, with as little damage as possible.