A DUI conviction is a serious offense, one that can greatly impact your life for years. A conviction will remain on your record and will go with you wherever you go.
If you have been accused of drunk driving, it is important that you avoid mistakes that can hurt your case, like these:
Assuming that the breath testing is incontestable proof of your guilt
If the police have pulled you over on a DUI suspicion and you have been out drinking, you might be persuaded to believe that the blood alcohol content (BAC) reading on a breath test is accurate – and unable to be challenged.
However, there are several grounds upon which you can challenge the breathalyzer test result that is being used as evidence against you. These include:
- Existence of a medical condition such as G.E.R.D
- Improper test administration
- Improper breathalyzer equipment calibration
For the breathalyzer test to be admissible, certain guidelines must be followed while administering the test. You can question the validity of the breathalyzer test result if these guidelines were not met.
Admitting that you have been drinking to the officer on the scene
The last thing you want to do when facing any criminal charge is to incriminate yourself. If the police ask if you have been out drinking, do not rush on to admit that you just had two beers.
This amounts to a confession, and it will give them probable cause to arrest you – and your confession will become part of the evidence during your trial. You cannot lie to the police, but you can exercise your right to remain silent. Do so.
If you facing DUI charges for the first time, you may not know what to expect. However, the decisions you make immediately following your DUI arrest can have a great impact on your case..