Former Miss USA to Stand Trial for DUI

Posted on January 27, 2012 by DUI_writer

Rima Fakih, the first Arab –American woman to wear the Miss USA crown, was arrested for a DUI in December and will stand trial in March after pleading not guilty. The former beauty queen was given two BAC tests and both times registered nearly twice the legal limit.

In an associated press report her attorney admitted to working toward a “proper conclusion” to the case. The report speculated on a plea bargain but the high alcohol content in the state of Michigan carries much more serious penalties than a typical first offense DUI. This could lead to 180 days in jail, 360 hours of community service and restricted driving privileges for the former Miss USA.

The seriousness of these charges certainly makes Ms. Fakih’s choice to be represented by counsel a good one.  A Michigan DUI attorney can see ways to undermine the case against you in an effort to make the charges and possible subsequent penalties more manageable.

The person who represents their own interests has limited knowledge of what can be argued when the arresting officers testify against them. Only a knowledgeable Michigan DUI attorney can make the proper complaints and criticisms of the evidence against you and the arresting officer’s actions.  An experienced DUI attorney knows what details to look for and how to use them in court to help you walk away from your DUI hearing with the best possible verdict.

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Oregon State Policeman Charged with DUI to Enter Diversion Program

Posted on January 25, 2012 by DUI_writer

An off duty Oregon State Policeman was charged last month with a DUI.  At his arraignment the officer filed to participate in the Oregon DUI diversion program. Officer Mitchell Hurliman has been on restricted duty since the incident. The Oregon DUI diversion program carries many requirements – the most important would be that the applicant has had no prior arrests for DUI.

The diversion program, which can replace the DUI on your record in Oregon, has changed for DUI arrests after January 1st 2012. Now the person in the program can only drive their car and it needs to be fitted with an ignition interlock device.  Another new part of the law prohibits any involvement with intoxicants of any kind while in the program.

This program, while strict, is certainly better than having a DUI conviction on your record in most cases.  Any person in Oregon facing a DUI charge should consult with an Oregon DUI attorney in order to establish the best plan of defense for their situation.

There may have been mistakes made by the arresting officer that could be used to have the DUI charges reduced or dismissed.  An experienced Oregon DUI attorney will look for these mistakes and investigate the circumstances that led to your arrest providing you with the best chance for a favorable verdict.

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Celebrations Director Pleads Guilty to DUI

Posted on January 23, 2012 by DUI_writer

The celebrations director for Butte Montana may have been celebrating a bit too hard prior to getting behind the wheel of her car. The woman responsible for overseeing the St. Patrick’s Day and Fourth of July festivities for the city has pled guilty to a Montana DUI charge according to a Montana Standard news report.

The director, who has three prior DUI convictions, remains free with an alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet. A fourth DUI conviction in Montana is classified as a felony and could result in a prison sentence of up to five years.

The law allows for a probationary license but may require an ignition interlock device to be installed in the vehicle. The driver convicted of DUI has to pay for the installation and maintenance of this device and is liable for fines and increased insurance premiums for years to come.

There could be several discrepancies or inconsistencies in the evidence that the prosecution plans to use to a secure conviction in a DUI case. An experienced DUI attorney can find these mistakes in the case against you and work to have your DUI charge reduced or possibly even dismissed. Hiring an experienced Montana DUI attorney is essential if you hope to walk away from your DUI hearing with a favorable verdict.

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Nebraska’s Lincoln County Upgrades Breathalyzers

Posted on January 20, 2012 by DUI_writer

The Lincoln County sheriff’s office has received six new breathalyzers from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety. These devices replace older models and have a cup to blow into instead of a tube making them easier to use. The new units are also more sensitive which will allow the most accurate readings in the breath testing of minors. Nebraska law enforcement officials can charge any minor with a .02 level which may have been difficult for other units to measure.

The improvement of breathalyzers is something everyone in the state can be grateful for but these devices are not always infallible. There have been many cases throughout the United States where poorly functioning breathalyzers have been responsible for many questionable DUI convictions.

If you have a pending case in Lincoln County you should contact a Nebraska DUI attorney. The Nebraska DUI attorney has access to all the DUI precedents that can be used in your favor.

An experienced Nebraska DUI attorney is well aware of which breathalyzer styles have had issues in the past or been retired due to poor performance. If the prosecution is depending on evidence from a piece of equipment that has a history of being unreliable your attorney can use that information to get your DUI charges reduced or dismissed.

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Retired Racing Star Al Unser Receives Increased Charges for DWI

Posted on January 18, 2012 by DUI_writer

Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. has had his DWI charge from September of last year upgraded to a more serious charge due to a no contest plea in a Las Vegas incident for DUI in 2007. The prosecution to have the charge increased to a DWI 2 due to the fact that this is technically a second incident. Mr. Unser was clocked at over 100 mph while racing another vehicle when his SUV was pulled over.

The New Mexico DWI law can be tough depending on many issues. Some charges are listed as a misdemeanor but a fourth or fifth offense is a felony.  Since the prosecutor has already taken action to increase his punishment hiring a New Mexico DUI attorney will be a necessity for Mr. Unser.

It isn’t just repeat offenders that require the assistance of an experienced DUI attorney, the first time offender also needs a well structured defense.  The first time offender has certain rights and a New Mexico DUI attorney can use their knowledge of the law to have this charge reduced.

A DUI conviction in New Mexico will not only result in increased insurance premiums and a large fine, the installation and maintenance of an ignition interlock device is required in New Mexico as well. The person charged must hire A DUI attorney to be sure all possible actions to reduce this charge are taken.

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Georgia Governor Backs DUI/Drug Court Program

Posted on January 16, 2012 by DUI_writer

The governor of Georgia has gone on record to support the use of accountability courts as a way to save the state money when dealing with non-violent defendants.  The Henry County court has a program where a repeat DUI offender serves 10 days then is released to get treatment for the underlying cause of continued excessive alcohol use.

The governor is supporting the idea that more programs like this need to be funded across the state. The program for DUI offenders includes behavioral modification counseling, enforced curfews, surprise home visits that include alcohol and drug testing and weekly meetings for progress reports. Programs such as this are encouraging as they are trying to get at the root problem of many DUI repeat offenders – alcoholism. 

A first time offender is not eligible for this program, it is for the repeat offender only. First time offenders need to be aware of their rights when facing a Georgia DUI and should enlist the help of a Georgia DUI attorney.

It is obvious that the state is concerned about the money repeat offenses cost them but there is a lot of money at stake for those with a first offense DUI.  First time offenders face heavy fines and higher insurance premiums for years if they plead guilty.  An experienced Georgia DUI attorney can find ways to have the charge reduced or pled down to a more manageable and affordable offense.

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Tiger’s First Baseman Pleads No Contest to DUI in Florida

Posted on January 13, 2012 by DUI_writer

Professional baseball player Miguel Cabrera pled no contest to a DUI on January 5 according to a Sun Sentinel news report. The story quoted his attorney as saying it was the quickest way to get the case behind him. The plea allows him to perform community service and serve six months probation. A DUI in Florida does carry a potential jail sentence so this plea has helped him avoid that penalty.

The attorney for Mr. Cabrera has been able to keep his client out of jail and also gotten charges of an open container in a vehicle and non-violent resisting arrest charges dropped. An average person could not possibly have the in depth knowledge of Florida DUI law necessary to properly negotiate this type of deal.

A Florida DUI attorney should always be contacted following a DUI arrest. A Florida DUI conviction carries the possibility of steep fines, prison time and a lengthy driver’s license suspension. Having an experienced DUI attorney on your side gives you the best possible chance of avoiding or minimizing these possible penalties.

Appearing in court on DUI charges is not only intimidating but it can have serious repercussions on your future if your defense isn’t structured properly. In order to walk away from your hearing with a favorable verdict you need the help of an experienced DUI attorney.

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