Ralph had just received his fourth DWI. He was going to represent himself in court, but his father, Sam, told him that this would be a major mistake. When Ralph heard this, he asked Sam why he should even consider getting a ”drunk driving” attorney.
Although Sam wasn’t a lawyer, he told his son that he learned the hard way when as a young man he received a DUI, represented himself in court, paid four thousand dollars in fines and penalties, and served 120 days in jail. As he mentioned to his son, after he got out of jail, he found out from an attorney friend that had he hired a DWI attorney to represent him in court, he probably would have had his penalties and fines substantially reduced and he may have never served any time in jail.
What a DWI lawyer Can Do in a DUI Arrest.
When Ralph heard this he knew he needed more DUI facts so he asked his dad for more information about what a ”driving under the influence” lawyer can do in a DWI arrest. His dad then articulated the following: “A DWI lawyer will be able to discover ‘irregularities’ and bring this evidence to the attention of the prosecution and the court. And in some cases, and based on this ‘evidence,’ your DUI lawyer will be able to get your charges substantially reduced or maybe even dismissed.”
When Ralph listend to his father explain this, it was as if his eyes were opened for the first time about the relevance of hiring a ”drunk driving” attorney. Stated differently, Ralph realized that he needed a DUI lawyer.
The Real Facts About Taking Field Sobriety Tests
He then told his dad that he had heard a lot about field sobriety tests. Consequently, he asked his father what a field sobriety test was.
His father responded with the following: “Ralph, field sobriety tests are given by police officers to establish whether a person has been operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, alcohol, or both. Field sobriety tests are often based on coordination and agility. The ‘logic’ underlying these tests is that if a person is impaired alcohol, drugs, or from a combination of both, his or her agility and coordination will be adversely affected and the person’s ‘performance’ on these tests will suffer.”
Ralph’s father then wanted to stress the following: “Ralph, keep in mind that you are not legally required to take any field sobriety tests. The police officer that gives the tests is the only ‘judge’ of your performance and is consequently typically documenting only the things you do incorrectly. As a consequence and in most instances, a polite refusal to perform any sobriety test will be appropriate.”
Near the end of their conversation, Ralph said that was beginning to grasp the significance of DUI laws and what ”driving under the influence” lawyers can do for a person who has received a DUI arrest, but he was still wondering why he was stopped by the police in the first place. In his own words Ralph asked his father the following question: “Dad, why was I stopped by the police? Specifically what were they looking for”?
His father answered Ralph in the following way: “Ralph, there are several diverse reasons why you could have been ’stopped’ by a police officer. Some examples include the following: involvement in a traffic accident, expired registration tags, missing a front license plate, weaving in and out of traffic, speeding, tinted windows, and driving erratically. Not only this but someone could have also reported you to the police after seeing you leaving a sporting event, a party, a restaurant, or a bar ‘under the influence’ and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. In a word, there are more than a few reasons why you were ’stopped’ by a police officer.”
After getting “schooled” about “drunk driving” arrests, the role of ”driving under the influence” lawyers, and the fact that he didn’t have to agree to take any field sobriety tests at the time of his arrest, Ralph decided that he would definitely hire a DWI lawyer to represent him in court.
Ralph Becomes Encouraged That He Will Always Drink In Moderation and Never Face Another DWI Arrest
Something else, however, happened after he had talked to his father. Ralph finally started to realize the serious nature of “driving under the influence” arrests and as a consequence, he arrived at a decision that from this point forward, he would always drink in moderation so that he would never again have to experience another “drunk driving” arrest.
His father smiled at Ralph and told him the following, “son, it took me until I was forty-five years old to realize what you just told me. I am really proud of you.
Ralph thanked his father and then said, “if I can always drink responsibly, I will never need to hire a DUI attorney again!”
Does Ralph Need Alcohol Treatment For His Alcoholism or For His Alcohol Abuse?
There was, however, one thing that neither Ralph nor his father thought about, namely, if Ralph needs alcohol rehab for his alcohol abuse or for his alcoholism. In fact, Ralph may be required by the court to get rehab for his abusive and excessive drinking.