Lowell DUI-OUI Lawyers in MA | Massachusetts DWI Attorneys
Getting into legal trouble can be a daunting experience. Not only do you have fines and penalties to follow through with, you also have to deal with penal issues that are far above your head. That is why defense lawyers work hard to help you get out of a pickle. This is especially true for people of DUI and DWI charges.
Many of these incidents in Massachusetts occur at field sobriety checkpoints. With the New Year coming up, many people will be stopped at one such checkpoint on their way home. If you’re having a situation where you want to challenge the charge against you, perhaps you had a false positive or you were below the tolerance level and still got stuck with the penalty. Either way, a good criminal lawyer can be your friend indeed.
You Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty
For the sake of argument, we assume everybody is innocent. This is the foundation of the democratic justice system: that one be tried “innocent until proven guilty.” A defense attorney can handle cases of faulty charges or unlawful measures used to obtain these charges. However, the bulk of legal worries in this field come when somebody admits their guilt.
A lawyer can be invaluable in such a situation. Instead of opting for whatever penalty the judge and prosecutor recommend, which often includes the highest possible yield for them, a lawyer can work wonders. They can find ways to get you out of many of the penalties associated with the charge. This is especially true for first time offenders. Of course, one’s personal background and driving history are important here. But there are ways to supplement the loss of points and time in jail with fees and community service.
Think about it like this: a prosecutor is working under the impression of your guilt. Their main job is to support the court system itself. That means, while they may appear to be on your side, they might actually be working against your best interest. Your lawyer, on the other hand, is your own personal friend inside the courtroom. Their job is to have the case dismissed, or if not, get the most reduced penalties possible. They know the ins and outs of every impaired driving situation. Nobody is condoning this action. But we all make mistakes. If you made a mistake, find a reputable criminal defense lawyer or you may find yourself loaded up with legal problems.
Celebrate Responsibly
The holiday season is more than a time of gift giving and climate change. Holidays are a time when people get together to celebrate with their loved ones. Police know that more people party at this time of year, which means more people drink. If more people are drinking away from their home, then they’re probably driving back impaired.
Holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas bring the checkpoints out in large numbers. But no holiday causes more field sobriety testing in Massachusetts than New Year’s Eve. You’ll find the checkpoints all throughout the state during the New Year celebration. The purpose is twofold. The apparent purpose, of course, is the safety of all Massachusetts citizens. But for law enforcement, the increase in traffic violations is also an increase in salary for them and the city.
There is one simple way to avoid these problems: don’t get involved. If you find the urge to go out partying, find a designated driver or take public transportation. Don’t put yourself or any innocent bystanders at risk by driving under the influence. Don’t put your driving career in jeopardy either.
Anyone Can Get a DUI
But life is not always that simple. We’re human beings, we can make mistakes. If you have bad luck this holiday season in one of the many checkpoints set up throughout the state, you need a DUI lawyer fast. Don’t expect the judge or prosecutor to sympathize with you. They may have been partying during the holidays themselves, but they didn’t get themselves into trouble. Instead, a lawyer will not only sympathize with you, he will fight for your case as if it were his own. Of course, he brings the added benefit of his legal knowledge and experience with years of seeing these such cases.
It’s never too late to get yourself out of trouble. Lawyer up: it’s your best defense.
By Todd D. Beauregard