Misconceptions In A Pittsburgh DUI

When it comes to the rules of the road, too many people are misinformed. This can lead to serious trouble when someone is arrested on DUI charges. Here are responses to some major misconceptions regarding alcohol and driving.

I can have a few drinks: as long as I’m not over 0.08% BAC, I can’t be arrested.

Unfortunately, many people believe this but it simply isn’t true. While DUI Per Se laws make it legal to arrest you for a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or above, whether or not you are showing outward signs of intoxication, the opposite is also true. If a police officer has noticed prominent signs of intoxication (slurred speech, slow response time, traffic infractions like swerving or rolling stop signs), he has the right to arrest you no matter what your BAC is.

I can’t afford an attorney.

An attorney may not be free, but consider this. If you are convicted of DUI, even if it’s your first time, you face:

Up to $5,000 in fines, PLUS court costs and other fees
Lost wages while you serve up to 72 consecutive hours in jail
Fees to have your suspended license reinstated
$200+ to register for DUI School
Increased monthly rates for SR-22 high risk car insurance

This just scratches the surface of financial hardships you could face after a DUI conviction. With all of this on the horizon, you can’t afford not to have an attorney represent you at trial.

Any attorney will do.

It would certainly make life easier if any attorney out of the phonebook could solve your problems, but that’s not the case. Choosing an attorney is a difficult process, because success rides on finding the right attorney for you. When you are looking for an attorney, it is critical that you find one with plenty of past experience successfully defending cases similar to yours. Too many attorneys dabble in different fields without any real experience, turning your case into an experimental guinea pig, which is a situation you can’t afford to be in. Why take risks, when you can hire a skilled Pittsburgh DUI attorney with the track record to prove it?