Many people accused of impaired driving offenses plead guilty. Even though people may initially try to assert themselves during an interaction with law enforcement professionals, they may resign themselves to the idea that a criminal conviction is inevitable after their arrest.
People who know they were likely perfectly safe to drive plead guilty to drunk driving charges because they fear that taking the matter to court might only worsen their circumstances. Some people assume that a conviction is inevitable if police officers conducted field sobriety tests or chemical tests that indicated they were under the influence while at the wheel.
However, a significant portion of those who attempt to counter drunk driving accusations succeed improving that there is a reasonable doubt about their guilt. The three strategies outlined below are among the most common and successful responses to allegations of drunk driving.
Questioning breath test accuracy
While people think that chemical tests provide reliable, compelling evidence, scientific data indicates otherwise. A growing body of scientific literature supports the idea that breath tests can fail for a host of reasons. Particularly in scenarios where there are gaps in the records of maintaining and calibrating breath test units, questioning the accuracy of test results can be a reasonable strategy.
Providing a medical explanation
Another common tactic for those accused of impaired driving is to provide an alternate explanation for test results. There are numerous medical issues that can lead to false positive results on both chemical breath tests and field sobriety tests. Blood sugar issues, mental health conditions and neurological disorders are among the many medical challenges that could explain poor performance on field sobriety tests or a failed breath test. Those with medical evidence affirming that they follow certain diets, take specific medication or have certain disorders could raise reasonable doubts about whether they were really over the legal limit.
Highlighting traffic stop issues
To arrest someone for intoxicated driving, police officers first need a valid reason to stop them. In scenarios where police officers violate people’s rights by conducting inappropriate traffic stops, it is sometimes possible to point out that misconduct in court. Criminal defense attorneys can sometimes convince the courts to exclude evidence obtained through inappropriate police behavior. The state may have to set aside the only evidence it has supporting claims of intoxication.
Evaluating the state’s evidence with the help of a skilled legal team could help those accused of impaired driving plan a reasonable response. Many people accused of drunk driving can avoid a conviction with the right help and a strong legal strategy.
