DUI Defense During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted by & filed under criminal defense, dui defense, The Travis Law Firm Blog.

DUI Arrests Fall and Rise Again During COVID-19 Pandemic

Many people wonder if the number of DUI cases has risen during COVID-19. It will take some time to determine how COVID-19 impacts drunk driving in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. However, there are some numbers available now for Pennsylvania. If the police arrest you for drunk driving, make sure to talk with a DUI defense attorney as soon as possible.

DUI Arrests Fall and Rise Again During COVID-19 Pandemic

The number of DUI arrests fell during March and April after the coronavirus shutdown orders went into effect. However, the number of DUI arrests was almost back to pre-pandemic levels toward the end of June.

Law enforcement officials continue to pursue drunk drivers aggressively. The penalties for drunk drivers remain the same. Therefore, if you are arrested on a DUI charge, you could face jail time, which could put you at risk for COVID-19.

DUI Defense During COVID-19

Our Erie DUI defense lawyer continues to fight for the legal rights of drivers charged with drunk driving. You do not need to face drunk driving charges alone. You can have an experienced DUI defense attorney handle your case to help minimize the negative consequences of a DUI conviction.

The potential consequences of a DUI conviction depend on your previous record and the DUI charges you face. The consequences of a drunk driving conviction might include:

  • Jail or prison sentence
  • Fines
  • Driver’s license suspension
  • Alcohol Safety School
  • Alcohol treatment program
  • House arrest
  • Ignition interlock device
  • Increased auto insurance rates

A DUI defense lawyer can help you develop a defense strategy that could avoid severe DUI punishments. A DUI arrest is not a conviction. There could be one or more defenses to the charges that could result in a dismissal of the charges. If the charges cannot be dismissed, your defense lawyer can work to reduce the severity of the punishments.

Potential Defenses to a DUI Charge

Your DUI lawyer investigates the circumstances surrounding your drunk driving arrest and the charges against you. Each case is unique. Therefore, an attorney must analyze each factor in the case to identify potential weaknesses or problems in the prosecution’s case.

Potential defenses to drunk driving charges include:

  • Lack of reasonable suspicion for pulling over a vehicle. The police cannot pull over a car for no reason.
  • Improperly administering field sobriety tests or chemical tests.
  • Breathalyzers that are not calibrated correctly, are maintained improperly, or malfunction.
  • Improper chain of control for evidence or mishandled evidence.
  • Challenging the police officer’s testimony.
  • Medications or medical conditions that could give false readings on chemical tests.

There could be other defenses available if your civil rights were violated or the police officers made mistakes. The key is to hire a DUI defense attorney as soon as possible so that your attorney can begin gathering evidence to fight the charges.

Call Now for a Free Case Review with an Erie DUI Defense Attorney

Before assuming that you have no other option than to plead guilty to a DUI charge, talk with an experienced DUI defense attorney in Erie.

Call The Travis Law Firm now at (800) 401-2066 to request your free legal consultation to discuss your options for fighting a drunk driving charge in Pennsylvania.