SALT LAKE CITY DUI DEFENSE ATTORNEY
If you have been charged with a DUI in Utah acting quickly is essential to handling your case. Contact Intermountain Legal for a free consultation to see if you need an attorney to help minimize the consequences of DUI charge and protect your future. Call 801-970-2800 or email us.
DUI Charges
Utah law defines several situations where someone can get arrested and convicted for DUI. The most common are DUI—alcohol-related and DUI—drug-related. The law states that a person cannot be in “actual physical control” of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or any drug to a degree which makes him/her incapable of safely operating a vehicle, or having a blood or breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or greater at the time of "actual physical control" or at the time of the BAC test.
This means that you can get charged with DUI even if you are not driving, as long as you are in "actual physical control." Such as when someone calls a friend to pick him up and waits for the friend in their car, or when someone decides to sleep it off in their car before driving home. This also means that you can get arrested for a DUI even if you are under the legal BAC limit, as long as the officer thinks you are not safely operating your vehicle. Or, you can unintentionally get a DUI if you have unintended side-effects from prescription drugs or if your BAC is unexpectedly high because you had an empty stomach when you had a drink.
Because of the technical nature of investigations and the complexity of procedure, police must follow several steps to get an accurate BAC result. Inexperienced officers or officers who are less careful will often make mistakes that call into question the accuracy of the test results. These mistakes can lead to severe consequences for your license, your job, and your freedom. A good DUI attorney will be able to find any mistakes and use those to challenge the result.
In cases where the officer did everything right and the case is strong against you, there are several things you can do to minimize the most severe consequences. Depending on the case, a good attorney can negotiate community service instead of jail and classes instead of having your license suspended. There are also ways to reduce the overall costs that you may be facing.
Utah DUI Lawyer
Our lead DUI attorney, Justin S. Pratt, focuses his practice on representing people charged with DUI. He has successfully challenged the reliability of breath and blood test results in court to have cases dismissed. He has received the same training police officers receive to perform the Field Sobriety Tests. This specialized training and experience gives Justin the expertise needed to know when to fight hard to get your case dismissed and when to negotiate to reduce your charges and minimize your consequences. He seeks every opportunity to challenge the evidence in your DUI case.
Acting quickly is essential to handling your case. After receiving a DUI citation you have a limited time to request a driver license hearing. An experienced DUI Attorney can help you request that hearing to avoid a license suspension. In addition, it may be helpful to begin doing some treatment, community service, or something else that will put you in a better position before you go to court. You should consult with your DUI attorney to see whether you need to act quickly in your case.
Utah laws are strict and the DUI penalties can be severe, but with a good understanding of DUI laws and defense, you can make the best choices to minimize the consequences and protect your future.
If you decide to hire an attorney to give you the best DUI defense possible, you can contact Intermountain Legal for a free consultation.
Contacting a DUI Defense Attorney
Intermountain Legal can get involved immediately to maximize your chances of success. By taking immediate action, an attorney can ensure that your rights are protected and that you make the right decisions. A DUI defense attorney will know how to challenge key evidence, which can lead to the reduction or complete dismissal of criminal charges.
To contact the DUI attorneys at Intermountain Legal, call 801-970-2800 or click here to fill out our email form.
Our Other Services
- Selling Alcohol to a Minor in Utah
- Medical Marijuana
- Underage Drinking Minor in Possession of Alcohol
- Drug Charges
- Criminal Defense