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3 Important Tips From a Calgary DUI Lawyer
DUIs—officially called impaired driving offences—are no laughing matter. Although there are over a thousand DUI convictions in Calgary every year, their commonality does not mean drunk driving cases are treated lightly by the Calgary Police Service or by the Crown prosecutors and judges in the Calgary courts. If you are charged with impaired driving/DUI, make no mistake: you're facing a potentially life-changing legal battle.
Your best bet is, of course, to void even the potential for a DUI. Any defence lawyer in Calgary can tell you that not being charged with a crime in the first place is the best way to keep a criminal charge from disrupting your life. If you've been drinking, stay away from your car—it protects you and those around you.
Here are three other things you should keep in mind when it comes to DUIs in Calgary.
1. A Calgary DUI Carries Serious Consequences
If you're convicted of drunk driving in Calgary, you're looking at more than just a slap on the wrist. DUIs involving a blood alcohol content (BAC) higher than .05 but less than .08 result in administrative charges and a temporary license suspension, vehicle impoundment, fines, and potentially other consequences.
DUIs involving a BAC over of .08 or higher result in criminal charges and an automatic and immediate suspension of your driver's license right from the time of your arrest—a suspension that can remain in place until your case is resolved in a Calgary court. A DUI lawyer might be able to reverse or postpone this suspension, but the law actually demands that it be imposed if you show a BAC of .08 or greater when operating a vehicle on Calgary's roads.
If you are convicted, you can face substantial fines and even be sentenced to a year in jail (or more, for repeat offences).
2. Calgary Police Have Broad Powers to Investigate DUIs
An officer of the Calgary Police Service can require you to perform a roadside sobriety test, including the use of a breathalyzer to measure your BAC, during any routine traffic stop or if they have any reason to suspect you are driving while intoxicated. Failure to comply with this request is a criminal violation in and of itself, entirely separate from any DUI charge you might end up facing.
The police can also set up sobriety checkpoints where all drivers are stopped and checked to ensure they aren't drinking and driving, even if there's no reason to suspect an individual driver of a DUI.
3. A Calgary DUI Defence Lawyer Can Help
The sooner you contact a Calgary DUI defence lawyer, the better position you'll be in to resume life without the significant interruption that even a simple license suspension can cause. Every case is unique, but in many DUI cases a good lawyer will be able to help you avoid certain automatic penalties while your charge is pending. A lawyer is also your best bet at putting a DUI charge behind you completely and permanently with minimal disruption.
Contact an Aggressive Calgary DUI Lawyer Today
If you've been charged with a DUI in Calgary, you need an aggressive lawyer to fight in your behalf. Contact Calgary DUI lawyer Susan Karpa today and get the help you deserve.