There is no doubt that the individual made a serious error in judgment. Specifically, the car owner made the poor choice of getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol. Luckily, no one was hurt, but a police officer did pull the driver over and made an arrest for driving while intoxicated. Even though the arrest is justified, it still pays to seek the services of a Drunk Driving Lawyer in Kankakee. Here are some of the reasons why.
Reviewing the Specifics
A Drunk Driving Lawyer in Kankakee will want to go over all the details of the situation, even when the client is clearly guilty. The goal is to ensure that the rights of the client have not been infringed in any way. For example, what motivated the officer to pull over the vehicle? Were the proper steps taken in terms of interacting with the driver? At the time of the arrest, did the officer advise the client of the Miranda rights as well as following other established procedures? Confirming that everything was done in compliance with local laws establishes the basis for the defense.
Checking the Driving Record of the Client
Along with looking at the specifics of the arrest, it also pays to delve into the driving record of the client. Is this the first time that the client has been arrested for drunk driving? Are there any other infractions on the driving record, such as speeding tickets? The reason that the lawyer wants to look into the prior record of the client is to determine how those past actions could bind the court to choose certain punishments. When the client’s record is clean, and this is the first offense, the court will have more latitude in terms of choosing the terms of the sentence.
Seeking Leniency
During the hearing, the lawyer will advise the client to plead guilty and also ask the court for leniency. By providing evidence that the client is not a risk to the community, there is a better chance of the request for leniency being granted.
For anyone who has recently been pulled over for drunk driving, read the full info here and arrange to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. Doing so will make it easier to settle the matter and be able to get things back to normal.
