Bolingbrook DUI Defense Lawyer
Attorney for Drunk Driving Defense in Bolingbrook, IL
Getting arrested for a DUI can cause a lot of problems. Your driver's license will almost certainly be suspended, making it very difficult to get to work or pick up your children from school. If your workplace finds out, you could even lose your job. Then, there is the risk of jail time and the likelihood that you will have a criminal record. If you have been arrested for DUI, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you fight back.
Law Office of Eric J. Blatti, P.C. is highly experienced in DUI defense. Attorney Eric J. Blatti has over 15 years of experience representing people facing criminal charges for driving under the influence. He will carefully assess your case to identify the best possible defense strategy based on your priorities and the circumstances of your arrest.
DUI Defenses You Might Have Available
An arrest is not a conviction. You have the right and the opportunity to defend yourself in court. Some of the most common DUI defenses Attorney Blatti uses are:
- Proving that your roadside sobriety tests were unfair - Field sobriety tests are often used by police officers to establish probable cause to arrest someone on suspicion of drunk driving. However, outside factors can easily interfere with these tests. Poor weather conditions, slippery ground surfaces, your medical or mental health conditions, and even a police officer's failure to follow the correct procedures can all make it look like you "failed" the tests when you did not have a reasonable chance of passing them.
- Casting doubt on the chemical testing - After being arrested, you might have taken a breath test or a blood test to determine your blood alcohol content. If you were suspected of having used cannabis, prescription medications, or illicit substances, you might have also been subjected to a drug test. These tests are meant to appear foolproof and perfectly scientific, but they are not. A lot of seemingly minor issues—like a police officer unwrapping testing equipment too early—can interfere with the results of these tests.
- Showing that the traffic stop violated your rights - Police officers cannot pull you over just because they have a feeling you might be impaired, or because they saw you walk out of a bar earlier. An officer must have an objective reason to suspect you of a crime before he can pull you over. If the officer did not have a lawful reason for pulling you over, any evidence against you gathered during the traffic stop can be thrown out of court.
- Demonstrating that you were involuntarily intoxicated - You are only responsible for driving under the influence if you got drunk or high voluntarily. If you did not willingly become intoxicated, you are very unlikely to be responsible for driving in that state. If you were served food that was laced with cannabis without your knowledge, given a drink you did not think contained alcohol, or purposely drugged, you may have a strong defense.
- Necessity - If you reasonably believed that you had to drive in order to prevent greater harm than you were likely to cause by driving drunk, and you did not cause the situation that forced you to drive, you might not be criminally liable. For example, if another person at a party had severe alcohol poisoning, and the ambulance you called could not find you, you may have a necessity defense if you drove the person needing medical help a few blocks to a location where first responders could meet you.
These defenses may be available whether this is your first DUI or your third drunk driving arrest.
Contact a Bolingbrook, IL DUI Attorney
Law Office of Eric J. Blatti, P.C. provides the best criminal defense services possible to people accused of driving under the influence. Experienced Will County DUI defense lawyer Eric J. Blatti will do all he can to present a powerful legal defense on your behalf. Contact us at 815-744-2500 for a complimentary consultation.