DUI cases are common, and can move very quickly, leaving you little time to get your defense together. If you should be arrested for a DUI, know that a skilled lawyer and a strong strategy can help. Here are some of the common defenses an attorney may use in fighting DUI charges.
Breath Tests
The breathalyzer test used in most DUI stops does not actually measure the blood alcohol content of an intoxicated driver. Rather, it detects the amount of alcohol present in your breath. A number of factors can increase the BAC reading, including:
- Improper use
- Instrument malfunction
- Alcohol traces in the mouth, such as from vomiting
- Physiological conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or diabetes
- Failure to properly observe the suspected intoxicated driver before the test
No Probable Cause for a Stop
A law enforcement officer must have a probable cause to pull you over. For, example erratic driving, or driving a car without the headlights on at night. If you are pulled over simply for being on the road around the time bars are closing, and you haven’t committed a traffic violation, any evidence obtained during the stop cannot be used against you. This evidence may include any blood/breath tests, what you’ve said to the officer, and any other field sobriety tests.
Rising Blood Alcohol
Alcohol takes time absorb into the blood stream. As it is absorbed, your BAC will continue to rise. Since what matters is your BAC while you were driving, not while you were stopped, an attorney can argue that your BAC at the time of the test was higher than your BAC was while driving, creating a false high BAC result. This is especially true if you had a drink shortly before driving, and your body was still processing the alcohol into your system while you were driving.
Diet
Diet can affect your BAC result as well. Low-carbohydrate diets or conditions such as diabetes or hypoglycemia can produce isopropyl alcohol in your breath. When the body is forced to burn stored fat for energy, it creates ketones, which convert to isopropyl alcohol when eliminated through urine and breath. This can create a false high BAC reading, as the instrument used cannot differentiate between isopropyl alcohol produced by the body and ethyl alcohol which has been consumed.
A BAC Over .08%
There are many factors that affect a BAC, including those mentioned above. The result may say that your BAC is over .08% but you may not be impaired in the slightest. If your BAC doesn’t reflect your level of impairment, there is reason to suspect that the evidence cannot be trusted.
Proof of the Action
To be accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, it has to be proven that you were driving. Unless you were witnessed driving, it can be difficult to prove you were driving. An officer who finds you in a parked car cannot prove that you were driving without a witness.
There are more defenses to a DUI charge, but these are common ones. An experienced DUI attorney will know which defense will best fit your case, and how to effectively argue that defense. Contacting a DUI lawyer immediately after your arrest is critical in protecting yourself, your license, and your driving record from the damage of a DUI conviction.
Start building your DUI case today by contacting our Miami DUI attorneys at Beckham Law Firm for a free consultation.
