Belmont DWI Lawyer

DWI/DUI Defense Attorney in Belmont, NC

Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense that authorities do not tolerate. The danger of getting behind the wheel while intoxicated is well known and documented and can lead to a number of charges and other serious penalties. If you have been accused or charged with driving while intoxicated, it is important that you contact an attorney to help you with your legal defense. A DWI attorney will have the experience and knowledge of how to best fight your charge and help you get the best possible outcome for your case.

Representing Belmont, NC With DWI Criminal Defense Counsel

The Law Firm of Brent D. Ratchford specializes in DWI and criminal defense proceedings. Our firm is dedicated to protecting your rights and representing you with the highest standard of legal expertise available. We want to help you get back your driver’s license, set reasonable bail options that are within your financial means, and work toward ending the charges on your criminal record. The nature of what we can and cannot accomplish will vary from case to case, but our skilled team will help you achieve the best possible results under any difficult circumstances.

What Constitutes as Driving While Intoxicated?

The legal term of driving while intoxicated is defined as operating a motor vehicle under the influence. This definition encompasses all possible variations of the criminal charge, including a number of factors that may have an impact on the severity of the charge and the punishment you could face if convicted. If your blood alcohol level was over the legal limit when you were stopped, or if there is proof of other intoxicating substances in your system, such as drugs or prescription medications, you could face serious penalties.In North Carolina, the legal limit of blood alcohol content is 0.08 percent. This is typically done by a Breathalyzer test, which measures the amount of intoxicating substances in your lungs when you exhale. Another common method of testing is a blood test, which measures the amount of intoxicating substances in your blood. Both test results are usually presented as evidence in court, depending on the circumstances surrounding the arrest and your right to a fair trial.

What Penalties Could I Face If Convicted?

If you are convicted of driving while intoxicated, there could be a number of serious penalties imposed, including:

• Jail time. The amount of time you serve in jail may vary depending on the circumstances surrounding your arrest and the severity of the charge.
• License revocation. If you are convicted of driving while intoxicated, your license may be revoked for a set amount of time to keep you off the road until proven you are not a risk to public safety.
• Fines. Fines may vary depending on the severity of your charge and whether there were any mitigating factors that could reduce your level of culpability.
• Long-term consequences. If you are convicted, having a DWI on your criminal record is something that will follow you for the rest of your life and can make certain things more difficult, including being able to apply for jobs, loans, and other activities.
• Community service. In addition to fines and jail time, you may face the possibility of community service, which will allow you to work off some of the debt and give back to the community through hard work and public service.
• Probation. Probation is an agreement between you and the court that will allow you to remain free of jail time as long as you comply with specific conditions, such as regularly reporting to a probation officer, finding and maintaining stable employment, submitting to random drug tests, paying all fines on time, and fulfilling any other conditions the court imposes.

Any combination of the above penalties is possible, depending on your case’s circumstances. Working directly with a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) lawyer will help you understand the degree of your culpability and how best to protect yourself in court.

What You Can Do

As soon as you know that you are facing charges for DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), it’s important to begin preparing your defense. Attorneys will look at the specific details of your case and explore all possible areas of defense, including:

• Whether there were any mitigating factors, such as erratic driving or failing to act appropriately when stopped by police
• Whether there was a warrant for your arrest at the time of the incident
• Whether there was probable cause for your arrest
• The validity of any chemical tests used to prove your blood alcohol content
• Challenging the evidence presented against you in court

In addition to exploring defense strategies, your Belmont DWI attorney can put together a solid defense on your behalf. This may include an additional investigation into the circumstances surrounding your arrest, hiring a DWI expert to challenge chemical test results or police procedure, and/or retaining other legal professionals to help you achieve a positive outcome in court.

How Can a Belmont DWI Attorney Help Me?

Your attorney can help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case, which may include:

• Reducing your charge to a lesser offense
• Negotiating for a reduced sentence
• Plea bargaining if the evidence against you is strong, and you are facing serious penalties
• Representing you in court, including cross-examining arresting officers and other witnesses
• If necessary, by pleading not guilty, challenging evidence in court, or otherwise contesting the case until you are proven innocent
• If necessary, by filing an appeal if your initial sentence is particularly harsh

As you can see, there are many ways in which a Belmont DWI attorney can help you. Regardless of the specifics of your case, it’s best to begin working with an experienced DWI lawyer as soon as possible.