You Can’t Run From DUIs, but You Can Fight Them

Hopefully, your New Year’s Eve celebrations went off without a hitch. There’s no better way to start a New Year than by having a nice celebration with friends and family so that you can jump into the New Year refreshed, recharged, and ready to go.

Unfortunately for some, the New Year is already off to a less than ideal start. For the 20 men and women arrested in Chicago’s DUI warrant sweep on New Year’s Eve, 2015 has begun on a rather glum note.

According to NBC Chicago, the individuals arrested each had an outstanding warrant from 2014, all of which were for impaired driving and suspended license charges. Though these individuals probably thought they had made off scot-free by running from those charges, their crimes caught up with them. Now, these 20 individuals are a prime example of the risks of running from DUIs. Their arrests should be a lesson to everyone—it’s always better to face your charges than to run from them.

Choose Fight over Flight

When you’re charged with a DUI, one of your first instincts might be to run. This is a result of the fight-or-flight response, your body’s natural reaction to shocking, high-stress situations. But when it comes to dealing with DUI charges—or any criminal charges, for that matter—it’s always in your best interest to stay calm, hard as it might be.

No one wants a DUI on his or her record. But fleeing from the cops or evading the charges will not make them go away. In fact, you’ll probably make things worse for yourself down the road. Evading a DUI charge could result in serious consequences when they catch up to you, including:

• Increased fines
• Increased jail time
• The loss of your vehicle
• Mandatory drug or alcohol classes
• Elevated charges (e.g., from a misdemeanor to a felony)

In addition, you could be facing months of unnecessary uncertainty, stress, and worry as you wait and wonder if the police are going to show up at your door tomorrow morning.

On the other hand, if you stay calm and choose to handle the charges rationally, you’ll be in a much better position. By fighting the charge instead of running, you’ll give yourself the opportunity to spend time building a defense, which will put you in a better place to get the charges reduced or dropped and make sure that you get your life back on track.

Know Your Defense

A qualified DUI lawyer knows that there are numerous defenses that can be used to get your DUI charges reduced or dropped. Some possible ways to help you come out on top include:

• Contesting the arresting officers’ reason for stopping the driver
• Proving improper use or unreliability of the Breathalyzer test
• Arguing that medical conditions, diet, or other conditions of the driver could have resulted in a misleading BAC
• Proving misconduct on the part of the arresting officers

These are only some of the possible defenses that could be used to help you win your DUI case. With a knowledgeable lawyer and a good defense, you’ll be poised to walk away from your DUI charge in a much better position than if you choose to run.

If you’re facing a DUI charge, contact an experienced DUI attorney to set up a consultation and discuss your options as soon as possible.

About the Author: Andrew M. Weisberg is a former felony prosecutor who now serves as a defense attorney in the greater Chicago area. He has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and domestic violence to retail theft-related crimes, Murder, and drug crimes.