If you are facing DUI charges in the state of Oklahoma, your livelihood, financial security, and freedom are at stake. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, penalties for a first offense include a driver’s license suspension, jail time, fines, enrollment in a substance abuse program, and community service.
There are also lasting repercussions of a DUI conviction. For example, it will inhibit you from getting affordable car insurance and could even hurt your ability to secure employment.
If you are facing DUI charges, you may feel hopeless, but a conviction is not necessarily inevitable, and it is important to remember that you still have options. Attorney Rob Henson can help you explore those options and relentlessly defend your rights. Call 918-551-8995 to schedule a free case evaluation with a Tulsa criminal defense lawyer at the Henson Law Firm, PLLC.
Possible Defenses against DUI Charges
Every case is unique, and the most effective defense for your situation is going to depend on a variety of factors. Let’s examine a few of the most common DUI defense strategies:
- Unlawful Traffic Stop
Unless police stopped you at a sobriety checkpoint, they must have a valid reason for pulling you over and conducting a traffic stop. If police did not have reasonable cause to pull you over, any evidence they gathered during the traffic stop may be inadmissible in court.
- Improper Field Sobriety Testing
Unlike blood, breath, and urine tests, the results of field sobriety tests are totally subjective. Because of the countless variables that can affect FST results, police must follow specific standards when administering them.
If you are facing DUI charges after failing an FST but you think the officer failed to follow proper protocol, make sure you tell your lawyer. This could prove to be a valid defense.
- Improper Blood Alcohol Content Testing
Although blood, breath, and urine tests are more scientific than FSTs, there are still specific protocols that officers must follow in order for these tests to produce accurate results. For example, if the breath test was not calibrated properly before the officer administered it, the reading could be off by a significant amount.
- Miranda Rights Violation
If the officer failed to read you your Miranda rights prior to arresting you, any evidence the police gathered during subsequent interrogations is inadmissible in court. Depending on the extent of the evidence they gathered prior to your arrest, this may be a strong enough defense for the court to drop your charges entirely.
If you are facing DUI charges, turn to the Henson Law Firm, PLLC to discuss your situation with a skilled criminal defense lawyer. Attorney Rob Henson can help you devise a comprehensive defense based on the particulars of your case.
Call 918-551-8995 to schedule a free consultation at our criminal defense law firm in Tulsa. If you want to learn more about DUI laws in Oklahoma, visit the USAttorneys website.
