If you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI in Garden City, you are probably feeling overwhelmed. Although DUI arrests are not uncommon, police officers can make mistakes. It is in your best interest to hire a defense attorney to investigate every aspect of your case and defend you against the charges you face.
Defending Your Fourth Amendment Rights
Did the officer who arrested you have probable cause to stop your vehicle and then charge you with a DUI? The United States Constitution protects every American citizen from being stopped, detained or brought into custody without first establishing probable cause. Without probable cause, any stop or arrest is illegal.
In the case of a DUI, the officer must first observe that you were driving erratically or in a manner consistent with intoxication—such as swerving between lanes or driving too fast or too slow. Once you have been pulled over, the officer must then establish probable cause to begin the DUI investigation. He or she must see open containers of alcohol in your car, for example, or smell alcohol on your breath. If these criteria were not met, the officer may have violated your Fourth Amendment Rights.
Beginning Your Defense
As you think about the circumstances surrounding your arrest, you may wonder what to do next. The first—and perhaps the most important—step you can take in fighting your DUI charge is to contact an experienced DUI defense attorney. Your attorney will work with you to ensure that proper police protocol was followed every step of the way. Any deviation from standard protocol could result in the charges against you being dismissed.
Attorney Joey Turner of The Turner Firm will offer a free, no-obligation review of your case. For more information or to get in touch with Joey, call our office today or fill out your information using our secure online form today.