Many DUIs Stem from Non-Moving Violations

When most people think about the stereotypical drunk driver, they picture a person who is well over the legal limit, swerving from lane to lane and barely in control of his or her vehicle. While impaired drivers like these certainly exist, many drivers who are above the legal limit do not show obvious signs of drunkenness in their driving. While their reaction time and judgment may be impaired, they are able to hold their lane, come to a complete stop at stop signs, and stay within the posted speed limit.

So, how do drunk drivers like this get caught? Typically, because they are pulled over for offenses known as “non-moving violations.” Police officers know that people who are driving late and night around areas with a high concentration of bars and restaurants are more likely to be under the influence, and often use non-moving violations as a justification to check out a hunch that a particular driver may be under the influence.

In addition, there are so many of these violations on the books that chances are that the police will be able to find a reason to pull you over if they want. For this reason, it is impossible to drive “carefully” enough to reduce your risk of getting a DUI after drinking. In fact, there have been cases in which officers have successfully argued that they were justified in pulling a driver over because he or she was driving “too carefully!”

Some examples of non-moving violations for which drivers are often pulled over include the following:

• Expired license plate tags
• Overly tinted windows
• Malfunctioning tail lights, headlights, or turn signals
• Vehicle modifications do not comply with state law

If You Have Been Arrested for DUI, a Lawyer Can Often Help

Many people who are arrested on suspicion of drunk driving make the mistake of thinking that there is nothing they can do to avoid a conviction or mitigate the consequences they are facing. It is important to understand that even if you were, in fact, over the legal limit, there are often many ways that a lawyer can have the evidence collected against you thrown out, making it impossible for the state to secure a conviction. Even if there are no defenses available, a lawyer may be able to negotiate a plea bargain agreement that avoids the most serious consequences associated with a DUI conviction – or, in some cases, avoid a DUI conviction at all.

Call Us Today to Speak with a DUI Defense Attorney in West Chester

A DUI arrest can lead to significant consequences, including fines, the loss of your license, mandatory drug and alcohol counseling, and even jail time. For this reason, it is extremely important to talk to a lawyer as soon as you can after an arrest. In many cases, a lawyer can mitigate the consequences that you are facing and may even be able to have the case against you dropped or completely dismissed. To schedule a free case evaluation with attorney Michael J. Skinner, send us an email or call our office today at 610-436-1410.