Mistakes Were Made on My DUI Police Report – Will the Charges be Dropped?

DUI is a serious charge that has severe consequences for conviction. Many times the police on the scene of a traffic stop for DUI will make some mistakes on the police report. In general, the mistakes may offer a way for an experienced DUI attorney to try to have your charges dropped. However, in most cases, these minor mistakes will not matter in the big scheme of things. There are various things that will determine how your case proceeds as well as the punishment if convicted. Some of these factors include:

  • BAC (blood alcohol content)
  • Whether there was an accident with injuries
  • Traffic infractions
  • Whether this is the first DUI offense

How to Proceed with a DUI Case

A skilled DUI attorney knows the latest laws and understands the best way to defend the charges against you. Each DUI case is different so the lawyer will need to review the circumstances of the event. Your attorney will leave no stone unturned when defending your DUI charges. Several things will be reviewed including the results of a breathalyzer test if one was taken. In some cases the breath test was not administered properly or the results were not correctly analyzed. An experienced DUI attorney knows whether any problems occurred and can proceed accordingly. If an error in a breath test can be proven it may result in the charges being dropped.

Working to Resolve Your DUI Case

Many people mistakenly believe that if any type of error on the police report or ticket was made they will automatically be released of any charges. This is false. The charges won’t be dropped if there is still sufficient evidence to show that you were driving while intoxicated. For example, a person is arrested for DUI but later notices that his name is incorrectly listed in the report. While this may seem like a huge error, it won’t necessarily get you out of trouble. There are other ways to identify you including by your driver’s license and by the police officer identifying you in court. Other mistakes can be made; however, they don’t mean you’ll get off on a technicality.

Defending DUI Charges

Defending against DUI charges is something that is usually best left to an experienced DUI attorney that  is adept at determining the best way to defend your case and will always do everything possible to resolve the situation favorably. It’s never a good idea to try to defend DUI charges on your own. You’ll certainly be unable to get out of the charges and could end up with some significant penalties. Penalties for a DUI conviction may include driver’s license suspension, fines, and possibly jail time. One thing that your attorney will do is to view a copy of the traffic stop if possible. This can show problems with the encounter that your attorney can use to defend you. In Florida, you are required to request a DMV hearing within 10 days of your arrest. This hearing will determine the handling of your driving privileges. Your lawyer can request this hearing and represent you as well.