If you’re charged with DUI, you should inform the Illinois officer who is taking you into custody that you’d like an attorney. This will prevent the officer from asking any more questions about your case. Furthermore, it will help ensure that you have a competent person on your side who can start working on your case right away.
A lawyer may be able to get evidence suppressed
Legal counsel will likely attempt to get the results of a Breathalyzer test thrown out before it can be used against you by a prosecutor. He or she may also seek to have the results of urine, blood or other types of tests thrown out. This may be done by claiming that the tests were conducted improperly or that there are chain-of-custody issues that render them unreliable.
Legal counsel may cast doubt on any evidence introduced at trial
Your attorney is likely to employ several strategies to cast doubt on any evidence that is allowed to be presented to a jury. For instance, a lawyer may question whether an officer had probable cause to conduct the traffic stop that led to a drunk driving charge. He or she may also offer alternate explanations as to why your car was swerving late at night or why your eyes were bloodshot when an officer first made contact with you.
A legal adviser may negotiate a favorable plea deal
One of the primary benefits of asking for an attorney as quickly as possible is that you may be more likely to obtain a favorable plea deal. At a minimum, a lawyer will be able to help you evaluate the merits of any deal that you are offered.
If you are charged with drunk driving, you may lose your license, spend time in jail and be ordered to pay a significant fine. An attorney may take steps to help you avoid as many of those potential penalties as possible.
