Salt Lake City DUI Attorneys

What is DUI?

DUI stands for driving under the influence, a criminal offense involving operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. A person may face DUI charges if operating a motor vehicle while with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or greater, and/or while with mental or physical abilities that are impaired due to alcohol or a controlled substance.

To establish guilt in a Salt Lake City DUI case, law enforcement will attempt to prove intoxication through the application of a blood or breath test and field sobriety tests. A urine test may also be used, but only in cases involving drugs. Blood, urine and breath tests are used to determine alcohol present in the blood or breath, or drugs (including illegal narcotics and prescription drugs) present in the blood stream or urine. Field sobriety tests are used to test the driver’s coordination, balance and ability to follow instructions – in order to prove the impairment of mental or physical abilities.

What role does a DUI attorney play?

A DUI attorney’s role is to protect the rights of the defendant throughout all criminal court proceedings. In fact, an attorney may be able to intervene in time to help ensure that formal charges are not filed against the driver in the first place. A Salt Lake City DUI attorney can protect the driver’s rights and driving privileges at his or her DMV hearing and throughout any court proceedings as well. Every action that an attorney takes will be to help you avoid a conviction and serious penalties, to the full extent of the law.

What are some penalties associated with DUI in Salt Lake City, Utah?

Utah is harsh on DUI offenders. The penalties you may face will vary depending upon whether this is your first, second or subsequent DUI conviction, as well as what your blood alcohol concentration was and whether you were involved in an accident or if a child was in the vehicle with you. Penalties may include: imprisonment in county jail or state prison, fines, driver’s license suspension, probation, drug or alcohol counseling, rehabilitation, community service, and more.

Contact a Salt Lake City DUI lawyer at the Stone Law Firm today for a free consultation. We represent clients throughout all of Provo, Salt Lake and Ogden, Utah.