CHOOSING A DRINK DRIVING LAWYER IF YOU HAVE BEEN CHARGED DRINK DRIVING
Introduction
Victoria Police conduct between 3.5 and 4 million random breath tests every year, and conduct over 3000 roadside drug tests every month. These figures make drink and drug driving two of the most heavily policed crimes in Victoria.
The statistics for road deaths caused by drink or drug driving are staggering, with 30% of motor vehicle fatalities found to involve drink driving, and 37% involving drugs. The danger associated with this behaviour has seen the criminal justice system take a hard line on drink/drug drivers.
If you have been caught driving under the influence (DUI) of either excessive amounts of alcohol or illicit substances, you could be facing very serious penalties, including heavy fines, loss of licence, a criminal record, and even imprisonment.
Drink Driving and the Law
If you are a learner driver or probationary driver, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that applies to you is zero. This is also the case for professional drivers such as truck and taxi drivers, as well as people who have previously committed drink driving offences. For everyone else, the limit is 0.05.
If you have been pulled over by the police and failed a roadside breath test, you will probably be issued with an infringement notice and may be summoned to appear in court. You will certainly lose demerit points and be fined, but you may also have to appear in front of a magistrate who may take away your licence as a result of drink driving.
If you are a repeat offender, or your BAC was in the high range, you may even face imprisonment. This is because the courts take a hard stance against repeat offenders with disregard for the law, and against those who carelessly put the lives of other road users at risk.
If you have been charged with drink driving, you should contact an experienced criminal lawyer immediately. You may be looking at fines of over $26,000 and 18 months imprisonment. Without professional legal representation you could be penalised to the full extent of the law, so it is important that you choose a criminal defence lawyer carefully.
Choosing a Drink Driving Lawyer
Experience
You will want a criminal lawyer with years of experience in drink driving matters. At Dribbin & Brown, our lawyers have handled hundreds of drink driving cases, from low to high range drink and drug driving, careless and culpable driving charges. If there has been a police error or factual dispute, our experienced criminal defence team can raise these issues as a defence in your matter.
Alternatively, they may be able to prove there were mitigating circumstances in your matter, and reduce your penalty. In some cases this means preserving your licence in order to keep you on the road. Many of our clients state that being able to continue to drive to work is a major concern when facing drink driving charges.
Location
You will want a drink driving lawyer who is easy to get to. Dribbin & Brown have offices in the Melbourne CBD, Dandenong, Geelong, Ringwood, Frankston and Moorabbin, all located conveniently near the Magistrates’ Courts in those areas. Accessibility may not seem an important consideration when choosing a lawyer, but you may have a matter listed in Frankston for example, which is, in rare circumstances, diverted to Dandenong. Or, you may have two matters listed in two different law courts.
Having offices in 5 major locations takes the hassle out of travelling across the city to attend an appointment. Not only are the office locations easily accessible, but we have expert drink driving lawyers available at all of them. If you have been charged with drink or drug driving, the choice of four locations in the eastern suburbs and our central office in the CBD removes travel stress from your already difficult situation.
Convenience
Dribbin & Brown have multiple drink driving lawyers available at any given time. This means that you can make an appointment to see one of our expert traffic lawyers at your convenience, at the office that best suits your needs.
Some clients have found that they are due in court sooner than they realised, and are in need of a lawyer urgently. Dribbin & Brown can accommodate these situations, and are often able to ask the court to adjourn your appearance to a later date. Our offices are also more than happy to take your calls and address any concerns you may have about your upcoming matter.
Advice
You should enlist the help of a drink driving lawyer who can advise you of all your available options in language that you can understand. The criminal law is highly complex, and there are a variety or factors that need to be considered in drink driving cases. Our specialist drink driving lawyers are able to take you through your charge sheet, inform you of your rights and responsibilities, and offer you clear advice on your legal options.
In some cases, you may have a criminal defence, and may be able to contest a drink driving charge. In others, your expert traffic lawyer may be able to make a plea to the court and seek a reduced penalty for your charge. This may result in you keeping your licence and you may avoid a conviction being recorded on your criminal record.
Contact
Our specialist criminal defence team is available for consultation at your earliest convenience. If you have a drink driving matter, you can contact one of our drink driving lawyers and arrange an appointment at one of our five office locations. Our lawyers will take you through your charges and give you legal advice, as well as represent you in court.
If you have been charged with drink driving, you should take the matter very seriously. Consult an expert drink driving solicitor as soon as possible and give yourself ample time to prepare for your matter. Entering the criminal justice system can be a daunting experience, but our legal professionals will help guide you through the process and ensure you are represented with exceptional care.
For professional, thorough and expert legal representation, contact one of our drink driving lawyers today.
