Three Ways To Downgrade DUI Charges
Driving under the influence (DUI) charges are not equal; some DUI charges are more serious than others. Obviously, serious DUI charges attract harsher penalties than relatively simpler DUI charges. This means it's in your best interest to have your DUI charges downgraded if you have been arrested. Here are three routes you can take to try to downgrade the charges:
Plea Bargain
Plea bargaining is one of the best ways of mitigating your charges. In a plea bargain, the government offers you reduced charges and or sentence on condition that you plead guilty to the charges. This is a win-win for both parties because you get to enjoy reduced penalties and the prosecutor doesn't have to prove their case.
Whether or not you can succeed with your plea bargain depends on different factors such as these two:
- The evidence available; the prosecutor is likely to give in to your demands if the available evidence is weak
- Your state's laws; some charges have mandatory sentences that not even the prosecutor or judge may reduce
Don't plea bargain without a lawyer. The lawyer will see to it that you get the best possible deal from the prosecutor and that the deal is legally enforceable.
Attend A DUI Program
Enrolling in a drunk-driving program helps because it shows the court that you have realized the error of your ways and you are willing to change. These programs are meant to educate you on the dangers of drunk driving and the dangerous effects of drugs and alcohol. They also explore the different ways of avoiding drunk driving.
You should not just attend these classes for the sake of your charges, but you should also attend them so that they can help you avoid drunk-driving in the future. Also, you should know that you may be ordered to enroll in such a program after your conviction even if you don't enroll for one voluntarily.
Assert Your Good Character
Lastly, you may also have some luck by convincing the court that your drunk-driving incident was a one-time occurrence that you aren't likely to repeat. Your hope here is to hold up your good character to the court and hope for mercy. Of course, this means you are only likely to succeed with this approach if it is your first DUI, you don't have a criminal history, and you have impartial character witnesses who can testify for all these.
The above measures aren't guaranteed to work so you should still be preparing for your defense while trying them. This means you should continue working with your DWI attorney on your defense.
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