Salt Lake City DUI Lawyer
We know that an arrest for DUI may be overwhelming. Being put in handcuffs and taken to the jail is not a pleasant experience for anyone. At the Jardine Law Offices, we want you to know that there is a way to move forward from here.
The most important thing you can do in the aftermath of a DUI arrest is to immediately secure a qualified and experienced attorney to have your back.
When we take you as a client, our number one goal is to ensure you are treated fairly. Contrary to popular belief, not all DUI arrests lead to convictions. Often, police make mistakes in the way they have initiated a traffic stop, in the way they conduct a field sobriety test, and how they administer blood-alcohol tests. Our team will scrutinize everything about how your case is handled.
Please note that the state of Utah has changed the allowable limit for a blood-alcohol level from .08% to .05% beginning on December 30, 2018. This makes Utah’s drinking and driving laws the toughest in the country and will likely take some adjusting to for many citizens in this state.
DUI convictions have ramifications that can last for years, beyond the initial possibility of jail time, fines, community service, or mandatory driving classes. They will show up on your background check and can follow you for life.
If you need a Salt Lake City DUI attorney, you can turn to the trusted professionals at the Jardine Law Offices for help in proving your innocence.
The Laws
We understand why the state of Utah is tough on people who drink and drive. There is no way to deny that impaired drivers are a hazard on the roadway, hence the strict laws. For the latest reporting year in the state, impaired drivers were responsible for 13 percent of all traffic-related deaths on Utah roadways.
What are the potential consequences of being convicted of a DUI?
- A first offense has a maximum of 180 days in jail (2 mandatory), a $1,310 fine, and suspended license for 120 days. It also mandates a 1-year mandatory ignition interlock device if the blood-alcohol level was above .16%.
- A second offense has a maximum of 180 days in jail (10 mandatory), a $1,560 fine, and suspended license for 2 years. An ignition interlock device is required for 2 years.
- A third offense has a maximum of 5-year prison time (mandatory 62 days), a fine of $2,850, and suspended license for 2 years. An ignition interlock device is required for 2 years.
If you are pulled over under suspicion of DUI and you refuse to submit to blood or breath tests to determine your blood-alcohol content, you are subject to license revocation on the spot.
We know all of this sounds scary, especially if you have never been in trouble with the law. All it takes is having a few drinks out with friends on a Friday night after work.
Or maybe you live right around the corner from a party and just want to call it a night.
We know that good people get charged with DUI. They make mistakes, but we do not believe they should completely rearrange people’s lives.
A Note On Minors
In Utah, we have what it called the “Not a Drop Law” which means that anyone under 21 can have no alcohol in their system, even if they are not impaired. This can lead to minors being charged with unlawful possession or consumption of alcohol by a minor even if they are below the limit allowed for those older than 21. Penalties for minors who violate state laws can have their license revoked.
These charges can follow a person for their entire lives, just like regular DUI charges.
Our Goal
We will take your case when you need a DUI defense attorney. If you are innocent, we will do everything in our power to prove that. Our team will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of what happened before, during, and after your arrest. The goal will be to get the charges thrown out completely.
If you were driving under the influence, that does not mean you have no options. Our knowledgeable and experienced team will work to get your DUI charges reduced to other, less damaging charges. These could possibly be reckless driving or open container.
Injuries Or Fatalities
In the event that your alleged impaired driving led to an accident that caused injuries or fatalities, securing an attorney is vital for a satisfactory outcome in your case. The charges for these events carry more weight than typical DUI charges – often years in prison and tremendous fines.
What You Can Do Now
If you have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, you need to seek a strong legal team immediately. A DUI can affect much more than just your ability to drive around town.
- It can land you in jail.
- It can cost you thousands of dollars in fines.
- It can cause your insurance to skyrocket.
- In can cost you your job.
- It will be a mark on your criminal history that anyone will see in a background check.
- Your reputation will take a hit.
Can you afford all of that to happen?
You do not want to find yourself in a scenario where you must rely on a public defender for any kind of DUI charge. Your future is too dependent on the outcome of your case.
At the Jardine Law Offices, we are ready to take your case and will get to work immediately in your defense. Our goal is to minimize your exposure to prosecution. We will investigate every charge that is brought against you and work to either get them thrown out altogether or reduced to lesser charges.
When you need a Salt Lake City DUI attorney, you can contact us by clicking here or calling us at 801-451-9555 for a free consultation.
