Drivers charged with DWI or DUI offenses face stiff penalties which often result in devastating life changes.  If convicted, a suspect faces substantial fines, mandatory incarceration (from 24 hours and beyond), driver's license suspension or permanent revocation. Five years of probation plus a mandatory alcohol treatment program, community service, and the installation of a car ignition locking device are the typical ways courts punish DWI offenders (this sentence may vary by judge and by the severity of the DWI). Many offenders find it overwhelming to complete the sentencing, as well as cope with the life changes required to participate in all the programs.

If apprehended for DWI, can tests be administered for other substances besides alcohol?
Yes. If an officer suspects that drug ingestion is all or part of the impairing substance in your system, most states permit the officer to demand a blood sample, a urine sample, or both blood and urine . When a crime lab checks for other drugs than alcohol, a device known as a GC-MS (gas chromatography) is used. This piece of equipment can isolate and identify a wide range of drugs, including prescription drugs and illegal drugs. Common drugs that this test is set to look for are opiates, marijuana, sedatives, and pain killers. If any class of drugs shows a positive reading in the blood, the GC-MS will chart this, and laboratory chemists can note the level of such chemicals to determine their role in the driver’s intoxication. Although you can be prosecuted for a DUI involving physician prescribed drugs, the prosecutor is required to prove impairment in order to render a conviction, not merely establish their presence in your system.

What are the benefits of hiring a DWI attorney? What qualifications are important?
A qualified attorney can review the case for defects, compel discovery of such things as calibration and maintenance records for breath machines, have blood samples independently analyzed, negotiate for a lesser charge or reduced sentence, obtain expert witnesses for trial, etc. A skilled lawyer can also debate if the blood technician received adequate training, or if laboratory staff handled urine samples properly. Since the prosecution relies heavily on the results of breath, blood, and urine chemical tests, any discrepancy in the execution and examination of such tests can prove crucial to their validity.