Can I Represent Myself or do I need a Memphis DUI Lawyer?
March 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment
You can represent yourself - although it is not a good idea. “Drunk driving” is a very complex field with increasingly harsh consequences. There is a minefield of complicated procedural, evidentiary, constitutional, sentencing and administrative license issues.What can a lawyer do? Nothing (or worse) if he is not qualified in this highly specialized field - no more than a family doctor could help with brain surgery. A qualified DUI attorney, however, can review the case for defects, suppress evidence, compel discovery of such things as calibration and maintenance records for the breath machine, have blood samples independently analyzed, negotiate for a lesser charge or reduced sentence, obtain expert witnesses for trial, contest the administrative license suspension, etc.
Top 20 List of What Memphis Police Look for In a Drunk Driver
March 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment
What Do Memphis Police Officers Look for When Searching for Drunk Drivers?
The following is a list of symptoms in descending order of probability that the person observed is driving while intoxicated here in Memphis. The list is based upon research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Administration:
Turning with a wide radius
Straddling center of lane marker
“Appearing to be drunk”
Almost striking object or vehicle
Weaving
Driving on other than designated highway
Swerving
Speed more than 10 mph below limit
Stopping without cause in traffic lane
Following too closely
Drifting
Tires on center or lane marker
Braking erratically
Driving into opposing or crossing traffic
Signalling inconsistent with driving actions
Slow response to traffic signals
Stopping inappropriately (other than in lane)
Turning abruptly or illegally
Accelerating or decelerating rapidly
Headlights off
***Speeding, incidentally, is not a symptom of DUI; because of quicker judgment and reflexes, it may indicate sobriety.
If you have received a dui in Memphis and need the help of a Memphis DUI lawyer call our office today.
This list courtesty of duicenter.com
DUI Hypocrasy?
March 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Memphis drivers aren’t the only ones receiving DUI’s these days. The following article is straight from the ap in Utah and shows where the former head of the Utah Highway Patrol pleaded guilty to DUI. Rembember, highway patrol members are the same individuals who are supposedly “experts” at knowing who is drunk and who isn’t drunk. This shows you that you shouldn’t necessarily trust the testimony of arresting officers.
WEST JORDAN, Utah (AP) - The former head of Utah Highway Patrol’s DUI unit has pleaded guilty to alcohol-related reckless driving.
Fred Swain crashed his police cruiser into a concrete barrier in June 2006. A breath test at the time revealed his blood-alcohol level to be 0.11 - in excess of the state’s legal limit of 0.08.
Swain’s plea to the class B misdemeanor charge was entered in 3rd District Court on Monday. It was actually his second guilty plea - he had already entered one in Draper’s justice court, but was appealing that conviction. The city prosecutor says he doesn’t know why Swain ended the appeal process.
