driving under the influence

DUI First Offense Lawyer

DUI First Offense Lawyer

A Driving Under the Influence, “DUI” 1st charge in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a Misdemeanor. However, that doesn’t mean it ought to be treated casually. As a DUI first offense lawyer in Nevada, Michael Troiano can defend your case with experience and vigor.

The prosecution has three theories that they can use to prosecute an individual for a DUI 1st offense. First, is the “per se” theory, if they can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were driving and/or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle and a blood or breath test was taken within two hours of you driving, and your blood alcohol content “BAC” was .08 or above, you are “per se” under the influence.  The second theory is .08 BAC or above “at the time of driving”, if the prosecutor can prove your BAC was .08 or above at the time you were actually driving the vehicle you would be deemed under the influence.  Lastly, the “impaired driving theory”, here prosecutors are not required to present any evidence of your BAC or drug toxicity levels.  For example, if Ashley causes an accident, the police arrive, and she smells of alcohol, fails all her field sobriety tests, and admits to drinking, the prosecution could argue that regardless of what her BAC was, she was under the influence of alcohol “to any degree, however slight” which rendered her incapable of safely driving, and therefore deemed under the influence.

The consequences of a conviction for a DUI 1st offense are severe, so you need a DUI first offense lawyer who can aggressively handle your case.  If convicted, the Judge is required to sentence you anywhere from two days up to six months of jail, a fine of up to $1,000, and DUI educational courses. These courses can include a Victim Impact Panel, DUI Class, and a Coroner’s Visitation Course.  As of October 1, 2018, if you are convicted of a DUI 1st and your BAC is between .08-.017 you will be ordered to place a breath interlock device in your vehicle for 185 days. If your BAC is found to be .18 or above, you will be ordered to install the breath interlock device in your vehicle for 12-36 months. Additionally, if your BAC is .18 (double the legal limit) or above, you are required to have a court ordered drug and alcohol evaluation by a licensed substance abuse counselor, who will assess you for drug and/or alcohol abuse.  This substance abuse counselor will then create an evaluation which will be presented to the Judge. The Judge will use this evaluation in determining what additional counseling may be necessary, such as, an alcohol monitoring device placed on your body, known as a “SCRAM” device, and group or individual counseling for up to one year.  If these penalties weren’t harsh enough, if convicted of a DUI 1st offense you are not eligible to seal your criminal record until seven years after your case is closed.

The consequences of a conviction for a DUI 1st offense are severe, so you need a DUI first offense lawyer who can aggressively handle your case.  If convicted, the Judge is required to sentence you anywhere from two days up to six months of jail, a fine of up to $1,000, and DUI educational courses. These courses can include a Victim Impact Panel, DUI Class, and a Coroner’s Visitation Course.  As of October 1, 2018, if you are convicted of a DUI 1st and your BAC is between .08-.017 you will be ordered to place a breath interlock device in your vehicle for 185 days. If your BAC is found to be .18 or above, you will be ordered to install the breath interlock device in your vehicle for 12-36 months. Additionally, if your BAC is .18 (double the legal limit) or above, you are required to have a court ordered drug and alcohol evaluation by a licensed substance abuse counselor, who will assess you for drug and/or alcohol abuse.  This substance abuse counselor will then create an evaluation which will be presented to the Judge. The Judge will use this evaluation in determining what additional counseling may be necessary, such as, an alcohol monitoring device placed on your body, known as a “SCRAM” device, and group or individual counseling for up to one year.  If these penalties weren’t harsh enough, if convicted of a DUI 1st offense you are not eligible to seal your criminal record until seven years after your case is closed.

Unfortunately, DUIs are very common in the Las Vegas Valley—providing all the more reason to have a strong and experienced DUI first offense lawyer. All local police agencies are instructed to make an arrest if they have reasonable suspicion that you are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, while driving or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle on a public roadway.  Once arrested, the Police Officer or Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper will take you to jail, where they will force you to submit to a breath or blood test, which will be used as evidence against you in your criminal case and DMV Administrative Hearing.

DUI offenses are vigorously prosecuted and a conviction can have dire consequences. A Driving Under the Influence Offense is the only crime on the books in Las Vegas, Nevada, where a prosecutor must have “legal cause or reason” to negotiate a DUI charge down to anything less than a DUI, such as a Reckless Driving.  Meaning, a prosecutor can’t, and won’t, offer to drop your case, just because this was your first time, or you are a good person.  That among many other reasons is why it is vital to hire a DUI first offense lawyer in Nevada like Michael A. Troiano.  With his extensive knowledge and experience in DUI defense on your side, he will discuss all available options for your specific case and keep you well informed of the entire process of your DUI criminal case in addition to the DMV Administrative Hearing and your driver’s license privileges.