Moore OK DUI Defense Lawyer
DUI laws in Oklahoma are among some of the strictest in the country. A staggering percentage of fatal car accidents are caused by drivers driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs each year in Oklahoma City. As such, the penalties for a DUI conviction are pretty strict. Drivers risk paying huge fines, spending time in jail, and losing their driving privileges if convicted of a DUI.
If you have been arrested and charged with a DUI, DWI, or APC in Moore, OK, you should speak with an experienced DUI attorney as soon as possible. Even a first-time offense can have serious consequences for drivers in Oklahoma and a criminal defense attorney can help ensure that your penalties are reduced substantially.
At Cannon & Associates, we have a team of DUI attorneys who are ready to help you with your case. Our law firm has handled hundreds of DUI cases throughout our years of practice, and we know how to get your criminal charges thrown out or get your penalties reduced substantially. It is important that you act fast in these types of cases to give your DUI lawyer time to build a strong criminal defense and prevent any further legal issues from arising.
Our law office offers a free consultation for you to come in and discuss your case with our DUI lawyers with no strings attached. We want to protect your rights as a citizen of Oklahoma and ensure that you do not face serious consequences for a mistake.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation at 405-591-3935.
DUI Lawyers at Cannon & Associates
When you hire a DUI attorney, you want to ensure that you are receiving the best standard of legal care possible. DUI charges can be extremely stressful and your attorney should do everything in their power to take this stress away and take over your case completely. At Cannon & Associates, we strive to provide Fierce Advocacy to all of our clients.
Our outstanding lawyers have the knowledge, experience, and skills necessary to win your DUI case in Moore, Oklahoma City. Our team is made up of former prosecutors, Judge Advocates, and highly experienced criminal defense attorneys. If you hire our firm as your legal representative, we will investigate your case thoroughly, communicate with you effectively throughout the case, and build a strong criminal defense on your behalf.
Our lead attorney, John. P Cannon has been recognized as a Rising Star and excellent attorney on Super Lawyers, which is a rating service based on peer evaluations, professional achievement in the legal system, and independent research evaluations. All of the attorneys in our firm are recognized by the Oklahoma or respective state bar association and many have received awards and peer recognition due to their outstanding service in the Oklahoma City area.
Our law firm has been serving Moore and the rest of Oklahoma for over 30 years and we give equal importance to each and every case. Our priority is defending your rights, ensuring that you have a robust criminal defense, and being your Fierce Advocate for your DUI charges.
Consequences of a Moore DUI Conviction
Because DUIs are one of the most common driving offenses in Oklahoma, many people overlook the seriousness of a DUI conviction. However, a conviction of this nature can have a massive impact on your life and your future. You may struggle to get and retain employment, get car insurance in the future, attend a higher-level education institution, and much more. Some consequences of a Moore DUI conviction include:
- Jail time – Even a first-time DUI conviction can result in jail time in Oklahoma. Longer jail sentences are often imposed on those who are convicted of a DUI charge multiple times.
- Losing your driving privileges – If convicted of a DUI, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety may revoke your driver’s license or some driving privileges for a period of time.
- Criminal record – Having a criminal record in Oklahoma City can massively impact your ability to access education, get a job, take out a loan from a bank, and more. A felony DUI charge can result in a permanent criminal record.
- Probation – Judges in DUI cases usually impose probation terms for those convicted which can include community service, attending drug or alcohol programs, and having an ignition interlock device (IID) installed in your vehicle.
- Insurance – Following a Moore DUI conviction, your insurance company will likely raise your premium substantially. In some cases, insurance companies drop clients that have been convicted of a DUI and refuse to take on these drivers.
The consequences of a Moore DUI conviction can be drastic, which is why it is important to speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible regarding your case.
DUI vs. DWI Charges in Moore, Oklahoma City
Driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while impaired (DWI) are two separate offenses in Oklahoma. The main legal issue that separates these two offenses is the level of blood alcohol content (BAC) the accused had at the time of the crime.
For a DUI charge, a person over the age of 21 must have a BAC of more than 0.08% while operating a vehicle. If you are pulled over, and your BAC is higher than this amount, you will be charged with a DUI. The same charges can also be brought against those driving while under the influence of illegal drugs or prescription drugs. It is important to always ensure that you are under the legal limit if taking prescription drugs.
A DWI charge is less serious than a DUI charge, and as such, the penalties are less severe. If your blood alcohol content is between 0.05% and 0.08% you can be charged with a DWI. Although these charges are less severe, a conviction can still result in time in county jail, penalty points, and fines.
What Is An Aggravated DUI Charge?
If your BAC level was above 0.15% while driving, you can be charged with the offense of ‘aggravated DUI’. The penalties for this type of DUI charge are much higher than a regular DUI. Those convicted could face longer jail time and much harsher fines. Additionally, a charge of this nature is more likely to be charged as a felony.
The penalties for this charge are more severe because the offense is more dangerous in nature. Those who are driving with a higher BAC level are much more likely to cause severe collisions and serious injuries to other people.
Penalties For a DUI Conviction in Moore, Oklahoma City, OK
Penalties imposed for DUI convictions depend mostly on the facts of the case and the criminal history of the defendant. If you have been previously convicted of a DUI, you are likely to face harsher penalties than a first-time offender. A good DUI lawyer can help minimize the penalties imposed on you in your case.
Some factors that the judge will consider when deciding a penalty for your case include:
- Previous criminal convictions for DUIs.
- The blood alcohol level recorded by law enforcement at the time of the incident.
- Any damage to private or public property.
- The presence of passengers in the vehicle, in particular minors.
- Aggravating factors such as injuries to other people, deaths, fleeing from a police officer or refusing to take field sobriety tests.
First Offense
All first-time DUI charges in Moore are charged as a misdemeanor. If the judge considers that there were no aggravating factors, the penalties for a first-time misdemeanor DUI include:
- Fines of up to $1,000.
- From ten days to one year in county jail.
- Revocation of your driver’s license for up to 180 days.
- Court-ordered alcohol or substance abuse program.
- Installation of an ignition interlock device if your BAC was higher than 0.15%.
Second Offense
If convicted of a DUI for a second time, the penalties can be much more severe. Oklahoma imposes felony charges for a second-time DUI offense, which is unique from many other states in the US. The consequences of a felony conviction are far more serious and can result in a permanent criminal record.
Penalties for a second DUI offense include:
- Fines of up to $2,500.
- Jail time from one to five years.
- Automatic suspension of your driver’s license for one year by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.
- Installation of an ignition interlock device.
- Court-ordered alcohol or substance abuse program.
Subsequent Offenses
The penalties begin to increase substantially following a second DUI conviction. Oklahoma City follows a ten-year ‘washout’ period, meaning any convictions more than ten years ago will not be considered. However, if you are convicted of more than two DUIs within a ten-year period, you could be facing:
- From one to twenty years in prison.
- Fines of up to $5,000.
- Revocation of your license for more than three years.
- Installation of an ignition interlock device.
- The requirement to carry out community service.
- Court-ordered alcohol or substance abuse program.
As you can see, the penalties for a conviction can be extremely harsh. You could be looking at serious prison time, huge fines, a permanent criminal record, and a revocation of all driving privileges. As such, it is extremely important that you speak with one of our local Moore DUI lawyers immediately to prevent a conviction. We can help you get your charges dropped or reduced substantially to ensure that you do not face serious penalties.
DUI Penalties For Minors in Moore, OK
For those under the age of 21 in Moore, the laws on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are much stricter. The state of Oklahoma takes a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to minors driving under the influence. This includes not only driving with any level of alcohol in your blood but also possessing or using alcohol while driving, misrepresenting your age to purchase alcohol, and refusing to carry out field sobriety tests.
Penalties minors face for a DUI or DWI conviction include:
- Automatic suspension of a license.
- Installation of an ignition interlock device.
- Fines of up to $500.
- The requirement to attend a drug or alcohol program.
What Criminal Defense Strategies Can a DUI Lawyer Use In My Oklahoma City Case?
In order to successfully avoid a DUI conviction or harsh DUI penalties in Oklahoma, you must build up a strong criminal defense for your case. DUI laws can be complicated and trying to defend charges can be quite difficult, as most people accused are caught ‘red-handed’. However, an experienced criminal defense attorney can do the following to ensure the best outcome for your case:
- Look for a legal issue – Federal law has very strict requirements that police officers must abide by when operating DUI checkpoints in Oklahoma. If the law enforcement officer that arrested you did not follow these requirements, we can help get your charges dropped. Our DUI lawyers will also ensure that your constitutional rights were respected throughout the entire process and that your BAC test was carried out correctly.
- Build a criminal defense – A good criminal defense is the best way to get your charges thrown out completely or your charges reduced substantially. A criminal defense attorney will build a defense depending on the particular circumstances of your case. This could include technical errors during the arrest procedure, lack of probable cause, or inaccurate test results.
- Reduce your sentence – If a conviction is likely based on the evidence put forward, experienced DUI lawyers should do everything in their power to reduce your sentence. This includes ensuring that you do not spend any time in prison, reducing the fine amount, and petitioning to prevent the revocation of your license. If your license is revoked, we can ask the court for a restricted license to allow you to operate your vehicle under certain circumstances.
DUI lawyers with the requisite experience may be the difference between a harsh prison sentence in Oklahoma City and walking out of court free of charges. Regardless of how serious your charges are, you should always seek help from an experienced lawyer. An experienced attorney can help ensure that your life is not seriously impacted by a DUI criminal conviction.
Contact a Moore OK DUI Defense Lawyer at Cannon & Associates Today
Being charged with a DUI can be scary and stressful. Many of our clients were charged with a DUI when they were unaware they were under the influence or because they felt they had no choice but to drive in that particular situation. Regardless of your charges, however, you should always seek legal representation from an experienced DUI attorney.
At Cannon & Associations, our DUI lawyers are highly experienced in managing cases like yours. We have helped many clients avoid serious DUI convictions and get their penalties reduced substantially. Our DUI attorneys are skilled at building strong criminal defenses and we are well-versed in the ins and outs of Oklahoma’s DUI laws.
Our law office deals with a vast range of legal issues and our DUI attorneys have experience in many other related practice areas. This means you will always benefit from a wide range of experience and get the most effective legal representation possible. Our DUI lawyers pride themselves on being Fierce Advocates and we have the experience and skills necessary to help you win your case. Call us today to schedule a free consultation with a DUI attorney from our firm at 405-591-3935.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR OKLAHOMA CITY DUI DEFENSE ATTORNEY
CAN I PLEA BARGAIN A DUI CHARGE TO A LESSER OFFENSE?
HOW CAN I FIND THE BEST DUI LAWYER IN OKLAHOMA?
HOW MUCH DOES A DUI LAWYER COST IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK?
DO I NEED AN ATTORNEY FOR A DUI IN OKLAHOMA CITY?
WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS IF I GET PULLED OVER FOR A DUI IN OKLAHOMA CITY?
WHAT IS THE IMPLIED CONSENT LAW IN OKLAHOMA?
