The Progress of Your Calgary DUI Defence: Part 2
Part 1 of this article provides an overview of how DUI cases in Calgary originate with law enforcement, and the immediate consequence of license suspension that many Calgary drivers accused of impaired driving face.
No matter what the specifics of your initial engagement with Calgary law enforcement, and regardless of the outcome of your BAC analysis (if any), you defence against a DUI charge in Calgary begins the moment you are accused, arrested, or charged. Though every impaired driving case is different, everyone's next step should be the same.
Contact a Calgary DUI Lawyer Right Away
According to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, everyone accused of any crime is entitled to speak to a knowledgeable and experienced defence lawyer before answering any charges. While you must comply with lawful requests made by the Calgary Police and other law enforcement officers, including sobriety tests/analyses and answering basic questions regarding your identity, you do not have to respond to questions regarding the charge you have been accused of or arrested for without first seeking the counsel of a lawyer.
This applies to impaired driving charges just as it does to all other accusations of criminal transgressions, and it is often in your best interest to speak to a Calgary DUI lawyer before discussing your case with any law enforcement officers or Crown prosecutors. If you are arrested or detained at a Calgary-area law enforcement facility, you can request to contact a lawyer as soon as possible, and this is a request law enforcement is expected to comply with.
Your Calgary DUI Defence Lawyer Will Help You Plan How to Proceed
This is the point where the unique circumstances surrounding each and every DUI case in Calgary begins to matter most. Your defence lawyer should be knowledgeable when it comes to all applicable impaired driving laws and Calgary law enforcement rules and procedures. They will use their experience and a comprehensive understanding of you and your case to help you develop a targeted strategy for your defence.
In many cases, your DUI defence lawyer will likely attempt to resolve the issue without the need to take your case to court, though all dedicated DUI defence lawyers should be prepared to go in front of a judge and fight on your behalf whenever necessary. While exploring and pursuing other means of resolution is often ideal, it is not a viable option in all DUI cases. Your lawyer should be prepared, and should help you prepare, for all eventualities.
Consult a Calgary DUI Lawyer for Free
DUI defence law is about protecting your rights and ensuring that Calgary law enforcement and the criminal justice system treat you fairly and give you every possibility for moving past your impaired driving charge as quickly and completely as possible. Calgary criminal defence lawyer Susan Karpa offers free consultations to anyone in the Calgary area accused of a DUI. If you or a family member has been charged with a impaired driving, contact her today and get the help you deserve.