Salt Lake City, Utah DUI Defense Lawyer

Experienced Salt Lake City, UT Attorney for DUI Defense

A DUI charge in Utah can come with serious punishments on a conviction, ranging from criminal penalties to the loss of your driving privileges. If you have been accused of driving under the influence, a Salt Lake City criminal law attorney can help to protect your best interests, providing you with qualified legal advice while advocating for your rights in court.

At Salt City Defense, we know how to contest DUI charges. With over ten years of legal experience, our defense lawyer has the skills to help you through a drunk driving charge, working toward an ideal outcome for your case.

How Is DUI Charged in Utah?

In Utah, you can be charged with driving under the influence under the following circumstances while operating a motor vehicle:

• A chemical test shows that your blood alcohol concentration is .05 grams or more
• Your blood alcohol concentration was at .05 grams or more while you were driving
• You were impaired by any combination of drugs or alcohol to a point where you could not safely drive the vehicle

A first DUI charge without any aggravating circumstances is a class B misdemeanor, which means that you can be sentenced to up to six months in jail, as well as a possible $1,000 fine or compensatory service. However, the charge could be upgraded to a class A misdemeanor if there was a passenger under 16 in the car or if you have a prior DUI offense on your record from within the last 10 years. Class A misdemeanors are punishable by no more than a year in jail.

Evidence in DUI Cases

A person's blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, can be a significant piece of evidence in a DUI case. Many states have a hard limit of .08 percent BAC, but in Utah, the threshold is significantly lower at .05 percent. This means that you can get charged with driving under the influence for a lesser amount of alcohol in your system, which can make it easier for the prosecution to secure a conviction.

If you are stopped for DUI, you have the right to refuse a portable breath test. You can also refuse to take any field sobriety tests the officer asks of you, such as tracking an object with your eyes or counting on one leg. However, if you are taken into custody, you may be compelled to submit to a blood or breath test.

Unlike the portable breath test, refusing a chemical test after being detained has legal consequences, resulting in the automatic suspension of your license as per the state's implied consent law. At Salt City Defense, we can advise you of what to do after a DUI arrest to protect your rights.

Defenses Against a DUI Charge

Fighting a DUI charge requires a thorough defense. Our DUI attorney can review the details of your arrest to look for weaknesses in the prosecution's case or other legal strategies, such as:

• Challenging a chemical test due to faulty equipment, improper calibration, or other errors in procedure
• Questioning the validity of a field sobriety test
• Arguing that you were stopped without probable cause

At Salt City Defense, we will speak on your behalf in court, exploring every viable avenue to get the charges against you reduced or dropped.

Contact a Salt Lake City DUI Defense Attorney

A drunk driving charge can wreak havoc on your everyday life, especially if you have a prior conviction on your record. At Salt City Defense, our Salt Lake County drunk driving defense lawyer can fight for your rights. To schedule a complimentary consultation today, call us at 919-744-6471 or reach out to us online.