Salt Lake DUI Defense - Salt Lake Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are convicted of DUI in Salt Lake City, you could face incarceration in the Salt Lake County jail and be charged thousands of dollars in fines.  Utah's DUI statutes are complicated.  Not only can you be charged with DUI for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but you can also be charged if you are in "actual physical control" of a vehicle, or if you are found driving with a measurable controlled substance metabolite.

Stephen Howard has the experience, skill, and determination to help you get the results you need.  As a seasoned Utah criminal defense lawyer based in Salt Lake City, Mr. Howard has defended literally thousands of serious criminal charges - more than most attorneys will ever see.

Salt Lake DUI Defense - A Sophisticated Defense

A lot of DUI attorneys claim to "fight hard" or to be "aggressive."  While that makes for a good sales pitch, it is not always good enough to get results in court.  Successfully defending a criminal DUI charge in Utah requires a thorough understanding of standardized field sobriety testing procedures, medical issues that may interfere with testing, intoxilyzer and other chemical breath and blood testing procedures, Fourth Amendment search and seizure law, courtroom rules of criminal procedure, rules of evidence, and much more.  Just being "aggressive" simply doesn't cut it.  If you are charged with DUI in the Salt Lake area, you need an experienced attorney who is capable of mounting a defense that gets real results.  Stephen Howard understands how to fight hard, and fight smart.

Salt Lake DUI Defense - Driver License Hearing

If you are charged with DUI, the Utah Driver License Division may suspend your license even before your criminal case is filed.  You are required to request a hearing from the Driver License Division within 10 days of the alleged offense.  If you miss that 10 day deadline, the Driver License Division can suspend your license without ever hearing your side of the story.  Late requests may be granted.  But you are better off getting your request submitted on time.  You are entitled to have an attorney represent you at the hearing.  Having an experienced DUI attorney on your side can give you a better chance of keeping your license.

Salt Lake "Drunk Driving" Defense - More Than Just Alcohol

Under Utah criminal law, "drunk" driving charges can apply to more than just alcohol.  Driving with a controlled substance metabolite in your system can also result in criminal charges, even if your ability to drive was not impaired.  Some metabolites can stay in your system for days or even weeks.

If you are charged with driving with a controlled substance metabolite, your attorney should look carefully at the reason why police tested you for drugs.  Unlike alcohol, there is no "odor" associated with drug metabolites in your system.  If the police did not have a constitutionally legitimate basis for requesting a drug test, there is a possibility that the evidence against you may be suppressed.  If so, you may be able to have your criminal case dismissed.

Salt Lake City DUI Defense - Consequences of Conviction

A first-time simple DUI charge is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and nearly two thousand dollars in fines and surcharge.  If an accident, injury, or death was involved or if children were in the vehicle, the penalties go up.  A third DUI (or related offense) can be charged as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.

As a Salt Lake criminal lawyer with extensive experience in DUI and other related crimes, Stephen Howard can help you get the results you need.  Contact us now to schedule a free consultation.