As most people know, DUI and DWI are abbreviations for Driving Under Influence and Driving While Intoxicated. These two acronyms form a deadly combination. The commonality between the two are alcohol and driving. It is well documented that drinking alcohol impairs judgment. Moreover, an individual will go to trial; therefore, getting a knowledgeable, reliable lawyer to represent them is crucial. 

Hence, at Gioffredi & Associates, we want to explain what would happen if the police stopped anyone, what steps need to be followed, and why people need to get trustworthy legal representation.

What Happens when Stopped by the Police?

If the police want to determine if a DWI or DUI offense has been committed, it is necessary to measure how much alcohol was consumed by the suspect driver (Blood Alcohol Concentration or BAC). In the field, a police officer stopping a suspected drunk driver has visual, olfactory (smell), and breath tests to judge a person's impairment from alcohol. For that reason, the officer must make some kind of quantitative determination of the amount of alcohol impairment at the time of the stop. Factors mentioned above do not matter to the officer because all they want to do is create a "snapshot" of the degree of impairment. 

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measures the amount of alcohol in the blood, expressed as a percentage by volume. This can be measured precisely by taking a sample of the driver's blood for analysis. A BAC level of 0.08% (commonly written as .08) or more is considered illegal in the U.S.A. However, the officer on patrol certainly doesn't have a medical lab in the car and must rely on a breath testing device.

What Should I do?

Many people would believe it is impossible to win a DWI case from what was stated above. Yet, at Gioffredi & Associates, we have more than 30 years that tell us otherwise. No matter how hopeless the case can be, there is always a chance to fight and win the case. Therefore, there are four steps we suggest you follow when police are in pursuit: 

1. Pull your vehicle over 

2. Exit your car upon request 

3. Provide proper identification and 

4. Allow them to take your blood if they obtain a warrant.

How do I choose a Lawyer?

Improper representation in court can be very stressful, so one must be careful when picking a lawyer. As stated previously, obtaining a knowledgeable, reliable lawyer for representation is crucial. At Gioffredi & Associates, we always remind people that winning a DWI means getting a not guilty verdict or the case dismissed. Winning for us means that our client walks away with no punishment whatsoever, no probation, and nothing on their record. 

Conclusively, our firm has been successfully defending DWI cases in the Dallas area since 1987. We have a proven track record of going to trial and beating DWI charges. No matter how bad you think your DWI case looks, we’ve seen it before, and we’ll use our three decades of experience to fight for you.