If you’re a defendant facing driving under the influence (DUI) charges in Louisville, KY, the consequences are serious and can have a lasting impact on your life. However, there may be opportunities to mitigate these penalties. One potential option for reducing the repercussions of a DUI charge is negotiating for a wet reckless plea.
To do this, you’ll need the help of a Louisville criminal defense lawyer. Fortunately, our team is here to help you. If you’re facing DUI charges in Louisville, Kentucky, contact Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers at (502) 371-7000 to schedule a free consultation with a Louisville wet reckless lawyer.
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How Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers Can Help If You’re Arrested For Driving Under The Influence
If you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence in Louisville, KY, the best thing you can do is to reach out to a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Here’s how our firm can help you:
- We will gather all available evidence that could be used against you in the case. This often includes police reports, surveillance or dashcam footage, breathalyzer results, expert witness reports, and witness testimony.
- Based on the evidence, we will build a defense to try to get the charges dismissed before having to go to trial.
- If we can’t get the charges dismissed, we will negotiate with the prosecutor assigned to the case to try to reduce the charges to a wet reckless.
Ultimately, the best chance you have at beating these charges or walking away with the least severe penalties is by working with a lawyer. If you’re facing criminal charges in Louisville, Kentucky, let us help. Contact Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a Louisville criminal defense attorney.
Overview of Wet Reckless in Kentucky
A wet reckless charge is essentially a reckless driving charge that involves alcohol or drugs. It’s a less severe alternative to a DUI and can sometimes be the result of negotiating or pleading down a DUI charge during your case. This option isn’t available in every situation, but when it is, it can lead to reduced penalties compared to a DUI conviction.
You will face lower fines, no license restrictions, and no mandatory jail time. Keep in mind, though, that a wet reckless is still a serious charge. It comes with its own set of consequences and will show up on your driving record.
What Are the Penalties For Wet Reckless in Louisville, Kentucky?
If you plead guilty to a wet reckless offense, you’ll typically face a fine between $20 and $100 as well as four points on your driving record. Beyond these standard consequences, you could also be required to complete alcohol or drug treatment programs, attend educational classes, or perform community service.
If you accumulate 12 points on your record within two years, your driving privileges could be suspended. Taking a wet reckless deal is almost always the best option, but it still comes with repercussions. Make sure you discuss the long-term consequences of this type of conviction with your lawyer.
What Defenses Can Be Raised If I’m Arrested For Driving Under the Influence?
If you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence, there are several defenses that could help your case. Every situation is unique, and the right defense depends on the specific details of your arrest. Below are some common strategies that could be used to challenge a DUI charge:
- Challenging the Legality of the Traffic Stop: Law enforcement must have a valid reason to pull you over. If the stop wasn’t legal – if there wasn’t reasonable suspicion that you committed a traffic violation and there was no other legitimate reason to stop you, any evidence gathered afterward could be suppressed. This will undermine the prosecutor’s case and likely lead to a dismissal of charges.
- Questioning the Accuracy of Field Sobriety Tests: Field sobriety tests can be unreliable and often depend on the officer’s subjective observations. Environmental factors, medical conditions, or even nervousness can impact how well someone performs on these tests. If the results of these tests were inaccurate, your lawyer can use that to weaken the prosecution’s case.
- Pleading Down to a Wet Reckless: As discussed above, one possible defense option is negotiating with the prosecution to have your charge reduced to a wet reckless. This carries lighter penalties than a DUI, such as reduced fines and no mandatory jail time in most cases. This approach involves your attorney working to show why a reduced charge is justified based on the circumstances.
- Attacking the Results of Chemical Tests: Breath, blood, or urine test results must be accurate, and proper procedures must be followed. If there were issues like calibration errors, improper handling of samples, or delays in testing, the results could be called into question. This can be used to argue your innocence.
Facing DUI charges is a scary experience, but don’t assume that all hope is lost. Contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Our Louisville Wet Reckless Lawyer
Facing driving under the influence charges in Louisville, KY, is an overwhelming experience, as it carries serious penalties and long-term consequences. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the situation. One of the best ways to do this is to work with a criminal defense firm to try to get your charges reduced to a wet reckless.
Our team has decades of experience handling DUI and wet reckless charges and will do everything possible to get you the best possible outcome. Contact Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a Louisville wet reckless lawyer.