If you’re in Oklahoma and have been charged with a DUI, whether it’s your first defense or not, you should immediately call a DUI attorney in Oklahoma City. There is a possibility of getting a reduced sentence on a first offense, but it’s not a given, and you’re always more likely to have a good result when you have a lawyer helping you make your case.
Can a DUI Attorney in Oklahoma City Get a Charge Reduced or Dismissed if It’s Your First Offense?
The short answer here is, yes, a DUI charge in Oklahoma can potentially be reduced or dismissed, even for a first offense, but it’s not guaranteed. Whether you have a lawyer, the precise circumstances of your arrest, your blood alcohol level at the time, your behavior during your interaction with the police, and other factors (like whether there were any children in the vehicle) could all affect whether you can get your charge reduced or dismissed.
Be aware that Oklahoma has strict DUI laws, so it’s a smart idea to get a lawyer as quickly as possible and explore your options. Several factors could lead to a reduction or dismissal of the charge. Here’s how it might happen:
Options for Reducing or Dismissing a DUI Charge
Plea Bargain
Plea bargains happen when a prosecutor offers you a deal for a reduced charge, or sometimes even no charge at all, in exchange for something else. Most commonly, you would have a lesser charge rather than no charge.
If the evidence against you is weak, you have a clean prior record, or your blood alcohol content was borderline and only right around the limit, your chances are better of getting this reduced charge. The exchange is that you have to plead guilty to the lesser charge.
Dismissal Due to Errors
If the police made errors during your arrest, your lawyer may be able to get the case dismissed completely. If it was, for example, an improper traffic stop where they had no probable cause to pull you over or if there are questions about whether the breathalyzer was properly calibrated or your rights were violated at some point, you have a better shot. This depends a lot on the skill of your lawyer in challenging the evidence.
Diversion Programs
Oklahoma does have some programs in place that allow first time offenders to get their charges dismissed. Even if you are a first-time offender, you still may not qualify for this program, so talk to your lawyer. Learn more here about how to connect with an experienced Oklahoma City attorney. These programs often require you to complete community service and alcohol education classes.
Proving Lack of Impairment
This, of course, is the best defense of all. If you can show that you were not impaired, even if it may have seemed so to the police or even if the breathalyzer test blew positive, you could get the charges reduced or dropped entirely.
Whatever your circumstances, contact a lawyer quickly for the best defense possible.
