Driving while intoxicated is clearly a danger. Keep in mind that a drunk-driving related accident statistically happens every two minutes in this country, and while one bottle of beer may make little difference in one individual’s driving ability, it may seriously impair another’s. The higher the level of alcohol content in your blood, the more your driving skills are affected. Coordination, lane tracking, comprehension, eye movement, and focus are impaired. Due to these kinds of serious consequences, states like South Dakota have moved to make serious laws against drinking and driving. However, if you were arrest for a DUI or DWI unjustly, contact a South Dakota DUI/DWI attorney right away.

South Dakota Laws

If you are caught with a blood alcohol level of more than .08% in the state of South Dakota , and you are convicted of a DUI or DWI related crime, you will lose your license for a minimum of thirty days. It is possible to lose it for up to one year. Should you refuse to take a breathalyzer or other chemical test to determine your BAC, you will automatically lose your license for one year. The penalties, though, do not stop with the suspension of your license. Expect to spend up to one year in jail, and pay a fine of up to two thousand dollars. Should you be unlucky enough to be convicted more than once in the state of South Dakota , expect jail time and fines to double. If you are convicted a fourth time, the offense becomes a felony, which could result in jail time up to five years and cost you ten thousand dollars.

What to Do

If you are arrested on a DUI charge, you will need to get in touch with a South Dakota DUI/DWI lawyer to help you keep your records clean. South Dakota DUI lawyers know all the loopholes that can be found in these cases, and if a winning lawyer cannot get you acquitted of your DUI charge, he or she may at least be able to lessen the penalties you will be facing. Your DUI lawyer will easily know how to find the angle where he or she can get you out of your DUI predicament as well as exactly how to approach the case to win. Keep in mind, though, you will need to share with him vital information about the arrest and the charge.

Choosing the Right Lawyer

If you are facing DUI or DWI conviction, the first step is to choose the right lawyer. Look for these three things:

• A lawyer you can afford. A great lawyer will do you little good if you cannot pay his bill. Be sure to ask about all of the fees upfront. You need to know what the retainer fee will be, as well as what the other costs involved with the case might run. Finally, you will need to know about available payment plans.
• A lawyer who has extensive experience. Drinking and driving laws are changing on a regular basis, and you need a lawyer with experience in the field.
• A lawyer with a winning record. Find out how many of your potential lawyer’s clients either had their cases dismissed, were acquitted, or walked away with lesser sentences.

A drinking and driving conviction is quite serious, but finding the right South Dakota DUI/DWI lawyer can help.