Those accused of breaking the law in Minnesota have certain rights. One of the most important rules that is guaranteed to better ensure fairness in criminal court is the presumption of innocence. Until someone pleads guilty or the courts convict them, there is an assumption that they did not actually commit the offense when they face charges. Unfortunately, many people forget about that protection when they get arrested for drunk driving.
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges in Minnesota often lead to convictions specifically because affected motorists choose to plead guilty. The reasoning behind a guilty plea is often that people feel they cannot defend against DWI charges, but the reality is that mounting a successful defense is possible for many people accused of impaired driving in Minnesota.
There are many viable defense strategies
No two criminal cases are the same, and therefore there is no one defense strategy that works for everyone accused of a certain type of offense. However, there are certain strategies that are more common than others for those facing DWI charges.
Some lawyers can help raise questions about whether a traffic stop was actually legal or not. If police officers violated the law or someone’s civil rights when pulling them over or conducting searches, then the courts may need to set aside certain evidence or possibly dismiss the charges that someone faces. Other times, when the evidence is admissible in criminal court, lawyers might raise questions about how accurate the evidence is. Issues with breathalyzer tests or non-standard field sobriety tests could play a major role in someone’s defense strategy.
Small mistakes on the part of law enforcement can sometimes provide the ground that someone needs to avoid a criminal conviction. Gaps in records or mistakes in breath test maintenance could pave the way for questions about the accuracy of test results.
Instead of automatically pleading guilty when accused of a DWI offense, many people might benefit from reviewing the situation carefully with the assistance of an attorney. Recognizing that a defense is possible could help someone who maintains their innocence to avoid a criminal conviction that could otherwise haunt them for life.