Treatment of a DC DUI Case
Typically, a DUI case takes several months from start to finish from three to six months. When preparing your defense, it can be critical to understand the treatment of a DC DUI case and how that can impact the potential outcome of your trial. Contact an experienced DUI lawyer can help you prepare for the case being brought against you.
Court Treatment of Driving Under the Influence Case
DUI cases in the District of Columbia are typically heard at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. A group of three magistrate judges handle the majority of these cases. A person charged with a DUI has the option of taking their case from the magistrate and asking for an associate judge to handle their case. The judge could set the tone and overall treatment of a DC DUI case.
What Are Bench DUI Trials?
First-time offenses for DUIs are always bench trials with a judge who makes the decision about the charges. A second DUI charge within 15 years makes a person eligible for a jury trial, but there is an option for a bench trial for a second DUI or beyond.
What is a Pretrial Conference?
A pretrial conference in the District of Columbia is a short conference to talk about various issues that are likely to arise in a trial. Some judges set the pretrial conference for a few days before trial. It begins with the information provided by the government which is called discovery.
The judge determines whether there are any outstanding requests that have not been honored. Those requests are dealt with and the discussion moves on to motions that were filed or are being filed. When the defense has issues related to evidence the government intends to use, those issues are dealt with initially the pretrial conference.
How Does DC Typically Prosecute DUI Cases?
The Office of the Attorney General in the District of Columbia prosecutes DUI cases aggressively and they are tenacious when they seek jail time. It is a serious offense.
In the District of Columbia, a prosecutor must prove that a person was appreciably impaired by drugs, alcohol, a controlled substance, or another substance such as an over the counter medication.
Sentencing For Drunk Driving Cases
The overall treatment of a DC DUI case will depend on whether the alleged crime was the individual’s first offense. If someone’s breath or blood alcohol level is not too high and there is no injury associated with the offense, there is a chance that the person could receive probation as a penalty. For subsequent offenses, however, jail time becomes much more likely.
Common Evidence Presented in Drunk Driving Cases
The evidence presented in a DC DUI case is the testimony of the officer who administered the breath test, and possibly video from the body worn camera of the investigating officer.
Role of a Body Worn Camera in a DUI Case
The most recent trend in the treatment of a DC DUI case is the body worn camera worn by most officers. Body worn cameras can provide a firsthand look at what the officers sees during the stop. It makes cases much easier to litigate for the prosecution. The trend for body-worn cameras is related to legislation introduced several years ago that requires an officer to wear the camera system.
Price Benowitz helped my 17 year old boy get out of a reckless driving and driving without a driver’s license. Andrew Lindsey was patient, understood our situation and was very professional, my son ended up taking some driving classes and paying a small fine. I can not thank him enough 🙏
David Benowitz y su firma son los mejores equipos estratégicos y compasivos con los que trabajará. El Sr. Benowitz y su equipo son diligentes y proactivos, lo que se ve reforzado por el enfoque metódico y estratégico de la ley de David. Mi caso era un caso muy complicado y cargado de emociones que involucraba información clasificada, en el que enfrentaba tres acusaciones, dos de cadena perpetua y una de 20 años. ¡El Sr. Benowitz utilizó una red de abogados junto con su propia estrategia para llevar el caso al éxito! Recomiendo sinceramente a David Benowitz literalmente con mi vida.
I recently had the pleasure of working with Andrew Lindsey from Price Benowitz for legal assistance..my experience with Andew Lindsey and Price Benowitz exceeded my expectations, and I would not hesitate to recommend his services to anyone in need of legal representation. His professionalism, expertise, and commitment to client satisfaction set him apart, and I am grateful for his assistance in navigating the complexities of the legal system.