The money generated by DUI convictions is a major source of revenue for many states in the union. Because of this, state highway patrols and the general police force focus a great deal of their time and energy on finding and prosecuting DUI offenders. If you are the kind of person who takes these risks, and you live in the state of Texas, it is important that you know that even one drink can find you on the wrong end of a DUI charge. Houston criminal lawyers know this and they also work very hard to make sure that you have proper and appropriate representation in the court room.
Unfortunately it is very true that with even just a small amount of alcohol in your system you can be cited for Driving Under the Influence in the state of Texas. Even one occurrence of this can result in jail time and court fees. If you aren’t aware of how alcohol metabolizes, then you should know that is generally understood that the human body can metabolize one serving of alcohol per hour. Indeed, this is not very much, especially when you consider that this is approximately one beer (which is equal to approximately one shot of 100-proof liquor). Houston criminal lawyers also understand this ratio and they can help you better understand how breathalyzers and sobriety tests attempt to discern your level of consumption.
Indeed, one drink may not seem like much, as most people aren’t likely to feel much of the effect; and if they do, it does not last for very long. Still, the law is the law and in most states (including Texas) one drink of alcohol could put you over the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle. However, just because you are charged with a DUI, does not meant that you will be convicted of one, especially if you hire Houston criminal lawyers who are experienced with this kind of thing.
For example, if you only had one or two drinks in a matter of a few hours and then decided to drive, you may be near the legal limit but not over it. Still, a police officer can arrest for suspicion. Similarly, other things can affect the way you metabolize and experience the effects of alcohol. If you are taking prescription drugs, have not eaten much in the past several hours, or are fatigued from a long day, alcohol can have a very different effect on you. Experienced Houston criminal lawyers also understand all of these factors and can help to put some perspective on your options in regards to them.
The eventual goal when hiring Houston criminal lawyers, though, is to minimize the potential penalties you may have to pay. Even if the judge agrees that only a small amount of alcohol was found in your system and that, perhaps, you were tired you could still be found guilty of driving unsafely. However, under the right circumstances, a good lawyer can argue in your defense and have your sentence reduced or altered.