How to Get DUI Charges Reduced in CT

Connecticut prosecutors are serious about DUI charges, and they prosecute these crimes aggressively. If you are convicted, even for a first-time DUI, you face up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, suspension of your driver’s license, and mandatory installation of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on your vehicle.

But there is hope. Experienced Connecticut DUI defense attorney Stephen Lebedevitch can challenge the state’s evidence, negotiate a favorable plea bargain, and even have the DUI charges dropped.

Contact The Lebedevitch Law Firm for Aggressive Defense for DUI Charges in Connecticut

The best way to have Connecticut DUI charges reduced is by aggressively fighting them. There are four general areas in which a Connecticut DUI defense lawyer can fight a DUI charge.

Did Police Violate Your Constitutional Rights?

Remember that a DUI is a criminal charge. As a criminal defendant, you have certain Constitutional rights. These include the right to an attorney, the right to remain silent, the right to confront your accuser, and the right to a jury trial. Police must respect these rights. If they do not follow the proper procedures during the initial traffic stop, when placing you under arrest, and when you are in police custody, you may have remedies available. If the police violated your rights, Attorney Lebedevitch can file a motion to suppress to have illegally obtained evidence excluded from consideration at trial.

Challenging the Field Sobriety Tests

Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs) are an important piece of evidence in a DUI case. Police use these tests to assess whether you are under the influence of alcohol. They are trained to look for certain “clues,” such as lack of focus, poor coordination, and difficulty completing the tasks. These “clues” allegedly indicate whether you are under the influence of alcohol.

A common misconception is that a driver passes or fails the FSTs. In reality, the officer evaluates the driver’s performance of the tasks and, at trial, will testify that the driver “did not perform the tasks as demonstrated and instructed.” By challenging the validity of the tests and the manner in which they were conducted, Attorney Lebedevitch can seek to have your performance on the FSTs excluded from trial or minimize their importance in the eyes of the jury.

Was There Probable Cause?

Before asking you to perform FSTs, police must have probable cause to believe you committed a crime. At trial, police often identify an “odor of alcohol,” red or watery eyes, erratic driving, or slurred speech as the reason they suspected you were under the influence. But if the officer cannot identify a specific reason to believe you were under the influence, there is no reason to ask you to perform the FSTs, and your lawyer can seek to have your performance on the FSTs thrown out.

Accuracy of the Chemical Alcohol Test

If the police suspect you are under the influence of alcohol, they likely asked you to submit to a chemical alcohol test to determine whether your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) was above the legal limit. If you were charged with a DUI and police administered a chemical alcohol test, Attorney Lebedevith can challenge the admissibility of the test results. If he can successfully have the test results excluded from evidence, it will be difficult for the prosecutor to secure a conviction, which can lead to a favorable disposition of your case.

Exclusion of Evidence Leads to Favorable Results

A successful DUI defense will address multiple factors, including whether the traffic stop was constitutional, how the police officer administered the FSTs, and a careful assessment of the chemical alcohol tests and how they were conducted. By carefully and thoroughly reviewing the evidence, Attorney Lebedevitch can work to have some or all of the evidence excluded from trial. Without the crucial pieces of evidence, the prosecution will be more likely to agree to a reduction in the charges, a plea to reduced penalties, or outright dismissal of your case.

To secure a conviction, the prosecutor must prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Attorney Lebedevitch will identify weaknesses in their case and hold them to this standard. He will critically evaluate the evidence against you and seek to have it excluded. While he will try to negotiate a favorable resolution, he will also prepare to take your case to trial if necessary.

Contact The Lebedevitch law Firm to Learn About Having DUI Charges Dropped

If you are facing Connecticut DUI charges, The Lebedevitch Law Firm can help. Attorney Lebedevitch has the knowledge and experience necessary to mount a vigorous defense against Connecticut DUI charges and has earned a reputation as a fierce defender of his client’s rights.

To learn more about our DUI defense service and how we can help, contact The Lebedevitch Law Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your situation.

The Lebedevitch Law Firm is based in Fairfield and proudly represents people who have been charged with DUI in Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Darien, Rowayton, Fairfield, Trumbull, Westport, Wilton, Weston, Danbury, New Haven, Bethany, Woodbridge, Milford, Stratford, Bridgeport, and throughout the State of Connecticut.