DUI Attorneys in Coeur d’Alene
If you were stopped by police for driving while under the influence or driving while intoxicated, your ability to legally drive a motor vehicle could be in serious jeopardy. Your freedom, family access and future could be at risk.
Whether the charge against you is drunk driving, breath test refusal or felony DUI, you should do everything you can to protect your rights and driving privileges. Contact an experienced DUI attorney.
At Amendola Doty & Brumley, PLLC, in Coeur d’Alene, our skilled DUI attorneys’ more than 80 combined years of service have taught us this: experience is the best defense. This truism applies to DUI cases, serious felony cases and our criminal defense work in general.
Experienced DUI Defense on Your Side
Craig W. Zanetti leads our DUI defense law practice with experience defending thousands of driving under the influence cases and attending and presenting at criminal defense seminars. Former Kootenai County Prosecutor Julie L. Doty and Coeur d’Alene City Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer K. Brumley assist in safeguarding your interests in DUI cases. Our DUI defense attorneys anticipate prosecution strategies to stay one step ahead of those who would convict you.
That is what our North Idaho law firm is: A team devoted to protecting you, not just a partnership of DUI lawyers.
Contact a DUI lawyer today from wherever you are in counties such as Kootenai, Bonner, Benewah, Boundary, Shoshone and Latah in North Idaho, or in the Spokane area in eastern Washington. Call 208-449-1179 now.
Protect Your Rights, And Your License
Aggressive legal services provided by our DUI defense practice include:
- Investigation of the probable cause that led to your arrest
- Examination of every aspect of your arrest, including your recorded blood alcohol content
- Questioning of the validity of field sobriety, breath or blood tests
- Highlighting factors such as weather conditions, road conditions or pre-existing medical condition as a probable cause of what led to the arrest
- Protecting the rights and livelihoods of CDL (commercial driver’s license) holders
In the event of a conviction, we recommend alternative punishments that do not harm your driving record. Our main goal is to put you back on the road, to whatever degree that we can, so you can continue getting to your job and providing for your family.
Common Questions About DUIs
Below are some of the most common questions that we receive about DUIs at our firm. If you have additional questions, give our law office a call at 208-449-1179 to schedule a consultation to discuss them.
- Why do I need an attorney for a DUI? Isn’t it a traffic ticket?
- How long does a DUI stay on my record?
- Is there a more severe DUI charge?
- If the police pull me over, do I have to take a breath test?
- Can the police charge me with a DUI if my blood alcohol content (BAC) is below the legal limit?
- What happens to my license after a DUI conviction?
- Will hiring an attorney actually help me?
Why do I need an lawyer for a DUI? Isn’t it a traffic ticket?
First, a DUI is much more severe than a traffic violation. Even a first-time DUI is a misdemeanor offense that can mean up to six months in jail, $1000 in fines and the loss of your license for up to half a year. You cannot afford to try to defend yourself when even a first-time offense can have significant criminal penalties as well as serious reputational harm. A drunk driving lawyer can help reduce or eliminate the charges you are facing to mitigate the potential penalties you may be facing and get you back to your normal life.
How long does a DUI stay on my record?
A DUI, like any other conviction, will stay on your permanent record. However, they can be eliminated from consideration for future DUIs. Repeat offenses are considered those that happen within 10 years of the original offense, so if you have two DUIs 15 years apart, you will face misdemeanors for both with first-time offense penalties. However, if you have three DUIs within three years, then you will face two misdemeanors and one felony charge, with increasing penalties for the second and third offenses and ignition interlock devices.
Is there a more severe DUI charge?
Yes, in addition to a standard DUI, you can also face more severe penalties even for your first offense if your blood alcohol content is higher than 0.20%. This includes the mandatory loss of your license for a year, at least 10 days in jail, up to a year and up to $2,000 in fines. A repeated offense within five years of this severity can lead to a license suspension for five years and jail for 30 days up to five years. Lastly, any DUI that results in a serious injury to another person is an aggravated DUI, which would entail enhanced penalties as well.
If the police pull me over, do I have to take a breath test?
While it is true that the police cannot force you to take a breath test, refusing to take a breath test is a violation of Idaho’s implied consent laws. Under the implied consent law, courts view a refusal to take a breath test as an admission of guilt.
Can the police charge me with a DUI if my blood alcohol content (BAC) is below the legal limit?
If you are visibly drunk or impaired or if you fail other sobriety tests like walking in a straight line, the police can charge you regardless of whether you blow a 0.08% on a breath test.
What happens to my license after a DUI conviction?
If this is your first DUI, Idaho law requires a license suspension of between 90 and 180 days. This is roughly three to six months. If you already have a DUI on your record, license suspensions can last up to five years.
Will hiring a DUI attorney actually help me?
Right now, you may feel like a conviction is inevitable, but our DUI attorneys will protect your rights by reviewing all the evidence and creating the strongest possible defense strategy. Even breath tests can be wrong, and our DUI lawyers are well-versed in the science and procedures that the police must follow.
Contact Us Today About Your DUI Charge
If you are a first-time or repeat offender who has been arrested for DUI in CDA or anywhere in North Idaho, come to the law firm whose decades of experience can be your best defense. Come to Amendola Doty & Brumley, PLLC. You can reach our Coeur d’Alene DUI attorneys, day or night, if you have been arrested. We can meet with you at a police station or jail cell, if necessary, to conduct your initial consultation. Call us now at 208-449-1179.