Whether you are pleading innocent or not, there is always the chance for jail time should a judge find you guilty in the eyes of the court. With jail time could come the loss of employment and then with that, the loss of your vehicle or even if your house if someone is not able to pay for those things while you are serving time. Then you have the matter of not being physically present for your family, which can take a toll on everyone. To try to avoid such things from happening, you will want to try to steer clear of jail. Your DUI attorney might be able to help you with this. Here are some of the ways it can be done:

Present Evidence Proving The Test Results Need To Be Thrown Out

If the breathalyzer machine that was used to determine your level of intoxication has not been properly calibrated on time and your attorney has access to that information, your entire case could end up being thrown out. This is because those machines need to be perfectly accurate in order to get any criminal charges to stick. If the calibrations were not done on time, there is a chance that the reading was off.

They Can Ask For Alternative Punishments

Should you decide that you are going to plead guilty, or if the judge determines you are guilty, your attorney can seek out a different punishment for you rather than just having you go to jail. Your attorney can explain why a different punishment, such as community service or paying fines, would be much more suitable. If this is not your first offense, a deal of entering into a rehabilitation program can help keep you out of jail. The idea is to have you do something that will better your life, not harm it, and give back to the community at the same time. If there is an issue with alcohol dependency, you are giving back to yourself and others by getting the help you need.

It is important to make sure that you consult with a DUI attorney as soon as possible. The longer you wait to retain an attorney, the less time he or she will have to work on your case. That could result in you not having the best possible defense when it comes time for you to go before the judge.