Paul Horton: Utah DUI Lawyer

Utah residents may not be aware of statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that Halloween is a dangerous holiday for motorists. The numbers indicate that more people die in DUI-related crashes on this holiday than die in the same type of crashes on New Year’s Eve. If Halloween is on a Friday or Saturday, those numbers rise by as much as 40 percent.

33 people arrested for DUI on Halloween

These statistics may be what prompted the Utah Highway Patrol to assign an additional 160 troopers on the roads on Halloween. Their primary focus was to be on the lookout for drivers they suspected were impaired. The UHP says this was done in order to ensure that partygoers and families get home safely. If you ever get arrested or charged with a DUI, you need to talk to a DUI Lawyer about your case.

This effort led to 33 people being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Salt Lake County alone. All of these people greeted the next day facing the possibility of criminal penalties such as fines, the suspension of his or her driver’s license or even jail time. A drunk driving charge and possible conviction can have adverse effects on every aspect of an individual’s life.

Each accused individual will likely want to gain an understanding of his or her rights and responsibilities in connection with the DUI charge. Fortunately, the presumption of innocence means that no one can be convicted without due process of law. Utah prosecutors are required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is actually guilty of the crime of which he or she has been charged. This gives an individual the opportunity to challenge the evidence prosecutors intend to present at trial and/or to explore other options to resolve the charges.

Former Utah mayor charged with DUI

The former mayor of a Utah town who resigned in February after being arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving that month was formally charged with DUI on March 5. The case is an example of how a DUI arrest can impact a person’s career even before the charges are adjudicated.

The defendant was arrested after being in a minor car accident in Helper, where he was elected mayor in 2010. Police administered a breath test that allegedly measured the defendant’s blood-alcohol level at 0.169. If that test is accurate, it would be more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

It was the second time the defendant was arrested during his term as mayor. He was arrested in November 2011 on suspicion of DUI and pleaded guilty in May to misdemeanor impaired driving and having an open container in his vehicle. He was sentenced to one year of probation. He also reportedly pleaded guilty to DUI in 1991.

The former mayor was charged on March 5 with DUI and being an alcohol-restricted driver. Both charges are class B misdemeanors, which in Utah carry base sentences of up to six months in jail and fines of up to $1,000 apiece.

Those possible punishments alone would be enough for most people charged with DUI to hire a defense attorney. Another thing to consider is that DUI charges can stain their reputation, even though only in most cases only the government has had the chance to give its side of the story. An experienced DUI defense attorney can examine the prosecution’s case and spot possible holes in their story or illegal procedures that can change the complexion of the case.