Reader’s Question:

Aside from DWI, my brother was also charged with other crime when he was arrested here in Vineland, New Jersey. How can I convince him to hire a DWI lawyer to help him on his defense? Also, can a lawyer get one of the two charges in DWI dropped?

Helena

Vineland, NJ

If your brother is being charged with other crimes such as a hit and run or resisting arrest in addition to his DWI charge in Vineland, New Jersey, he definitely has to hire a lawyer. You can convince him in doing so if you explain to him that the additional charges complicate things and increase the maximum and minimum possible penalty and a lawyer is better equipped to negotiate deals in these cases including potential dismissals of certain charges.

But do not be fooled by DWI lawyer who are claiming that they could get one of the two charges in a DWI dropped. All DWI, assuming there was a breath or blood sample given that tested at or above 0.08%, consists of two kinds of charges. The first one is that the DWI suspect was “under the influence” and the other one is that the blood alcohol content was at or above a 0.08%. A person could not be sentenced for both charges by law so getting one of them dismissed is no great feat.

Tags: blood test, breath test, DWI, DWI lawyer