Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances is certainly a punishable offense. However, what if you were drunk and a police officer or any other law enforcement officer knowingly directed you to drive or move a vehicle solely to charge you with a DUI? Undoubtedly, such manipulation is DUI entrapment. Simply put, DUI entrapment occurs when a law enforcement officer compels an individual into committing a DUI offense which they would otherwise not have committed. Officials abuse their authority by acting this way to meet the monthly DUI quotas or sometimes for egoistic reasons.
How to Tackle DUI Entrapment
An entrapment defense not only helps bring justice to the defendant but also serves to clear out unworthy officials from law enforcement departments.
However, when it comes to using the entrapment defense against a DUI charge, it’s extremely difficult to prove the entrapment due to a lack of evidence. After all, the official who committed the entrapment has more experience and knowledge than the ordinary individual who was charged. The official would make sure no indication of compulsion is left behind.
Yet, it doesn’t mean that you can’t deal with entrapments at all. There have been cases in which a DUI charge was overturned due to the officer’s negligence. As a defendant, you need to present evidence that a law enforcement agent induced the commission of the DUI. In addition, even if the trial court is not convinced of the merit of the defense, you’ll need to show that you were not predisposed to commit the DUI offense.
More importantly, before appearing in court, think over how the prosecutor could respond and show that you independently intended to commit the crime prior to the official’s intervention and that your acts were not influenced by the official’s commands or actions.
If you think you were compelled, enticed, or forced to drive while impaired by a government or law enforcement officer, you should definitely seek legal help. Since DUI cases are usually complex and using the entrapment defense is even more challenging, an experienced attorney who’s been handling DUI cases can help you.
All you need to do is get in touch and present all the evidence you possess. The lawyer will analyze the evidence and determine the most effective strategies that can be used in court. You may even seek help in gathering the relevant information and testimonies. You may have to point out faulty breathalyzers and inaccurate field sobriety test results in court. A good lawyer will thoroughly examine the data on the ticket as police officers often leave out important data on tickets.
Even if you can’t prove your point in court, the lawyer can help you with your right to appeal and ultimately get away with minimum possible penalties.
With a successful entrapment defense, you’ll be dismissed of all charges!
