DUI Attorney In Salem, Oregon

A DUI conviction can have a serious impact on many areas of your life moving forward. There may be fines, fees and a license suspension. It can also impact your employment and even your relationships. Your insurance premiums could go up. You could lose your job – if you have a commercial driver’s license, for instance, or a medical license, which could be suspended after a conviction.

For all of these reasons and more, it’s important to work with an experienced DUI attorney like me, Daniel J. Lounsbury. At Daniel J. Lounsbury Attorney at Law, I have provided high-level criminal defense services for more than 30 years. I come from a family line of lawyers, so I understand the ins and outs of the law – and what it takes to successfully defend my DUI clients in Salem. If you need a lawyer you can trust for a drunk driving case who is well-known as a great negotiator, call me today.

What Are Potential Penalties?

If you’re looking for a DUI attorney, you may be worried about the potential penalties after a conviction. These vary depending on the offense. For instance:

• A first offense could lead to a 90-day license suspension, over $700 in fees and the use of an ignition interact device for up to three years.
• A second offense could lead to over $1,000 in fines, a year with an ignition interlock device, 48 hours of mandatory jail time, possible probation, and a one-year license suspension.
• A third offense becomes a felony charge rather than a misdemeanor. This could lead to five years in jail, with 90 days of mandatory time, the permanent loss of your driver’s license, over $125,000 in fines and no eligibility for a hardship permit.

It is worth noting that Oregon has a diversion program for first-time offenders. This may help them avoid some of the more serious ramifications if they have never been in trouble with the law before.

Frequently Asked DUI Questions

If you are facing DUI charges or allegations, it’s natural that you may have a lot of questions about your rights and your defense options. Our firm is here to provide answers, starting with some of the questions we see most often:

What should you do after being charged with a DUI?

One of the most important steps you can take is simply to contact an experienced DUI attorney. This may be your first time going through the legal system, so it can feel overwhelming to determine how to respond to court documents, when to attend hearings, how to set up your defense strategy and how to consider things like plea deals, negotiations or going to trial. But our team has been through all of this many times and can offer the guidance, support and legal insights that you need at this time.

Can a DUI affect employment opportunities?

Yes. In some cases, a DUI may make it impossible for you to work, such as if you are a commercial driver. In other cases, a driver’s license suspension or time behind bars can make it difficult or impossible to attend work, which could cause you to lose your job. Furthermore, if you have a criminal conviction on your permanent record, employers will see it during a background check, which can affect employment opportunities in the future.

Are you eligible for Oregon’s DUI diversion program?

Some offenders can use the DUI diversion program, which focuses on putting people into a supervised and structured treatment and rehabilitation program. Completion of this program can lead to the charges being dropped. This is typically only available for first-time offenders who have committed a nonviolent offense.

What are some DUI defense strategies in Oregon?

Our team will help you carefully consider all of the potential DUI strategies you can use, depending on the unique details of your situation. For instance, you may want to challenge the breath test results if the tests were not calibrated, maintained or administered properly.

If you failed a field sobriety test, they are notoriously unreliable, so those results can also be challenged. A further strategy could be alleging that the police violated your rights, such as conducting an illegal traffic stop, which may invalidate the evidence that they gathered during that stop. Every situation is unique, and we can help you determine how to move forward.

Your DUI Defense Options

As you can see, a DUI conviction is very serious, and it pays to know about the legal options you have, such as potentially using the diversion program. To set up a consultation with an experienced DUI defense attorney, just contact the office online or call 503-967-3119 today. We provide a no-cost phone consultation.