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An experienced Nebraska DUI Lawyer can make the difference for you

After an arrest for drunk driving in Nebraska, you are probably very concerned about the serious criminal allegations that you must now face. You don't want to be branded a criminal, do time in jail, have a license suspension or a breath test device in your vehicle. You are probably worried about how it will all unfold, and how badly and for how long this will affect you and your family. If you are like most people accused of DUI in Nebraska, you want reliable answers and solid legal advice and guidance. You are probably a little intimidated and maybe overwhelmed by the complexity of Nebraska DUI law and process.

You have every right to be concerned, because you face the life-changing proposition of getting a DUI conviction which can expose you to jail time now, and affect your future for years to come.

Nebraska DUI Law Is Applied Locally

The basic law and rules are the same everywhere in Nebraska, but each county handles cases a little differently, and has its own customs, policies and procedures. For that reason, it is very important that you get good information from an experienced DUI lawyer who regularly practices in the county where you were arrested.

Select the county of your arrest to find local information and help:

Nebraska DUI Laws

Under Nebraska DUI Law, it is against the law to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Essentially, if alcohol or drugs makes your driving less safe, then you are susceptible to arrest.

The legal limit for alcohol intoxication in Nebraska is 0.08 percent alcohol concentration. That means that if you were at or above this level, the state does not have to prove that you were impaired because the law presumes that you were. It does not, however, mean that if you were under 0.08 percent that you are home free.

Nebraska sets different legal limits for minors and adults driving commercial vehicles. For people under 21 years of age, the legal limit is 0.02 percent. For drivers in commercial vehicles, the limit is 0.04 percent.

Nebraska also makes refusal to take a chemical test a separate offense, the stakes of which are longer license suspensions.

A quick look at the Nebraska DUI penalties will tell you that they are severe. The seriousness of the penalty depends on several factors. The most important two factors are: 1) the number of prior DUI convictions, if any, and 2) the alcohol level (0.15 or greater implicates greater penalties).

The punishments prescribed for various DUI offenses come in ranges. For example, a first offense with an alcohol level under 0.15 carries anywhere from 7 to 60 days in jail. Where you fall in that range is determined by many factors. For that reason, it is very important to consult with a DUI lawyer early on in your case so that you know what to expect.

Nebraska DUI License Suspensions and Interlock Devices

In addition to the criminal record and jail time that can come along with any drunk driving charge, an arrest for DUI also exposes you to civil license sanctions. Under Nebraska implied consent law, you are exposed to lengthy license suspensions for refusing to provide a chemical test for alcohol or drugs, and you are also exposed to a suspension for taking and failing a chemical test.

In addition to any license suspension that you might get, a Nebraska impaired driving conviction may also expose you to an ignition interlock device requirement. In some cases, the court may also require you to wear a passive alcohol sensor and require that you refrain from consuming alcohol all together.

Your Nebraska DUI case may not be as bad or hopeless as it seems

There is a common misconception that drunk driving charges always result in convictions, and that they are nearly impossible to beat. The truth is that most Nebraska DUI cases are winnable or open to reduction or mitigation. You don't have to simply role over and accept a criminal record and jail time.

Nebraska DUI chemical testing is susceptible to several known sources of error, and is far from foolproof. If you don't have an attorney who knows what to look for investigating your case and scrutinizing the evidence against you, you may never know if there was something wrong with your test or case that could have cause it to be thrown out or reduced to a lesser offense. Things happen during the course of a case that make investigating and fighting it worthwhile. Evidence may be missing, or a chain of custody broken. Flaws in the chemical testing procedures or equipment might be discovered. Witnesses, including forensic personnel and police officers can be shown to be dishonest, or might become unbelievable or unavailable because of something that happens outside of your case. A good Nebraska defense lawyer will be aware of and on top of all of theses issues, and will make sure that your rights are protected at every step of the criminal court process.

You owe it to yourself to at least talk with an experienced Nebraska DUI defense lawyer to determine whether you have a case, and find out what your options are. In a real sense, you can't afford not to have an attorney at least review the materials to see if there is something wrong. There is too much at stake to ignore this serious case and hope that it will go away by itself. It won't, and the sooner you acknowledge that and get professional help, the better off you will be in the long run.

Get started on the right track by selecting the county of your arrest to get help today: