Two Decades of DUI Experience
With over 20 years of legal experience under his belt, William Housley is entirely devoted to helping you fight your DUI charge. Mr. Housley is equipped with the tools, experience and wealth of legal knowledge necessary to defend your case. A Mississippi DUI conviction can impact many aspects of your life and possibly derail your career. This is why it is so critical that you speak secure a skilled legal representative to scrutinize your charges and find vulnerabilities in the prosecution's case against you. When you are charged with driving under the influence, it is common to feel fear, confusion, worry, shame and immense frustration with the system. These charges are very complicated and cannot be handled by someone who is not well acquainted with the complex DUI law of Mississippi. Once you've retained your experienced Mississippi DUI lawyer, you are one step closer to peace of mind and putting these disruptive charges behind you.
Time Sensitive Drunk Driving Cases
If there is one thing to remember about DUI cases in Mississippi and across the United States, it is the time sensitive nature of these charges. The earlier you speak with an attorney, the more they may be able to help and defend you. The evidence used to defend a DUI suspect may become less compelling over time. The longer you wait to retain an attorney after the date of the incident, the more you put aspects of your defense at risk. The more time you spend without a legal representative to advise you, the greater the chance you may say or do something that could become a detriment to your case. Even the smallest mistakes or slip ups can cost you gravely. If you face these charges on your own, you are more vulnerable before the prosecution and may not be utilizing a number of proven strategies to defend your case.
Anyone arrested for driving under the influence must know that no case is hopeless. An arrest is not a conviction; it does not mean you are guilty. Even if there is breathalyzer or blood test against showing a blood alcohol content of .08, the charges can still be defended or refuted. As a DUI suspect, you are innocent until proven guilty by the prosecution, and there are a number of measures in place to ensure your rights are protected.
License Suspension with DUI Charges
If you refuse to submit to chemical testing (blood and breath tests), your license will be automatically suspended. If you consent and blow a .08 or above, or a .02 or above if under 21, then your license will be likewise suspended. The suspension period is 90 days for first time offenders and 1 years for those with a past DUI conviction. You have just 10 days to appeal this suspension, and will want a lawyer present at this appeal. Even if you win the appeal, your license will still be suspended if the state convicts you for DUI. The appeal, if won, will save your license before you go to trial for the DUI charge. If you are ultimately not convicted, you will get to keep your license. If you are convicted twice within the same 5 year period, your license will be suspended for 2 years.
The complexity of these legal proceedings can frustrate anyone, especially someone who is likely already frazzled after a DUI charge. The best thing you can do is to hire a dedicated DUI attorney to take on your case and tirelessly fight to achieve the best resolution possible for you. With countless strategies to probe vulnerabilities in the prosecution's case, you need not be resigned to a conviction or an otherwise poor result in your case. With representation informed by two decades of experience, your DUI case is in good hands with William Housley.
Mississippi DUI Process
Every DUI arrest begins with probable cause. The officer must have a legitimate reason to stop your vehicle, such as erratic driving, burnt headlights or speeding. On a more general note, all citizens are advised to make sure their headlights are good working condition, as this is one less reason for law enforcement to be able to stop your vehicle. You can discuss the circumstances of your DUI stop with your attorney, who will be able to gauge the legality of the stop and raise any questions about the officer's reasoning. Mr. Housley will speak with you personally to discuss possible defenses based on the information he is provided.
As mentioned, you may be subject to an administrative license suspension. Mr. Housley will be there with you every step of the way, from the first hearing to appeal to your license suspension, to the moment the judge or jury hand down a decision in your case. It is critical to know, even if you are not found guilty of DUI, if you did not appeal your license suspension within 10 days of it being issued, the license suspension will proceed regardless of any positive outcome in your trial.
Blood/Breath Test Refusals
If you refused to consent to blood or breath testing, you will need to speak to your attorney. Although this may be a credit to your case because there is no concrete chemical evidence against you, your license will be firmly suspended because of your refusal to comply with the doctrine of implied consent. Speaking with Mr. Housley can help resolve any confusion you may have over the consequences of refusal and the current circumstances of your case.
DUI Plea Bargains and Trials
It may seem like the smoothest course of action - to simply put your head down and take whatever punishment the court doles out. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in a DUI case. The charges can be successfully challenged and you will not have to live with the ramifications of a DUI conviction for years to come. Fight your charges head on now, and thank yourself later.