CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Choosing an attorney to defend you when you’ve been charged with DUI is one of the most important decisions you can make. You’ll get no better defense for an alcohol or drug-related driving offense than from the experts at Schatz Anderson & Associates.
The attorneys at Schatz Anderson & Associates, Utah’s premier DUI defense firm, are committed to helping citizens retain their driver’s licenses, stay out of jail and keep criminal convictions off their records. As such, founding partner Jason Schatz is often asked by clients if they’ll be required to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle after being convicted of DUI.
A DUI conviction can result in two potential restrictions on driving privileges. With an interlock-restricted license, drivers aren’t allowed to operate a vehicle unless it’s equipped with a breath-testing device called an ignition interlock. This device prevents the driver from starting the car if it detects any amount of alcohol. The driver is responsible for all costs associated with the device, which are typically between $150-$250 to install and $75-$100 per month to keep connected.
The other restriction is an alcohol-restricted license, which prohibits an individual from driving after consuming any amount of alcohol, no matter how minimal. While Utah’s legal limit is 0.05% for the general public, the limit for a driver with an alcohol-restricted license is 0.00%. The restriction applies not only to cars, but also boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs and all other types of motorized vehicles.
DUI restrictions are statutory, meaning that they can be imposed following either a criminal conviction or an administrative action such as suspension of a driver’s license. The length of these restrictions will vary significantly based on the driver’s history of alcohol and drug-related driving offenses, Schatz said. Drivers may be required to keep an ignition interlock device anywhere from 18 months to five years, while the duration of an alcohol-restricted license starts at two years.
The penalties for drivers who violate any of these restrictions are severe and may include jail time, fines, loss of driving privileges for at least a year and an additional restriction period.
DUI charges carry serious legal ramifications, and the attorneys at Schatz Anderson & Associates understand the importance of every case.
“In order to avoid these restrictions, you need to prevail at the administrative hearing and avoid a conviction in court,” Schatz said. “A skilled DUI defense attorney may be able to defend your DUI or license restriction case and avoid the suspension of your license as well as the alcohol and interlock restrictions.”
Choosing an attorney to represent your case is one of the most important decisions you can make when facing a potential conviction. Serving communities across Utah since 2003, the criminal defense experts at Schatz Anderson & Associates are committed to helping clients fight for their rights and stay out of jail.
“An arrest is not a conviction,” Schatz said. “Don’t let it become one.”
With fully staffed offices in both Salt Lake City and St. George, Schatz Anderson & Associates have represented more than 5,000 DUI cases statewide. Although DUI defense accounts for roughly 75% of the firm’s caseload, they represent many types of criminal cases, from misdemeanors such as drug possession and domestic violence to felonies including aggravated assault, auto theft, drug distribution and robbery.
To schedule a free consultation, call 435-251-9647 or visit their website.
Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.
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