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How does the state work to prove DWI charges?

On Behalf of | Oct 11, 2024 | Criminal Law

Many people arrested for alleged driving while intoxicated DWI offenses are surprised when an officer takes them into custody. Even if they had one or two drinks, they probably thought they were safe to drive. Especially in scenarios where people did not cause crashes or injury to others, they may be eager to try to prove their innocence.

However, they may fear that their chances of prevailing in criminal court are limited. After all, prosecutors typically don’t bring charges unless they feel confident about their ability to convince the courts that the defendant broke the law. Those hoping to fight pending DWI charges need to understand how the state develops its case if they hope to successfully defend against the allegations they’re facing.

What helps a prosecutor prove that a motorist was under the influence at the wheel?

Dashboard camera footage

Police officers sometimes follow drivers who seem to have impaired ability for quite some time before they decide to conduct a traffic stop. Their dashboard cameras may capture footage of a driver applying their brakes for seemingly no reason or swerving over the center line in the road. That footage can help establish questions about a driver’s ability to safely control a vehicle. However, it is worth noting that many behaviors that seem unusual to a vehicle following a driver may have a perfectly reasonable explanation.

Personal statements

Drivers often unintentionally implicate themselves by oversharing information during a traffic stop. They admit to an officer without any provocation that they had a few drinks or otherwise make statements that give an officer reason to suspect them of impairment.

Field sobriety test results

Once a police officer has a strong suspicion of chemical intoxication, they may ask a driver to exit their vehicle. At that point, they guide them through a series of standardized field sobriety tests. Video footage and officer testimony about a driver’s performance on those tests can be an important part of the state’s case.

Chemical test results

Police officers who have probable cause to believe a DWI offense occurred can ask a driver to perform a chemical test. The results of that test are often among the most important evidence used by the state when developing DWI cases.

Learning about how prosecutors develop DWI charges can help defendants plan effective defense strategies. It is possible for those accused of impairment at the wheel to avoid convictions in many cases.