Bay St Louis DUI Lawyer

Bay St Louis DUI Attorney

Facing DUI charges in Hancock County can be a frightening and uncertain experience. Most individuals do not know or understand the legal process that awaits them or the penalties that could arise from a successful conviction. At Miller Law Offices, Bay St Louis DUI lawyer Kyle Miller is passionate about representing clients facing charges of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and is prepared to fight for the freedoms and rights of these clients.

While their intentions are usually good, law enforcement officers tend to be overzealous when handing out charges for driving under the influence. Because of this, you need a strong legal defense that can argue against the officer’s reasoning for conducting the traffic stop in the first place and investigate the circumstances of your DUI arrest in order to collect evidence that can work against the supposed evidence of state prosecutors.

This can be a scary time, but you do not have to go through it alone. At Miller Law Offices, defense attorney Kyle Miller is prepared and can confidently handle all negotiations or litigation involved in your DUI charge.

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DUI Charges Defined by Mississippi Law

Under Mississippi state law, a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol can occur when an individual is operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content level, or a BAC, of 0.08% or higher. When an individual is driving under the influence of drugs, a police officer can conduct a traffic stop if that individual is showing signs of impairment, such as jerky movements, swerving between lanes, tailgating, sudden, erratic breaking, and ignoring traffic signals.

It is important to keep in mind that driving under the influence of drugs does not just include substances such as marijuana, cocaine, or other illicit or illegal drugs. It can also include prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs such as cough syrup.

In the state of Mississippi, there are different categories of DUI charges that can be handed down by law enforcement officers. The first can occur when an officer observes the impaired behavior of an individual and pulls the individual over in a traffic stop. This individual may then fail their field sobriety tests. These field sobriety tests might include one or more of the following:

• Walk and Turn Test: The law enforcement officer will instruct the allegedly impaired individual to walk a certain number of steps, touching their heels to their toes in a straight line, and then return back on the same straight line. The officer will be looking for signs of impairment such as being unable to maintain balance or not being able to accurately follow the instructions.
• One Leg Stand Test: The law enforcement officers will instruct the allegedly impaired individual to stand with one of their feet firmly planted on the ground and the other foot off the ground, keeping it up in the air until the officer allows them to place it back down. They will be keeping an eye out for certain signs of impairment such as swaying, the inability to maintain balance, and hopping.
• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test: The law enforcement officer will move a pen or another small object back and forth across the line of sight of the allegedly impaired individual, instructing them to watch the pen and will observe the individual’s ability to do so.

The other type of DUI charge is where an individual is given a chemical test, such as a test through their blood, urine, or breath, and the test shows that they are operating their vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of 0.08% or higher. By law, if their BAC is at this level or above, the individual is considered legally impaired.

Miller Law Offices: Your Strong Legal DUI Defense

At Miller Law Offices, defense attorney Kyle Miller is passionate about helping his clients get their lives back on track following a DUI charge in the state of Mississippi. With years of experience advocating for justice and the resources necessary to fight these charges on behalf of his clients, Kyle Miller is an excellent choice when searching for a competent and highly skilled Bay St Louis DUI lawyer. He can do whatever becomes necessary to fight for the protection of your rights and freedom.

DUI defense attorney Kyle Miller understands that many potential clients are facing DUI charges for the first time and might not know or fully grasp the laws surrounding a DUI charge in Hancock County. He hopes to be able to not only represent his clients but also further educate them on their charges and the legal process that might await them. He believes that everyone deserves their fair day in court and wants to prepare his clients for anything they might face.

Steps to Take Following a DUI Charge

When facing DUI charges in Mississippi, there are certain steps you may want to take in the days and weeks leading up to your day in court that may help you avoid having to face further consequences. What follows is a list of the correct steps to take following your Bay St Louis, Mississippi DUI charge:

• Find a Way to Get Home Safely: Following a DUI charge and arrest in Mississippi, you might find that your driver’s license has been suspended and your vehicle even impounded. This means that you will not be able to drive yourself home. Instead, you will need to contact someone you trust to bring you home safely or call a taxi to make sure you get home without further endangering yourself or others.
• Consult an Attorney: At Miller Law Offices, DUI defense attorney Kyle Miller is ready and eager to meet with potential clients facing DUI charges. The penalties you might face in a conviction can be serious, and you need the right legal representation to fight these serious charges by reducing them or having them dismissed altogether. He can look over the evidence presented in your case and work to fight it.
• Prepare for Your Day in Court: In a meeting with defense attorney Kyle Miller, he can coach you on how to prepare for your court date. He can work to develop a solid defense strategy and prepare you for the kind of questions you might face in court litigation.
• Consider Certain Insurance: A DUI conviction can affect your monthly insurance rates. Before your court date, consider looking into SR-22 insurance, or vehicle liability insurance that can help should you become considered a high-risk driver.

Common Penalties for DUI Convictions in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

There are several penalties that can be handed down in a DUI conviction in Bay St Louis that can range in severity depending on the nature and unique circumstances of your DUI incident. These penalties are often laid out as follows:

• First DUI Offense: If you are convicted of a first-time DUI, you can face fines totaling between $250 to $1,000, jail time for no more than 48 hours, and mandatory attendance at an alcohol safety education class.
• Second DUI Offense: If convicted of a second DUI offense within a five-year period, you can face fines totaling between $600-$1,500, jail time lasting no less than five days and no more than six months, and community service that lasts no less than 10 days and no more than six months.
• Third DUI Offense: If you are convicted a third time for a DUI offense within a five-year period, you could face fines totaling between $2,000-$5,000, jail time lasting no less than one year and no more than five years, unless your offense resulted in the serious injury or death of another person, and then you could serve this time in a state penitentiary.
• Fourth DUI Offense: If you are convicted four or more times on DUI charges within a five-year period, you could face fines totaling between $3,000-$10,000 and serve time in the Department of Corrections for no less than two years and no more than ten years.

Depending on the nature of your charges and conviction, you can also face having your license suspended or revoked, having points added to your license, having your vehicle impounded, or having an Ignition Interlock Device installed in your vehicle.

Mississippi DUIs for Out-of-State Residents

If you find yourself charged with a DUI in Mississippi but are a resident of a different state, you might find yourself with a multitude of questions. Mississippi is considered a state that is part of the Non-Resident Driver Compact. This means that if you are convicted of a DUI in Mississippi, you can face penalties imposed both by the state of Mississippi and by your home state.

Contact a Trusted Bay St Louis DUI Lawyer Today

If you or someone you love has been convicted of a DUI in Bay St Louis or in the Hancock County area, you need the legal guidance and support of a qualified DUI defense attorney. At Miller Law Offices, Kyle Miller is adept at fighting for his clients facing a litany of unique DUI charges and is ready to protect your rights. Contact our offices today to learn more.