DUI  

Birmingham DUI Defense Attorney
Alabama Drunk Driving Charges Lawyer
Call (205) 930-9717 for a Free Consultation

More than 10,000 DUI arrests take place in Alabama each year. This number underscores the widespread need for experienced DUI defense attorneys of the caliber of Michael P. Hanle to ensure the rights of the accused. DUI is one of the few crimes to which the adage "innocent until proven guilty" often does not seem to apply in actual law enforcement practices. On occasion, police have stretched the idea of probable cause to stop the vehicle in the first place. In addition, your driving privileges will automatically be suspended unless you request an administrative hearing within 10 days of being charged with a DUI. For additional information about administrative hearings in Alabama, please visit our DUI Drivers' License Suspension page.

The penalties for a drunk driving conviction can be severe, including fines ranging from $600 for a first offense to as high as $10,000 for a fourth offense. Significant jail time and driver's license suspension may also be included in sentencing, depending on the blood alcohol level at the time of the arrest. Charges can range from a misdemeanor charge to a DUI felony charge, depending on the circumstances and number of previous DUI convictions.

Fair Defense, Powerful Representation for Persons Charged with DUI

Such severe penalties make it all the more critical that offenders receive fair, constitutional defense before the courts. Birmingham DUI / criminal defense attorney Michael P. Hanle devotes his law practice to the vigorous representation of all persons accused of criminal charges, including DUI. You need to contact an experienced DUI defense lawyer right now if you have been arrested for drunk driving! In order to protect your driving privileges, you may need to request a hearing with the Alabama Department of Public Safety. Mr. Hanle needs to hear from you as soon as possible to ensure your fair defense.

Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery DUI Defense Lawyer

DUI arrests are often handled through municipal courts. Through skillful negotiations with prosecutors, Mr. Hanle often crafts arrangements that allow his clients to keep their licenses. Instead of jail time and license suspension, clients may agree to perform community service or go to AA meetings. Since even a first offense may result in a jail sentence, judges are not likely to take a DUI plea without attorney representation. While courts often have public defenders available, an experienced DUI defense lawyer such as Michael P. Hanle may offer clients a stronger chance at the dismissal of their cases, or the least disruptive penalties available.

A 64-year-old client who had been charged with DUI was just a year away from retirement. An outside salesman who relied upon his ability to drive from town to town for his company, he was worried about losing his job, his retirement benefits, and his car insurance. Mr. Hanle conferred with the prosecutor every time they saw each other over a period of time, sharing all the known facts about this case with the prosecutor. A trial date was set, and Mr. Hanle informed the prosecutor that they were prepared to move forward with the trial. Persistence paid off -- a week before the trial, the prosecutor came forward with an offer to change the charges to reckless driving if the client would plea guilty to that. He happily agreed, thereby saving his job, his retirement and his insurance.

Mr. Hanle typically represents DUI clients in Birmingham and nearby communities including Hoover, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Pell City, Huntsville, and Talladega and in the Alabama counties of Shelby, Jefferson, St. Clair, and Tuscaloosa.

For assistance with your DUI defense and skilled, experienced legal representation, whether a first or fourth arrest, please schedule a free confidential consultation by calling us at (205) 930-9717 or filling out our intake form on our Contact Us page. In DUI cases; our experience can make all the difference.

Aggressive Criminal Defense in Federal, State, or Local Courts -- From Birmingham, Alabama to Atlanta, Georgia.