Drunk driving lawyers are more in demand than ever before. This is a result of more drunk driving than in years past but also due to stricter drunk driving laws. Australia has higher alcohol consumption rates than the United States and other areas as well as lower sentencing for DUI (driving under the influence) manslaughter and lower ages for alcohol consumption. Interesting is that they also have lower incidences of DWI (driving while intoxicated) or DUI than other areas.



Australia has very strict laws regarding drunk driving. Police officers here can randomly stop drivers without any reason and request them to perform breath tests. They may also set up roadblocks on nights of big events and stop every driver passing through and demand a breath test. This is quite different from the laws in the United States or UK, where they usually need a reason to stop drivers. However, often these types of arrests make a good case for an effective and highly-qualified drunk driving lawyer.

The area of Australia you're at when you're stopped for drunk driving or DUI may determine that the sentencing or penalty will be. Your penalty may be as simple as a small fine and fine of a few "penalty fines" or it may be a large fine, jail time, suspension of license and fine of many penalty points. Some impose increase the amount of the fine with higher BAC (blood alcohol content) levels. Certain areas of Australia will print the names of any drivers arrested for drunk driving in the local newspaper under a heading such as "John Doe is drunk and in jail".

If you're charged with any case involving drunk driving, you will need a good drunk driving lawyer. Many individuals that are charged feel they can't afford the fees associated with a drunk driving lawyer so they just pay their fine or do whatever the law states without trying to prove their innocence or getting a lesser penalty. In many cases, a good drunk driving lawyer may have been able to "get them off" with a good defense. A drunk driving lawyer will be able to look at the police report and determine if any of your legal rights have been infringed or violated, which may result in lesser charges or charges being dropped.

Don't join the many that become desperate when they're charged with drunk driving and grab the first drunk driving lawyer they can find. In many cases, you get what you pay for. Look for a drunk driving lawyer that is going to be able to help you with your situation. There are certain questions you may wish to ask a drunk driving lawyer before hiring them, which may include:

1.How much will his defense cost you? In some cases, "money is no object" if a good defense is going to keep you out of prison. However, you'll still need an idea as to the total you'll be expected to pay your drunk driving lawyer. This may also be a good time to determine what type of payment arrangements the drunk driving lawyer will expect. If you find his expenses high, ask what special services or guarantees he offers to encourage such a high cost.

2.What are his/her feelings about drunk drivers? Although most people, when asked, will not give a positive response, your prospective drunk driving lawyer should appear impartial and dedicated only towards giving you a good defense.

3.How familiar is your drunk driving lawyer with the different drunk driving laws in the different jurisdictions? Because laws and penalties may change in different areas, your lawyer needs to be aware of what they are in the jurisdiction where you were charged so there are no surprises when you're in court.

4.How much experience does your drunk driving lawyer have in this area? Your drunk driving lawyer may live in the jurisdiction but if he hasn't handled a lot of cases in the current court system, especially with drunk driving, you may not have the best possible drunk driving lawyer for your case.

5.How many drunk driving cases has this lawyer handled? You definitely want a drunk driving lawyer that has defended many people so he has past cases to refer to and use as reference, etc.

6.What is his success rate with drunk driving cases he's handled? If your drunk driving lawyer has handled over 200 drunk driving cases but only won 5, he's probably not a lawyer that can help you with your case.

7.What are his expectations for this case? Ask your drunk driving lawyer what the best and worst possible case scenario will be for your drunk driving case.

Because drunk driving is such a serious charge and can result in thousands of dollars in fines, jail time and loss of driving privileges, you want a drunk driving lawyer that will give you the best possible defense and help get you acquitted with a clean record. Search until you find the best drunk driving lawyer you can find.