DUI Attorney Ridgeland MS

What Happens if I Decline a DUI Breath Test in Mississippi?

Attorney Franks: If you reject a breath test it triggers a chain of situations that will typically inevitably cause suspension of a motorists license for one hundred twenty days instantly. The Department of Public Safety will send a letter to the address on your motorists license within the initial 30 days. Upon receiving that you have ten days to file a request for a breath examination rejection hearing to determine whether you in fact rejected a breath examination.

Can I be compelled to take a test?

Attorney Franks: You can not be forced to take an examination on a common pull over. If there's an accident and somebody's hurt then yes they can go and also get a warrant to have your blood taken or require you to do it. Yet usually if you were pulled over arbitrarily they will often supply you a portable breath examination. You can decline it and also if the officer makes a decision to take it further they'll take you to the station. Then they will certainly ask you once again to take a breath examination on the big Intoxilyzer device. If you decline the examination during that time after that you've formally declined the test. You have the option to reject.

Will it hurt my case?

Attorney Franks: Not necessarily. Actually under specific conditions it could really assist your situation due to the fact that we have statutory DUI in MS. If you blow over a. 08 blood alcohol amount then you are legitimately drunk by the regulations of MS. The officer has particular procedures they need to comply with and also once somebody test.08 or above. After that as a DUI Attorney I start looking into whether the policy was followed effectively. If an individual does not take the breath test after that they cannot state it was a legal DUI. They have to prove a common law DUI and show in some way that you were bodily impaired while running your vehicle. Among the most frequent typical methods of doing that is the field sobriety test on the side of the roadway. Walk the line hold one leg up and touch your nose. Those examinations are what they'll return to which can give you a stronger case in some circumstances.

Could you theoretically get out of a conviction by not taking a breath test?

Joey: Indeed you can get out of a conviction by not taking the breath examination. But thats just due to the fact that the police officer needs to verify impairment by utilizing something besides the breath examination. If they cant show it by some other approach then you have an excellent chance of being found not guilty of a DUI because DUIs carry the very same burden of proof which is past a reasonable doubt. Its the states problem to show beyond a reasonable doubt that you were running a vehicle while under the influence.


Ridgeland is a city in Madison County, Mississippi. The population was 24,047 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area. Wikipedia

Hotels: 3-star averaging $116. View hotels

Weather: 88°F (31°C), Wind SE at 3 mph (5 km/h), 54% Humidity

Local time: Friday 4:41 PM


Ridgeland

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Ridgeland, MS, USA