Tunica, Mississippi, DUI Attorneys

Some may be curious about why the penalties for driving under the influence can be so severe. Alcohol intoxication affects the body in significant ways that make operating a vehicle while intoxicated potentially dangerous. Alcohol inhibits judgment and also impairs balance. It decreases response time, making it difficult for an impaired driver to react to some of the sudden changes that frequently occur while on the road.

There is a reason why alcohol is referred to colloquially as “liquid courage.” It decreases the impaired person’s inhibitions, making it increasingly easy for the impaired person to make bad decisions. There is one place in Mississippi where alcohol and bad decisions can easily combine into a dangerous situation: Tunica, Mississippi. Tunica is home to several large casinos, creating a fast-growing economy in the region. Some of the resorts in the Tunica area include the Gold Strike Hotel and Casino, Harrah’s Casino, and the Horseshoe Casino. These resorts allow customers to gamble, drink, and smoke, after which, if they are responsible, they will retire to their hotel rooms and refrain from driving on the state’s highways. However, some customers only come to the resorts to gamble and drink, making a DUI conviction more likely.

A conviction for driving under the influence can have serious consequences, including losing driving privileges and facing time in jail. The loss of the impaired driver’s license can deal a deadly blow to that person’s career. However, Mississippi does allow for an individual convicted of driving under the influence to obtain a hardship license. The judge can decide whether a complete loss of driving privileges is appropriate for a particular driver. The judge has to wait until the driver’s license has been suspended for at least 30 days before the judge can award the hardship license. The hardship license is only available for the driver who is convicted of driving under the influence for the first time. Also, if the driver is convicted of a violation of the implied consent law (refusing to consent to a blood test or a breathalyzer test), the driver is not eligible to apply for a hardship license.

A convicted driver seeking a hardship license must file a petition with the court and pay a filing fee, like any other court document. The petition has to meet certain requirements for it to be considered by a judge. DUI law is just one of the areas where representation by counsel is critical. An experienced legal practitioner, like the Tunica, Mississippi, DUI attorneys at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton, know exactly what kind of information would have to go into the petition for a hardship license. The drunk driving defense lawyers at our firm have assisted countless clients with petitions for a hardship license. Anyone facing a conviction for drunk driving should not do it alone. It is important to have the assistance of effective counsel on your side. If you or someone you know in Tunica, Mississippi or the surrounding area is dealing with a possible DUI conviction, contact the DUI defense attorneys at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton today. They will vigorously advocate on your behalf.