Are you facing charges for driving under the influence (DUI) in Omaha, Nebraska? If so, you are certainly concerned about the outcome of your case. At the same time, you may be wavering on the issue of hiring an attorney to represent you. Well-meaning friends and family members are probably giving you conflicting advice with some insisting an attorney is a waste of money while others argue that you would be a fool to show up in court with an attorney. Ultimately, the decision is yours to make; however, before you make it, consider the following five reasons why you

Continue Reading 5 Reasons Why You Need an Omaha DUI Attorney

Thanks to a concerted effort over the last several decades in the United States, awareness has certainly been raised about the dangers associated with drunk driving. Among the most serious of those dangers is the increased risk of causing a collision if you are driving under the influence (DUI). To deter motorists from driving while under the influence, states have also increased the penalties for violating DUI laws. For example, if you caused a fatal DUI crash in Nebraska you could be facing a lengthy term of imprisonment if convicted. Fatal DUI Crash Facts and Figures It isn’t difficult to

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Finding yourself under arrest for driving under the influence (DUI) is usually a frightening experience in today’s day and age. Gone are the days when a defendant could expect nothing more than a stern lecture and a fine for a DUI conviction. Now, even a first-time offender could spend time in jail, have his/her driving privileges revoked for a significant period of time, and spend months under the court’s supervision. If you already have a previous conviction for DUI, the penalties can be even more severe. What if that conviction is from another state though? Will a DUI conviction from

Continue Reading Will a DUI Conviction in Another State Count Against Me in Nebraska If I Get Arrested for DUI?

In a DUI trial, the State typically relies on the testimony of several witnesses in order to make its case against the defendant. Those witnesses may be law enforcement officers, experts, or uninvolved bystanders. Whether the trial is a trial by judge or jury, the testimony given by a witness can irrevocably impact the outcome of the case. What happens though, if a witness lies on the stand? A Nebraska DUI defense attorney explains both the potential legal consequences and the likely real-world consequences of a witness who lies. Understanding Perjury If you have ever watched a crime drama on

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Nebraska law prohibits operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08 percent. When a motorist is arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) he/she is usually asked to perform a chemical breath test upon arrival at the jail. Critics and defense attorneys have long questioned the reliability of breath test results – and with good reason, as shown by questions about the certification process for Nebraska’s breath test machines.  Nebraska DUI defense attorney Tom Petersen explains why defense attorneys are challenging breath test machine results in Nebraska. Nebraska’s Implied Consent Law When you are arrested

Continue Reading Nebraska Defense Attorneys Challenge Breath Test Machine Certification

Over the past several decades, advocacy groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have waged a campaign to raise awareness to the dangers of drinking and driving – and that campaign has been extremely successful. States across the nation have strengthened their driving under the influence (DUI) laws and increased penalties for violating those laws. In addition, the “legal limit” has been dropped from 0.10 or higher to 0.08 percent in the states.  Motorists are more worried than ever about getting arrested for drunk driving, leading many of them to ask the question “How do I know if I’m

Continue Reading How Do I Know If I’m Over the Legal Limit?

When most of us think about the issue of impaired driving, we focus on driving under the influence of alcohol.  A recent report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association, however, indicates that drugged driving is every bit as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than drunk driving. The Omaha DUI lawyers at Petersen Law Office explain the study’s findings as they relate to driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) as well as what Nebraska law says about DUID. Nebraska Law Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6, 196 is very clear when it comes to the illegality of driving while under the

Continue Reading Study Says Drugged Driving Is a Serious Problem across the Nation

It may be difficult to believe, but the end of summer is drawing near, and with it comes one of the busiest travel periods of the year – Labor Day weekend.  Labor Day weekend is also one of the deadliest weekends of the year for motorists. Increased traffic on the nation’s roadways combined with an increased tendency to drive under the influence puts everyone on the nation’s roadways at an increased risk of serious harm. Law enforcement agencies across the country also know this which is why they dramatically ramp up their “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign efforts

Continue Reading Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Week

By now, we all know that driving while under the influence (DUI) is both dangerous and illegal. Despite that knowledge, arrests for DUI continue to occur on a large scale, due in part to the increased enforcement efforts of law enforcement agencies across the country.  In fact, it often seems that there is a police car around every corner waiting to catch motorists doing something wrong. Even if you have not consumed any alcohol nor ingested any type of controlled substance, getting pulled over can be a major hassle. To help you avoid ending up along the side of the

Continue Reading Top 10 Things You Can Do to Prevent Getting Pulled Over

If you are ever pulled over for a traffic stop, and the officer suspects that you are driving under the influence (DUI), you will probably be asked to perform what are collectively referred to as the “Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.” They are “standardized” because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has approved the three tests. Your performance on the FSTs could determine whether or not you are arrested and charged with DUI. So does anyone ever pass the Field Sobriety Tests? An Omaha DUI attorney offers some insight into that question. What Are the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests? Although

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