Driving under the influence (DUI) charges are among the most serious traffic violations that occur in Oklahoma. Unlike speeding or failing to use a turn indicator, impaired driving does not simply lead to a citation or ticket. Instead, police officers arrest those who they believe are under the influence while driving.
Motorists typically face misdemeanor charges when accused of DUI offenses, although prosecutors can bring felony charges in special circumstances. The penalties possible after a conviction could include jail time, probation, fines and driver’s license suspension. Despite those potential consequences, many motorists facing DUI charges plead guilty.
Defendants facing DUI charges may not want to take the case to trial. Instead, they might hope to negotiate a plea bargain, as is common practice among those facing criminal charges. Plea bargains often involve concessions made by both sides. Do state prosecutors ever reduce DUI charges to lesser offenses as part of a plea deal?
Lesser charges can be an option
There are multiple concessions that state prosecutors can make in a DUI plea bargaining scenario. In some cases, prosecutors may agree to limit the penalties possible in exchange for a guilty plea. Other times, they may agree to accept a plea to a lesser offense. Such arrangements help keep the prosecutor’s conviction rate high without forcing the state to invest the time and money to prosecute every pending DUI case.
Agreeing to reduce the charges to a lesser offense is one way for a prosecutor to appeal to the defendant. Frequently, that lesser offense is reckless driving. It is still a criminal matter that may show up on the motorist’s record during a background check. However, it is not as serious as a DUI offense. In cases where a defense attorney successfully negotiates a deal involving a reduced charge, the driver can move on more quickly.
Depending on the circumstances leading to a driver’s arrest, it may also be possible to mount a vigorous defense strategy in the hopes of avoiding a conviction altogether. Reviewing the circumstances that led to DUI charges can help defendants explore their options. Pleading guilty to a lesser offense can be a viable solution for certain DUI defendants.