Service Areas
• DWI/DUI
• Alcohol
• Drugs / narcotics
• DUI check points
• Underage drinking / consumption
For people convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) charges the penalties can be severe and life-changing. Criminal and civil charges can often be weighed against a client and if convicted they may face large financial penalties, license revocation and even jail time. There can also be hefty court fees, increased insurance premiums, probation costs, alcohol treatment costs and even lost job opportunities as a result of a conviction. The fee for quality legal services can be small in comparison to the costs of a wrongful conviction.
It takes a very experienced attorney to properly defend someone charged with a DUI. The attorney must be well versed in criminal law, evidentiary law and constitutional law. They must also understand the science behind the blood alcohol testing procedures and knowledge about how law enforcement officials make DUI arrests.
Lance Rollo has years of experience in DUI/alcohol and DUI/drug defense and has helped hundreds of clients successfully navigate through the process. He is highly skilled in understanding the challenges and uncovering any weaknesses in the evidence against you. Every case is different, but Lance’s goal is always the same… minimize the impact this situation has on your life and fight to reduce, or have the charges all together dropped.
West Virginia laws have changed over the years to include more severe penalties for those convicted of DUI. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a criminal offense and many people incorrectly assume there is no chance to successfully defend against these cases. The initial charges and scientific evidence can be unique for each case so it requires an attorney experienced in this specialized field of law. It will help a great deal to have an attorney that can work to minimize penalties and help ensure your charges were properly processed.
Lance Rollo provides aggressive defense for DUI and drug-related charges in the greater Morgantown area. He is dedicated to fight against unnecessary charges and penalties for those accused of driving under the influence. His first goal is to help you avoid a conviction in the case, and if that is not possible to reduce unreasonable penalties in the Morgantown courts.
Don’t plead guilty until a qualified attorney has thoroughly reviewed your case. The costs are simply too high.
After the arrest:
DO NOT MAKE ANY STATEMENTS TO THE POLICE – Provide your driver’s license, registration and insurance as requested, but you are not required to speak to police. If you speak with officers, they may note that you had slurred speech – even in cases where you may not.
DO NOT ASSUME THAT YOU MUST SUBMIT TO A BREATHALYZER – It is misleading to assume the results will not be used in court. In fact, the results are seen by many courts as conclusive, indisputable evidence when in fact there may be cases where the tests were administered improperly. You are not required blow into one of these devices – the results will almost always hurt, and will rarely help. However, failure to comply with the test can result in immediate suspension of your driving privileges, fines and imprisonment. Breathalyzers are notoriously inaccurate and the tests can be inaccurately given which could result in inaccurate evidence that can be used against you.
DO NOT PERFORM ROADSIDE TESTS – The roadside “exercises” are completely voluntary. You do not need to perform these roadside exercises, even if asked by law enforcement to do so. They will almost always be used against you in your trial.
DO NOT PLEAD GUILTY OR ASSUME YOU ARE GUILTY – DUI cases are very complex and all evidence must be collected using strict scientific guidelines. Experienced legal representation is often the only way to discover if the police, and prosecution, have properly obtained evidence through these means.
RETAIN AN EXPERIENCED DUI ATTORNEY ASAP – Speed is of the essence. There are several immediate steps your lawyer needs to take to ensure the timeline of the court is adhered to. The sooner you hire an attorney, the faster they can gather evidence, answer questions and work towards an acquittal.
Success stories:
Client was in the parking lot of McDonalds at 2:30 in the morning, after having just ordered food from the drive-thru. Without any reason or justification to do so, the police immediately blocked in the client, not allowing him to leave, and began giving the client the field sobriety exercises. Mr. Rollo was able to suppress all of this information as being illegally obtained and, as a result, the case was dismissed and the client was exonerated.
Frequently asked questions:
Do I need an attorney for a DUI in West Virginia? – Yes. The consequences of a DUI conviction in West Virginia are life-altering. They can include jail time, the loss of your driver’s license, increased insurance premiums, state required alcohol education and therapy, monitored sobriety, and substantial fines and surcharges. A DUI conviction can follow you for the rest of your life. A conviction generally cannot be expunged from your record
Hiring an experienced defense attorney can help relieve a great deal of your anxiety and uncertainty regarding your pending charges. For instance, when you put your trust in Attorney Lance Rollo, you are hiring an experienced DUI attorney whom explores every legal and factual defense in your case. Lance has litigated thousands of driving under the influence cases and we have the experience and knowledge to help navigate you through West Virginia’s complex criminal justice system.
If you needed specialized surgery, wouldn’t you want the best surgeon for the procedure? Similarly, when charged with DUI in West Virginia, you would want the most qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable DUI attorney to handle your case. Led by Lance Rollo, a West Virginia Super Lawyer, the team at the Rollo Law Offices can help you achieve the best possible result in your case
What can Attorney Lance Rollo do for me that another West Virginia DUI attorney cannot? – Lance has an unsurpassed reputation in West Virginia or DUI defense because he puts the quality of his representation at the top of his priority list. He is not interested in being the biggest firm or expanding his expertise outside of this area. You will not see his name in the phone book or his ads on a billboard or the side of a bus. He is not a “DUI firm,” or a law firm that accepts these cases solely for profit. Lance is interested in protecting you from the power the government has over you when you are accused of drunk driving.
Keep in mind, there are thousands of attorneys in the state that will accept your case. Occasionally, Attorney Lance Rollo may not be able to accept your matter – because of reputation and experience, and in the interest of providing the best legal representation possible, Lance must limit the number of clients and cases he can accept. Accordingly, after you discuss your pending case, he may refer you to another attorney or tell you that his law firm may not be the right law firm for your case. Additionally, Attorney Lance Rollo does not charge “discount” or “cheap” legal fees because he is an experienced defense attorney and has invested time and money in advancing his knowledge of all aspects of DUI defense. We believe that his knowledge and experience is worth investing in.
Do I have to hire a DUI attorney immediately? – While the ultimate resolution to your case may not come for months, you must start the process immediately. First, most people arrested for DUI have to take an immediate action with the DMV to preserve their driving privilege. If the proper steps are not taken, you will automatically lose your driver’s license.
Second, it is important to start investigating your case and requesting relevant information and materials so they are not lost. In addition, the sooner we begin the process, the sooner we can start taking steps to prepare your case and counsel you to engage in activities that could assist in obtaining the best possible result.
There are several other case-specific reasons why you should seek representation immediately. If you have been charged with a DUI, be sure to contact Attorney Lance Rollo.