Most DUI defense attorneys would invoke any of the following defenses as a prelude for proving their client's innocence:
- Lack of probable cause
- Defective equipment
- Inaccurate readings
- No causation
On the flipside, if an outright acquittal could not be achieved, defense lawyers recommend that their clients take up a plea bargain with the courts. Plea bargaining means that the defendant will enter either a guilty plea or a plea of no contest for a charge, in exchange for reduced penalties. In the case of felony DUI cases in Nevada, acquiescing to a plea bargain can drop the case to a misdemeanor, as well as exacting any or all of the following penalties:
- up to six months in jail, or a suspended sentence
- DUI school or DUI court sessions
- fines up to $1,000, including court fees
- Victim Impact Panel sessions, also known as MADD lectures
- option to enroll in the Felony DUI Court program
- one-year suspension of driver's license
- $35 civil penalty fee