How Holiday Social Media Posts Can Impact Your DUI Case
With the start of the holiday season comes various holiday parties, many of which involve sharing holiday-themed alcoholic drinks with family and friends. Drunk driving is a crime that occurs all year, but it has been reported that it occurs even more frequently during the holidays. While there is nothing wrong with having a drink to celebrate the holidays, choosing to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking is not only wrong but illegal.
Umansky Law Firm is a team of DUI lawyers with experience helping clients in Florida who have been accused of driving while under the influence. If you have been arrested for a DUI, the worst thing you can do for your case is make incriminating holiday posts on social media.
How Your Social Media Posts Can Cause Issues in Your DUI Case
Social media has become an almost unavoidable part of society. While for many, it is a jerk reaction to post anything and everything to various social media platforms, sometimes those posts may come back to haunt you if you have been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol. Law enforcement has the legal right to view your social media posts and use them against you to prove that you were drinking and driving. Some examples of incriminating holiday social media posts include:
- A person documented their night drinking by posting various videos or photos clearly showing them drinking or holding drinks.
- The individual “checks-in” at several different bars on their social media platforms.
- A person live-streamed themselves clearly intoxicated and posted the media to their story or feed to be viewed or recorded.
While it may seem like common knowledge that it is never a good idea for someone to post proof that they were intoxicated online, people do it every day. If you have been accused of driving under the influence, holiday social media posts may be the evidence used by law enforcement to prove your guilt. That is why you should always think before making a possibly incriminating post on social media.
Can Past Social Media Posts Be Used As Evidence of a DUI?
Every case is different, and sometimes past social media posts depicting someone drinking may be used as evidence of a person driving while under the influence. Even if the posts in question are from weeks, months, or even years before the date the incident occurred, it is a possibility that they may be presented during your case. This is another reason why it is better to be safe than sorry when choosing whether or not to make posts on social media that show you drinking alcohol or intoxicated.
Should You Delete Incriminating Social Media Posts After a DUI Arrest?
Many people assume that deleting a post means it is erased from the world wide web. Unfortunately, that is not the case. While deleting a post may make it less visible, it does not mean it is gone. Posts may have been screenshotted and shared elsewhere or duplicated by other accounts without your knowledge. Additionally, a skilled investigator may be able to recover the deleted posts if they believe they will be sufficient evidence in proving your negligence in your DUI case.
Contact an Orlando DUI Lawyer
A DUI charge can have severe consequences on a person’s life. If you have been accused of driving while under the influence, you should contact a DUI lawyer in Orlando who may be able to help with your case.
Umansky Law Firm is an award-winning criminal defense law firm with experience helping clients in Orlando, Florida, who have been accused of driving under the influence. Our skilled legal team is proud to provide clients with the unique and dedicated representation they deserve. For a free online case review, contact us here or call our office.
