There’s nothing good about driving while being under the influence of liquor. There’s no denying that the penalties one can face could be hefty.
Fines alone could reach hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. However, some localities are even more unforgiving in requiring jail time, community service, and a license suspension.
It’s only understandable considering the physical and financial toll a DUI incident could inflict on victims.
However, not everyone charged with a DUI is collared per the law. Law enforcers follow protocols in making sure those suspected of DUI are fairly treated under the law. You can’t expect all officers to follow the right procedures.
Mistakes can happen during the process. But these are the types of mistakes that could adversely impact the lives of those suspected of a DUI.
What To Do When You Are Charged With A DUI?
It’s a good thing that there are legal safeguards in place that make sure the rights of suspects are properly handled. When you’re charged with a DUI, here’s a guide to help you deal with the legal intricacies:
1. Understand Your Right To Remain Silent
There’s a good reason why Miranda Rights are being read to suspects being arrested on the spot. As a citizen, you have the right to refrain from self-incrimination. This often happens when tensions flare during your arrest.
At this point, you are your worst enemy because no matter how you’re treated, anything you say as a result of an emotional outburst will come back to haunt you. Even if you’re innocent of any crime, it won’t help if you resist arrest and resort to desperate means in a bid to convince arresting officers to let you off the hook.
Stay as silent as you can. Don’t say anything that law enforcers could construe as an attempt to lie or resist arrest.
Being arrested doesn’t equate to a conviction, and you’re afforded the space to talk about your side and defend any unfair accusation lodged against you by the police, as well as unreliable witnesses on the scene.
2. Get Quality Legal Representation
Part of being silent during your DUI charge is knowing who to call to represent your side of the story. Especially if it’s your first time, you may be confused about your case. Also, there’s a good chance that you may say or do something that will complicate things further.
A lawyer is your firm ally in this respect because they will help untangle the complexities of your situation. Moreover, they will provide you with a sense of comfort, knowing that you won’t end up in too much trouble.
It’s only a matter of choosing an experienced DUI defense lawyer who can walk you through the process and come home without so much as a slap on the wrist.
You may be provided a public attorney if you have no one in your professional network to recommend quality counsel. This may even help you save money, but you may not get the best outcome if you rely on a public defender to represent your case.
That’s mostly because they’re handling large volumes of cases that reduce the time they will spend on yours.
You will always have the option of choosing a private law firm that could muster enough resources to put the facts together and reduce your penalties and, if luck is on your side, get the court to dismiss your case.
3. Reach Out To Reliable Eyewitnesses
Once you have an experienced DUI attorney on your side, it’s only a matter of investing time. They will gather resources and credible details proving you’re not in the wrong.
There may be witnesses who may share evidence that will jeopardize your defense. But there might be other, more reliable people who could provide testimonies challenging the accuracy of the evidence gathered by the arresting officers on the scene.
You must reach out to these people and have them file sworn statements if you have to. Reach out to people who may not belong to your closest social circle but may attest that you had not drunk alcoholic beverages before operating the vehicle.
You may also talk to eyewitnesses during your arrest and have them provide qualified testimonies. It should show that the procedure of your arrest was inconsistent with ethical and professional law enforcement standards.
For the most part, your innocence may depend largely on how much information you can extract from the people who were present on the scene.
4. Cooperate With Your Attorney
As your DUI case progresses, more facts may surface that could go against or support your side. It can be overwhelming if it’s your first time being charged with a DUI.
But you can only trust your attorney to help you put the facts together. They will ensure that you don’t say anything or do anything that could raise even more questions about how guilty you are and may worsen the penalties you will have to shoulder.
Your attorney may advise against talking to anyone about the details of your charge. You may even be barred from using social media. This is a preventive measure aimed at reducing the chances that your social media posts may disprove your claims.
You may also become too emotional and resort to ranting against the police and the court online. This can sabotage your chances at getting a reduced sentence and may even lead to more legal problems on top of your current ones.
5. Analyze Your Case And Consider A Plea Bargain
In most cases, the best way you handle a DUI charge is when all the facts point to a lapse of judgment or any other indefensible excuse, is to accept you’re in the wrong.
Your lawyer may cite faulty breathalyzer tests at the time of your arrest and a lack of probable cause, but when you have a case that’s too flimsy, it would be better to opt for a plea bargain.
From the outset, you may opt to settle your legal problem right away when you know there’s little to no chance of your case getting dismissed. A plea bargain may shorten the length of time and amount of money you will be spending on your defense, but you may have to admit guilt.
Handle Things Professionally
When you are charged with a DUI, it may be intimidating for first-timers. But so long as they follow the tips above, they could have learned their lesson without having to face the excessive weight of the law.
Admitting wrongdoing allows for reduced penalties and may even shorten the duration of your license suspension, probation, or parole. In a way, you may not be absolved from committing a DUI, but at least you have fewer things to worry about when you’ve served your sentence.
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