If you are stopped by the police and charged for a DUI, it is important that you look into defending yourself. You could be facing the loss of your license, fees and fines, jail time, or other penalties.
If you are convicted of drinking and driving, that conviction will remain on your record for your entire life. It is better to defend yourself by working with an attorney who can help you minimize the impact of your arrest and protect you against a conviction.
What does a lawyer do to help you after a DUI arrest?
After a DUI arrest, you should speak with an attorney who can look into the details of your case. Your attorney should be asking questions like:
- Were you told your Miranda rights?
- Were you recorded by the officer (on video) during the arrest?
- Were the roadside tests administered correctly?
- Was the Breathalyzer test given correctly?
- Were the correct procedures followed during the traffic stop and arrest?
While looking into these questions, your attorney will let you know if there are any unusual aspects to your case.
What should you tell your attorney about the traffic stop?
Tell your attorney anything you can about the traffic stop. If you remember swerving because of something in the road or noticing a cop that was following you for miles despite doing nothing wrong, those pieces of information could be helpful to your case. Your attorney’s job is to look at the process of the traffic stop and arrest to make sure you were treated fairly. Then, they will take steps to help protect you against a DUI.
Your attorney may be able to successfully argue that you were not intoxicated and have the charge dropped or altered to one that isn’t as serious as a DUI. Depending on the situation, you may be able to avoid losing your license, performing community service or going through mandatory chemical dependency treatment.
The right help minimizes the risk of having to pay heavy fines and facing the social and work consequences of a DUI. Take the time to go over the case thoroughly, so you can protect yourself.
