Being stopped by a police officer on suspicion of “driving under the influence” will not be one of the best moments of your life. In fact, this single traffic stop can result in you being charged with very serious DUI charges. At first, it’s just you and the officer standing on the side of the road. Your every move is being recorded and everything that happens will be used against you by the legal system. Being charged with DUI is a very stressful situation, and you should immediately seek out a qualified DUI attorney to represent you.
After you were pulled over, the police officer most likely asked you to take a field sobriety test. If he accepted this test, he was put through a series of movements and told to blow into a machine that measures his blood alcohol content. If the officer found out that he failed this test, he was arrested on the spot. If he refused to take the test and was charged anyway, he is still at great risk of losing his driving privileges and much more.
The wheels of the justice system turn very fast when you are charged under DUI laws. For example, you need to know about the DUI 10 day rule. Under this rule, you have exactly 10 days to schedule a hearing where you can fight for the right to keep your current driving privileges. If you miss the deadline, your license will be automatically suspended. This applies to you whether or not you took a field sobriety test when you were arrested. If you decide to retain the services of a DUI lawyer during this time, they can handle this for you.
If you are contemplating representing yourself and pleading not guilty or not guilty to the charges, you are at risk of losing much more than you realize. While attorneys do cost money, in this case, the DUI penalties are so severe that it will be worth every penny to find a qualified DUI attorney to fight this battle on your behalf.
DUI laws are complex and there are constant changes in the law that make it impossible for the average person to mount a strong defense. If you are not familiar with your rights under the law, you will be convicted based on the evidence the state has against you. Conviction means he will face severe financial fines, have his driving privileges revoked for a period of time, be required to wear a mandatory car interlock device, and possibly even jail time. And, unfortunately, once he’s convicted of this crime, it will remain on his record forever.
When selecting an attorney, you want to make sure that they have a proven track record of winning DUI cases. Don’t settle for a “jack of all trades” attorney working on DUI. These cases require extensive investigation, and you need an attorney who has been in the trenches and knows exactly how to plan an aggressive defense. If you are going to use a lawyer, you need to make sure that you have the confidence to win. A top-rated DUI attorney will stand by your side and do everything possible to have those charges reduced or eliminated.
