Charged With a DUI, Now What Do I Do

Have you ever been pulled over and charged with a DUI or OVI? Yes, it happens but you can greatly reduce the negative affects of this charge with a good criminal defense attorney.

Driving under the influence or being charged with a DUI requires fast action on your part so that your license will not be suspended. Your first set in this process it to locate and hire an attorney to get you out of jail. .In some cases, this does not happen because you are released on your own recognizance.However, some will require you to post bail which your lawyer can take care of.

Once released, it is now time to address this issue.

I In many states, a DUI/OVI charge will generate two separate cases. The first is filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles while the other is a criminal court case . When faced with this problem, you have to face these charges within ten days from the date of the arrest . Just like any other criminal case, this begins with your arraignment.

On this day you will be asked to enter a plea, your choices are guilty, not guilty or no contest. . Chances are, your criminal defense lawyer will tell you to plead not guilty to these charges . A later court date will be given to you, which will allow your Attorney enough time to gather the facts of the case and prepare a proper defense. There are several strategies you and your attorney can use in the case of a DUI/OVI charge that have proven to be successful.

For example; your attorney could argue a lack of probable cause for the traffic stop. Meaning, there was no reason to pull you over in the first place. Your attorney can then submit a petition to suppress any evidence the officer obtained during said stop. It is also possible to argue faulty or unreliable BAC results . The blood Alcohol Test measures one's level of alcohol in his or her blood. If the amount of alcohol in your blood exceeded the states legal limit your are determined to be unsafe to operate a vehicle.

An experienced attorney could find this test faulty if he can prove the test was administered incorrectly, the equipment used was not properly maintained or if you suffer from a medical condition that may have affected the reliability of the test. . Another strategy could be to bring into question, the credibility of the arresting officer . If your lawyer is able to question the police officer and prove there are inconsistencies in their testimony compared with the police report they filed, you just might have a chance of getting a not guilty verdict.

But if things are not working in your favor and everything was done by the book , then your criminal defense lawyer may advise you to accept a favorable plea agreement . Doing so may speed up the process and get you reduced charges and fees from the district attorney . And of course, you always have the right to gamble in court and lose. At which time you can always appeal the court's decision .

If you don’t, there will likely be an increase in your insurance cost, limits on employment options and you will now have a permanent record. Hiring a criminal defense lawyer is the only way to get out of a DUI charge