DUI Crime

The steps you need to take after a DUI arrest

To ensure that your rights and freedoms are protected, be sure to contact a qualified DUI defense attorney immediately following your arrest. The more time your attorney has to review your case, the better! DUI cases are complex. From interviewing witnesses to reviewing chemical test results, you attorney has many facts to sort through. Make sure you give your attorney ample time to prepare a solid defense!

Once you find the attorney that’s right for you, be sure to answer all of their questions to the best of your ability. Your attorney will walk you through the day you were arrested, looking for any weaknesses in the prosecution’s claims. For instance, did the police have probable cause to even stop your vehicle? If so, why did they start a DUI investigation? When the police were arresting you, did they advise you of your Miranda rights and your right to remain silent? These are the types of facts that can be devastating to the prosecution. Remember, the police must follow certain protocol and if mistakes were made, any evidence that they collected against you could be deemed inadmissible in court.

After you and your attorney review your DUI stop, arrest and detainment, be sure to ask if your state’s department of motor vehicles requires that you request a hearing. This is a civil proceeding where the DMV suspends your driver’s license for a set amount of time upon learning of your DUI arrest. If you fail to request a hearing with them within a specified time after your arrest, you will automatically lose your driver’s license. This happens even before you step inside a court room!

In addition to representing you in court, your attorney can also represent you during your DMV hearing. Your attorney can present you as a model citizen and explain the reasons why he or she believes you to be innocent of the crime of DUI.

The most important thing to remember during this difficult time is that there are always defenses to a DUI charge. With the help of your attorney, you can expose the flaws in the prosecution’s claims.