Nobody wants to be charged with a DUI. If it happens to you, you’ll find yourself in a frustrating, frightening, and unfamiliar situation. Being pulled over is stressful, and so is being arrested and charged. Plus, the whole thing can be humiliating. And this is just the beginning: Now, you have to worry about the expenses and the consequences associated with DUI charges. To get the best possible outcome for your DUI charge, you need to know the things below.
You could face serious consequences
Gone are the days when drunken drivers got a slap on the wrist. Successful lobbying campaigns and growing knowledge of the dangers of drunken driving have led to much more restrictive and punitive laws governing driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In Washington, D.C., jail time is on the table even for first-time offenders. After the first offense, you could get as much as a year in jail for drunken driving. The fines are steep, too, and you could be forced to have an ignition interlock device installed on your car if convicted.
And then there are the social and career-related consequences. A drunken driving conviction could destroy your reputation among your friends and professional peers. It could stall or set back your career advancement, especially if your public image is an important part of your professional prospects.
They’re cops, not confessors
Before you’re even arrested for a DUI, the police will be chatting you up. The more you talk, the more you help them — and the more you hurt your own case. Never share more than is legally required with the police, even if you’re innocent. In law, the truth does not set you free — and it often lands you in jail.
And if you’re guilty? Well, then you really shouldn’t speak to the police. Good people have a natural impulse to confess things and seek absolution, but that’s what your priest is for, not what the police are for. Speaking to the police about what’s going on could dramatically limit your legal options later on.
You need an attorney to move forward
Without an attorney, you’ll stand little chance of beating your case. With an attorney in your corner, on the other hand, you’ll be equipped to fight for the best possible outcome for your case.
Act fast. Secure a dc dui lawyer to represent you in your case. Knowing the basics about how to react to a DUI charge will help you early on, but you’ll soon be swept up in the legal process; to handle the hearings and other legal hurdles to come, you absolutely need a trained and qualified attorney who specializes in cases like yours.
You may have to post bail
If you’ve been arrested and taken to jail for a DUI charge, you may have to post bail to leave jail. That means dealing with a bail bond organization (unless you can afford to put up the cash yourself). This process can be a little unsettling for those new to it, but it isn’t that difficult. Of course, things will be easier and more comprehensible if you already have your attorney — the sooner you call one, the better off you’ll be!
This isn’t the end of the world
A DUI can have serious consequences, but it doesn’t have to ruin your life. Particularly in the cases of first-time offenders, good DUI lawyers can get clients off or secure attractive plea bargains. With the right attorney, you could walk away from this experience with little more than an embarrassing memory and an important life lesson.
