After a DUI arrest, the length of a driver’s license suspension will vary from state to state, as does whether or not a provisional license can be obtained for work transportation. Often this all relies heavily on whether the arrest was a first offense or not.
Unfortunately, you don’t always have to be a repeat DUI offender in order to be charged with a felony DUI. If your DUI arrest was the result of an accident that hurt or killed someone else, you could be looking at a felony charge.
Following a DUI arrest, you will need to appear before a judge for your arraignment. At this court proceeding, you will be asked to plead either guilty or not guilty to the charge. In some cases, the amount of your bail will be set as well.
Both DUI and DWI refer to the illegal act of driving while intoxicated from either alcohol or drugs. The two terms are often used interchangeably. DUI stands for “driving under the influence,” while DWI means “driving while intoxicated” or “driving while impaired.”
Are you concerned about what kind of consequences you’ll face from driving under the influence? Having an experienced DUI attorney on your side may be able to help you avoid some of the heftier punishments that can come with the crime.
The drunken driving accident that resulted in the most deaths occurred in 1988 in Kentucky when a driver with a BAC level of .24 triggered a head-on collision with a school bus. In all, 27 people were killed and 35 were injured.
Did you know that actor Haley Joel Osment, who earned an Oscar nomination for supporting actor in the 1999 movie "Sixth Sense," was arrested for DUI in 2006 after crashing into a mailbox in San Francisco?
It is vital to be particularly attentive to the details of your arrest as the actions of the officers may very well affect the outcome of your case. For example, did the officers have ‘probable cause’ to stop you?
In the Rhomberg Balance field sobriety test, the DUI suspect assumes a position, closes their eyes, tilts their head back, and counts to thirty. Here, the officer is looking for the inability to stand still or steady, as well as testing the suspect’s internal clock.
When you have a family that depends on you, being out of work because of a DUI jail sentence could leave them without the income they need to survive. Let’s talk about whether it’s possible to negotiate a work release in your case.
Your ability to drive after a drunk driving conviction often comes down to whether you have a license and insurance. After a conviction, many auto insurance companies will cancel your policy.
We recognize that no one wakes up in the morning with the intention of later driving under the influence. Let’s talk about the details of your case and what we believe we can do to help you get the lightest sentence possible.
If you’ve been arrested for DUI, it’s critical that you seek help right away. There are strict time limits within which the DMV must be contacted to avoid automatic license suspension, so contact a lawyer at once.
Remember, if you or someone you know has been arrested and charged with a DWI or DUI, spend AT LEAST as much time and effort to find your lawyer as you would to find a doctor.
While having a lawyer represent you when you’re facing a DUI charge is smart, we can’t guarantee you’ll get off with a slap on the wrist. What we can guarantee is that you’ll have someone on your side to help you fight for your legal rights.
In a DUI criminal case, your first court appearance is basically your arraignment. Here, the prosecutor will read the charges against you and you will be able to formally enter a plea. Also, bail as well as any conditions on your release is set at this time.
Some estimate that DUI arrests can end up costing a driver up to $20,000. The costs associated with the arrest are court costs, fines, car damage, medical costs, property costs, bail cost, increased insurance premiums and lawyer costs.
The opinions of expert witnesses regarding the impact of blood to alcohol ratios vary. While the prosecution will bring expert testimony that bolsters its side, your attorney can counter with expert witnesses that may refute them.
It’s important to remember that being taken to jail on suspicion of DUI doesn’t negate your legal rights. If you believe that the police violated your rights during your arrest, it’s smart to involve a DUI attorney as early in the process as possible.
Although you have the right to act as your own defense counsel in any courtroom proceeding, it is not recommended in DUI cases. Many judges like to make an example of DUI offenders with harsh penalties.
Of the tests for intoxication that are given, a blood test is the most reliable while a urine test is the least. Breath analysis (also called a chemical test) are reliable only to a point and has many problems associated with it. An attorney experienced with DUI law may be able to help with challenging chemical test results.
Delaware, Minnesota, and Colorado allow a blood alcohol level of .10, though the federal limit is still .08. If you get caught driving while under the influence on any interstate federal highways in the three previously mentioned states, the law of .08 will apply instead of .10.
