Everyone makes mistakes in life, but few mistakes can be as serious and as regrettable as getting behind the wheel once intoxicated. States all across the country have strict DUI laws in place and the penalties one can face for driving after drinking are so severe that they can be life-altering.
That’s without even discussing the potential damage a drunk driver can do! Driving under the influence can put yourself and others at great risk, which is why the law takes this kind of thing so seriously.
Getting a DUI can be a dark moment in one’s life, but the way that an individual handles the moments after this kind of moment can make all the difference. What do you need to do after you’ve been charged with DUI?
Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know.
Do Not Speak With The Police
Depending on when you are reading this article, there still may be time for you to integrate one very important tip regarding your DUI charge: don’t speak with the police.
The moment your charge is in place, you should begin to take your Miranda rights very seriously. Those are those rights that you’ve heard listed off in every cop show and movie you’ve ever seen: you have the right to remain silent, anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law…
They don’t toss these rights around for no reason! Anything that you say to a police officer during your charge can and will be used against you as evidence in a court of law.
You need to accept that as soon as you are being charged with a DUI, there’s going to be no talking your way out of it. No matter how confident you might feel in the moment, you are not a lawyer and you are not a legal professional.
That means you do not know what to say in this situation that will help your case, and you certainly might say a few things that actually hurt your case. For this reason alone, it’s better just to stay quiet. Waiting until a Criminal Defense Attorney can come and aid you is much preferable to trying to make excuses and give reasons yourself.
That doesn’t mean you need to be unreasonable or unwilling to cooperate with the police. You can cooperate without being too chatty and putting things on the record that don’t need to be there.
Silence is key, and if you still have time to put this mentality into practice, take the opportunity. Don’t talk to the police unless a lawyer is present.
Meet With An Attorney
That aforementioned criminal defense lawyer we were just mentioning? Your first priority, when released from jail, should be to get a meeting with an attorney. You’ll likely have a huge number of questions (that’s why you’re reading this article, right?) that an attorney can advise you on.
Understanding Penalties
As mentioned, the penalties for driving under the influence charge can be severe. Depending on the specifics and your criminal record, you could be facing huge fines, jail time, and some severe restrictions on your driving privileges.
If this is not your first time being hit with a DUI charge, you’ll be in even more trouble. The penalties for repeat offenders are very serious when it comes to DUI. You more than likely will find yourself behind bars or facing extreme restrictions.
You’ll also likely have a breathalyzer device installed in your vehicle when your driving privileges are eventually reinstated.
If it is only your first time being charged in this way, you have a little more wiggle room to make your impending punishment less severe. This is where DUI attorneys will come in. They will work hard to get you the lightest possible sentence.
Punishment for this kind of crime will vary depending on the specifics of your situation. For this reason, you’ll need to rely on your attorney to walk you through what kind of punishments you might be facing.
A good attorney will be patient and giving during this time, ensuring you really understand the stakes of your case and what a path forward might be.
Finding an Attorney
Where can you find a criminal defense attorney? Knowing how to get someone experienced and professional on your side is possibly the most important thing to learn in the wake of a serious DUI charge.
You can go through friends and family and see if anyone has any recommendations or look up well-reviewed lawyers in your area. Most attorneys will sit down for a free consultation to look over your case.
This free-of-charge sitdown is your opportunity to get some free advice, but also to almost interview the attorney and see if they feel like the right fit for your case.
If they seem attentive, focused, and patient? These are all good qualities to look out for. You’ll also want to ensure they have the proper background and licenses. Ideally, the more experience an attorney has, the better.
An experienced attorney will have handled cases just like your dozens and dozens of times in the past. They’ll know the ins and outs of handling DUI cases, what strategies to employ, and what obstacles to look out for.
They may even have existing relationships with judges and others in the legal field that can be advantageous to your case.
It’s for these very same reasons that it is worthwhile to focus on attorneys who work specifically within the DUI field as opposed to those with a much broader focus. They’ll have more experience and be able to help you more efficiently and reliably.
Help Gather Evidence
In order for your attorney to present a solid case, they’ll need evidence that can help support the claims that you want to make. Your attorney will reason out for which claims will make the most sense, and the evidence you’ll need can be gathered from there.
However, there are some scraps of evidence that are likely to be helpful no matter what. It can be smart to gather this evidence as early as possible following your DUI charge.
The best thing you can do following your charge is to make a record of everything you can remember leading up to the charge itself and following. It’s a good idea to either write these down or record a voice memo on your phone (or both!).
You should write down what your evening looked like, how many drinks you remember having, and where you were. You should be able to recount what led you to get into the vehicle, and when the cops were first on the scene. Try to remember as much as you can about everything the police said to you.
Detail out the whole interaction to the best of your ability.
If there were any witnesses to your arrest, getting their names and contact information can be very helpful as well. Having an impartial third party can make a huge difference in this kind of case. Any information they have can be extremely valuable.
Were there security cameras or any other sort of evidence you could access from the scene of your arrest? These can all be valuable as well. Video footage can help to confirm or deny the assertations the police might have made when deciding to pull you over.
Prepare For Your Court Date
When you are charged and released, you will be given a day in which you are expected to be seen in court. This is a very important day that you and your attorney need to prepare for. You do not want to forget when this date is.
Your attorney will help prepare you for this date and help build a case around you. In the time leading up to your court date, you need to do your very best to stay out of trouble. It’s advisable not to drink and drive only when needed. Get to your destination as safely as possible.
Any sort of incident that might occur between your charge and your court date can make a bad impression.
What To Do After Getting A DUI
If you’ve been slammed with a DUI charge, it’s important to take the next steps very seriously. Getting a DUI can be shocking and damaging, but with the right actions, you can help mitigate the damage this kind of charge can do to your life.
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