You just left a restaurant where you celebrated a friend’s birthday. You get a few miles from home when you reach a license check. You had one or two drinks at the restaurant.
Nothing serious.
It is enough to tip off the police, however. After administering a breathalyzer test, they put you in handcuffs and carry you off to a jail cell. You’d like to try and fight the resulting ticket somehow if you can.
You’re not sure what to do after a DUI. We might be able to help you out with that. Check out this guide to learn how to fight your ticket in the court of law.
Don’t Speak to the Police
When the police arrest you for a DUI, the worst thing you can do is try and fight it. Go quietly without talking to the cops except for answering basic questions.
Don’t try to come up with excuses or alibis. They aren’t going to care. In fact, if you try and protest it too much, they’ll believe you fabricated your story.
If you have any evidence that will make or break your case, it’s best to talk to a criminal defense lawyer about it. Try to avoid answering questions specifically geared toward your DUI unless you have a lawyer present.
Use That One Phone Call
One of the basic DUI consequences is a suspended license. Most states will suspend it as soon as you’re thrown in jail. When it’s time for you to go home, call someone to pick you up.
You don’t want to risk getting stopped for driving with a suspended license, on top of having a recent DUI. Don’t get behind the wheel of a car until you’re cleared to do so.
Record Your Court Date
Before you head home, you’ll be handed a slip of paper with your court date on it. Whatever you do, don’t lose this paper. As soon as you get home, record the date on your phone and personal calendar.
Call work and schedule to be off that day. There’s no telling how late your court session will run, so you don’t want to arrange to come in later. Leave the entire day clear.
Decide if You Want to Contact a Lawyer
While it can’t hurt to give Timothy Webb a call after getting a DUI, sometimes it’s not necessary. For the most part, the judges take your blood alcohol levels into account when making a decision.
The only time you need a criminal defense attorney is if you plan to plead not guilty. There’s a good chance that you may have failed the field sobriety test even though you haven’t drunk a single drop of alcohol. Many slip up on these tests due to nerves.
If you think that this was the case for you, you’ll need a lawyer to help you. They can also give you a hand with all of the paperwork so you can get the situation resolved as fast as possible.
Arranging Transportation
Again, there’s a good chance that your license will be suspended as soon as you’re jailed for a DUI. If you’re caught driving before your court date, you’ll be in a world of trouble.
Arrange some other type of transportation until you get things sorted. This can be a trusted friend or family member, or you can call an Uber. It doesn’t matter so long as you stay off the road yourself.
Call the DMV
In some states, getting a DUI will start two different cases. There’s the criminal court case that has to be settled in front of a judge and a DMV Administrative Per Se case.
The criminal case will start as soon as the paperwork is filed against you. As far as the DMV case goes, however, you’ll only have ten days after your arrest to request a hearing.
If you fail to request the hearing, your licenses will be suspended, and the charge will stay on your record. Though it’s a small charge, it can still cause problems when it’s time for you to find a job.
Make a List of Witnesses and Gather Evidence
If you’re going to prove your innocence, you’re going to need evidence and witnesses. Without both, it’s going to be hard to plead your case. Give your lawyer a list of people you were with the day of your arrest.
One of them might be able to attest that you weren’t drinking, or you drank very little. If you were coming home from a restaurant (like in our example at the beginning), you might be able to pull your receipt to show that you didn’t order alcohol.
Get Ready For Your Court Date
Now that you have all your chips in place, it’s time to prepare for your court date. Wear your best clothes and bring along all the paperwork required of you.
Be prepared for anything. It could take years before your DUI is settled. There’s always a chance your lawyer will have to put a pause on things to make a motion to gather new evidence.
Know Exactly What to Do After a DUI
Were you arrested for a DUI on your way home after drinking very little alcohol or none at all? It can be hard to plead your case because of how cut and dry the lawyers are but don’t give up hope.
As long as you know what to do after a DUI and get the right attorney on your side, you might be able to prove your innocence.
If you need more advice on how to navigate your way through a DUI charge, we have your back. Check out our blog daily for all the latest tips and tricks.