Though few state courts are exactly alike, how the officer acts during a drinking and driving arrest is made, how courts punish you for drinking and driving, and how you can rebuild your life are relatively similar. A drinking and driving offense can be called a DUI, DWI, or OWI, meaning that you are driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, or operating while intoxicated. In most cases, these laws mean the same thing. If you just got pulled over for a DUI charge, and you’re unsure of what’s next, this guide is for you. While it does not promise to save you from doing jail time, facing large fines, or license suspensions, it can help.

-What to Expect From the Officer
The police officer who pulls you over is just doing his or her job. Crying, yelling, getting physical, saying too much, being verbally abusive – they never work and can be used against you. The officer can pull you over after suspecting you’ve been drinking. If you’re swerving in and out of lanes, run a stop sign, fail to signal while turning across multiple lanes, even if you’re just speeding – these will get you pulled over for simply breaking the law, and if you happen to be drinking it’s even worse. You can expect the officer to ask you some questions. If he or she believes you’ve been drinking, your BAC (blood alcohol content) will be tested. If you fail this test, or if the officer has definite suspicion you’ve been drinking and driving, you can be arrested and charged.

-What to Expect in Court
You need a DUI attorney the moment you get arrested. Do not say anything else you get a lawyer, but allow for tests to be made if needed. Your attorney will represent you in court, do most of the talking, advise you on how to plead, and perhaps get you a lesser charge. The judge in a DUI case is hard to please: judges see cases like yours on a daily basis. That means you need to prove to them what you think happened. If you admit immediately, or if you decide to fight the charges, you need to consult with your attorney. Make no decisions on your own.

Full Article

Your first time in Court is called an Arraignment. Your next court date is called a Pre-Trial or Status Conference. You may also have court dates for Motions or Trial. This is your first time in Court and it’s where you are formally told about the charges against you. In the case of DUI, you may already know what the charge is before you even enter the Courtroom. However, there can be additional charges that you were unaware of like infractions for bad driving or additional criminal charges the prosecution filed after your arrest for DUI. Depending on Jurisdiction, you will either be mailed a Hearing Notice or you will have to look on your citation (about 1/3 from the bottom) where it says Mandatory Court Appearance for your court date and time. Arrive a few minutes early. Most courts will have a computer printout of all the people scheduled for court that day, called a docket. These printouts are generally in plain sight near the courtrooms. Next to your name will be a courtroom number. That’s where you need to go. If you get confused or can’t find your courtroom, ask at the Court Clerk’s office – they are generally very helpful. Once you get to the right courtroom, be prepared to wait. Most Courts will have either a video or a paper that explains your rights at arraignment. If it’s a paper, they will want you to sign your name – saying that you understand your rights. Eventually, you will be called up in front of the Judge. Don’t Panic. This is not your time to explain what happened – there will be ample time for that later. All the Judge wants to know at Arraignment is whether you understand the charge(s) against you and whether you want to plead Guilty or Not Guilty. That’s it.

Full Article

For More Information Visit: http://www.duilawdefense.com

Though few state courts are exactly alike, how the officer acts during a drinking and driving arrest is made, how courts punish you for drinking and driving, and how you can rebuild your life are relatively similar. A drinking and driving offense can be called a DUI, DWI, or OWI, meaning that you are driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, or operating while intoxicated. In most cases, these laws mean the same thing. If you just got pulled over for a DUI charge, and you’re unsure of what’s next, this guide is for you. While it does not promise to save you from doing jail time, facing large fines, or license suspensions, it can help.

-What to Expect From the Officer
The police officer who pulls you over is just doing his or her job. Crying, yelling, getting physical, saying too much, being verbally abusive – they never work and can be used against you. The officer can pull you over after suspecting you’ve been drinking. If you’re swerving in and out of lanes, run a stop sign, fail to signal while turning across multiple lanes, even if you’re just speeding – these will get you pulled over for simply breaking the law, and if you happen to be drinking it’s even worse. You can expect the officer to ask you some questions. If he or she believes you’ve been drinking, your BAC (blood alcohol content) will be tested. If you fail this test, or if the officer has definite suspicion you’ve been drinking and driving, you can be arrested and charged.

-What to Expect in Court
You need a DUI attorney the moment you get arrested. Do not say anything else you get a lawyer, but allow for tests to be made if needed. Your attorney will represent you in court, do most of the talking, advise you on how to plead, and perhaps get you a lesser charge. The judge in a DUI case is hard to please: judges see cases like yours on a daily basis. That means you need to prove to them what you think happened. If you admit immediately, or if you decide to fight the charges, you need to consult with your attorney. Make no decisions on your own.

Full Article

For More Information Visit: http://www.duilawdefense.com

While the array of penalties one suffers from a DUI arrest is overwhelming, the first penalty the accused often suffers, often as quickly as ten days after the initial arrest for DUI, is the loss of the ability to drive due to a suspended license. The DMV will suspend your license within ten days of your DUI arrest if there is evidence that your BAC is over a .08, or if you refuse to submit to a lawful test of your blood, breath, or urine. This guide will detail how a DUI attorney can help you get your hardship license back in both scenarios. How a DUI Lawyer can help you get your hardship license if your BAC was over a.08. Your DUI Lawyer can request a formal review of the suspension on your behalf, provided you hire him with within ten days of your arrest. When the DUI lawyer requests that hearing, he can obtain on your behalf a hardship permit that lets you continue to drive pending the outcome of your hearing. This is the first opportunity to get a hardship license, and it will be good for additional days.

While you continue to drive, the DUI Attorney will prepare for your administrative hearing. During that time, the DUI lawyer will obtain the police reports, affidavits, breath test inspection and maintenance logs, and all the stuff necessary to prepare for the formal review hearing. If your Florida DUI attorney can successfully argue that the police lacked probable cause for to arrest for DUI, or that the Officer did not substantially comply with the rules regulating the blood, breath, or urine test, then the administrative suspension will be set aside, and your full driving privileges will be restored. However, if the suspension is sustained, the hardship license will be taken away, and a period of “hard” suspension will begin. A “hard” suspension is a period of time during your regular license suspension when, no matter what your DUI Attorney says or does, no hardship license will be issued. You cannot drive (legally), period.

Full Article

For More Information Visit: http://www.duilawdefense.com