An arrest for suspected drunk driving can have severe consequences so you must respond aggressively. A guilty verdict can result in the loss of your driver’s license, your employment, an increase in insurance premiums, or even jail time.
Most people don’t know how to respond after a DUI arrest, which can lead to mistakes that make conviction far more likely. Here are the top mistakes people make after being arrested for a DUI.
Avoid Making These Mistakes After A DUI Arrest:
1. Don’t provide the police with evidence.
Don’t answer questions or volunteer information. Ask for a lawyer then remain silent – it is your Constitutional right. Following your arrest, be careful what you post on social. If your friends can see it, the Prosecutor will see it.
2. Make sure to request a hearing within 30 days following your arrest.
Refusal to take a blood-alcohol concentration or BAC test, or testing higher than .08, will result in an automatic driver’s license suspension. You have 30 days to request an Administrative Hearing to try to protect your license.
3. Don’t assume that a failed BAC test means a conviction is inevitable.
If you undergo a chemical test and are found to have drugs or alcohol in your system, you still have options. The Prosecutor still has to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and there are ways to introduce doubt about whether the chemical test was accurate. It may also be possible to prevent the failed test from being used against you (e.g., your Constitutional rights were violated during evidence collection).
4. Immediately hire a lawyer.
Choose a lawyer who is experienced in DUI and OVI defense and a law firm where the lawyer will speak with you personally. The sooner that you are represented, the better chance you have of minimizing or dismissing the case.
Make smart and informed choices and ensure that you do everything possible to try to avoid a conviction.
