What to Do After Your First DUI

If you are charged with a DUI, you may feel overwhelmed. What can you do next? You are at risk of heavy fines, a suspended license and even jail time, depending on the circumstances of the case. When you are facing a DUI charge, it is important that you stay calm and handle the case with care.

If this is your first DUI, here are some tips on how you should handle it.

Keep Track of Details

After a DUI stop, it is important that you keep track of all of the details. Any detail is going to be important to your case. Even if you think that the detail is small, you should still make a point to write it down.

Some details that you need to include are:

Where the stop took place

What tests you took and how you performed

What type of conversation you had with police

All minor details that you can remember

Remember to write everything down as soon as possible. Your memory may fade and you may find it more difficult to recall important details later. It helps to write them all down at the start.

During a DUI stop, you will be asked to perform tests. One will be the field sobriety test and the other may be a breathalyzer test. You need to make sure you write down which tests you performed and how you performed on them. The reason you want to recall how you performed is because sometimes, anything less than perfect is a failure, despite whether or not you were intoxicated.

The more information you have about the traffic stop and the reasoning behind the charge, the more you will be able to strategize with your lawyer about a solid defense.

Contact a Lawyer

One of your first moves should always be to contact a lawyer. When you have someone from a top criminal defense law firm, you are more likely to succeed in lessening your charges. While some people choose to represent themselves, this isn’t necessarily a wise decision. The laws may be more complicated than you think.

Some defense lawyers specialize in DUI cases. Odds are, any lawyer that you choose has seen cases like yours in the best. This makes it much more likely that he or she is going to be able to help you. You can count on your lawyer to be able to prepare a defense that is custom to your specific situation.

To be charged with a DUI is stressful. On top of the charges, if you choose to represent yourself, you have to deal with ensuring that you file all of the proper paperwork, prepare your defense and still continue forward with everyday life. When you have a lawyer, you can take some of that stress off.

Attend Your Court Date

Once you have a court date set, it is up to you to make sure that you’re there on time. Keep in mind that you want to give the best impression possible. This means that you should dress in appropriate attire. For men, slacks and a button down shirt are the best option, whereas women should wear a professional blouse, slacks or a skirt.

Going in, you’re going to have limited information about the judge. You don’t want to assume that he or she won’t take your appearance into consideration. Likewise, if you dress professionally and present yourself in a professional manner, you are more likely to have a better outcome.

When charged with a DUI, you may feel overwhelmed or lost. This is completely normal. After all, DUIs have high penalties, even if this is only your first time. When it comes to your charge, your conviction will depend heavily on the circumstances. Even if you think that the case is going to be cut and dry, it is crucial that you have a lawyer to aid in your defense.