If you or your loved ones has been arrested for driving under influence, you may be wondering. what to do when you get a DUI. The moment of the arrest can be confusing and what follows can be both stressing and intimidating. However, knowing what to do can help you remain calm and raise the stakes at your trial. Here are 10 things to do after your dui arrest:
1. Remain Calm
If you have been arrested for DUI, remain calm. Although the experience can be frightening and stress-inducing, being arrested does not mean you are guilty. Take a deep breath and listen to what the arresting officer says. Focus more on protecting your legal rights and ask to speak with your lawyer. This will help you avoid interrogation without the benefit of legal representation.
2. Do Not Talk to The Police
When you get arrested for DUI, avoid talking to the police. There is nothing you can say to change their mind or prevent the prosecutor from pursuing charges. Even with a strong alibi or evidence that indicates your innocence, avoid speaking with the police at all costs. If The police will simply assume that you are lying or the evidence is fabricated. Before talking to the police, make sure your lawyer is present. If the police ask you to talk about your DUI arrest, decline the request and ask to speak with your lawyer.
3. Call the DMV Right Away
A DUI arrest usually involves a criminal case and the DMV Administrative Per Se (APS) case. The criminal case can take time and starts when the prosecutor files charges after receiving the police report. The police will give you a date to return to court for your court appearance when you are released from jail. However, you have 10 days only from the date of arrest to request the you DMV APS case hearing or your license will automatically be suspended. If you need assistance with your DMV APS case, call us right away to help you request a hearing.
4. Consult With an Experienced DUI Attorney
As you consider what to do when you get a DUI, getting help from an experience lawyer is a necessity. Many attorneys offer free initial consultation and will answer any question you may be having about your case. Our attorneys at Schill Law Group have experience handling DUI cases and will give you proper guidance throughout this case.
5. Understand Your Charges
Once you contact our DUI lawyers, let them explain what your charges are to you. They will explain what driving under the influence means and the specific charges related to your case. This will give you a clear understanding of your case, the severity of the penalties, and how to prepare for your defense.
6. Record the Details of What Happened
Once you get released from jail, record everything you can remember about what happened and the arrest. You can write the details down or save a voice of every single thing you can remember from the moment the police showed up to the time you left jail. Think about what you said to the police, your first encounter, and the reason the police gave for pulling you over. You can also write down about the field sobriety tests and anything the police said during the arrest.
7. Identify Potential Witnesses
Most people who are arrested for DUI are usually coming from a bar, a restaurant, or a friend’s home. This means that you were with other people before you were arrested. After release from jail, start creating a list of people you were with. Although police will not do any investigation in a standard misdemeanor, you may find witnesses that will help your case, such as testifying that you did not drink that much or you were not under the influence before getting behind the wheel.
8. Gather Potential Evidence
Think of any evidence available that can help your case. If you were at a restaurant or bar before your DUI arrest, request a copy of your bill to prove that you were not under the influence while driving. If the restaurant security cameras, their footage can help prove that you did not have too much to drink. Share this information with your attorney to help you determine if evidence is helpful and what to do with it.
9. Avoid Driving
After a DUI arrest, your license may or may not be suspended. However, you may receive a hardship license that allows you to drive to work or important locations. It is best to limit your driving during this period though. If you are arrested again for another driving offense, your DUI charge will be harder to fight. Consider arranging transportation through friends and relatives and live as normal a life as possible while allowing your attorney to work on your defense.
10. Be Patient
It usually takes a long time for a DUI case to be resolved, which can be up to a year. Once you get in touch with you attorney provide them with all available evidence before the case is set for trial.
Contact Our DUI Lawyers
If you have been arrested for DUI, contact our lawyers at Schill Law Group. We understand that DUI cases are unique and you require an attorney that knows the ins and outs of DUI’s to get the best outcomes. Call us today and let us fight for you.
