It is hard to know how to act if you are pulled over for speeding, are involved in an accident, or being questioned about drinking while driving. Being arrested is not something that most people go through every day, and when faced with the possibility of being put in the back of a squad car the ability to think rationally often goes out the window. In many instances the instinct to defend yourself kicks in and it becomes easy to resort to doing what a friend of a friend has told you in the past. But taking the wrong steps can get you in more trouble and only lead to legal complications. Knowing what to do and what to expect will help you remain calm and can also keep the range of punishment at its lowest.
Here are four common DUI mistakes, and how to avoid them if you have been charged with driving while under the influence:
- Taking your time to do anything in the days after an arrest: if you do not act fast you can lose important rights, such as the right to drive. You only have ten days after a DUI arrest to challenge the revocation of your driver’s license, and if you do not act within that time you will not be allowed to later. What this means is that you will not be able to drive for a period of time, but if you do take action on time you might be given at least a modified license.
- Driving without permission: failing to ask for a review of your license suspension within the time allotted means you cannot do so later, but if you still drive anyway you run the risk of additional charges being filed against you.
- Trying to talk your way out of the ticket: while it might work on television and in the movies, rarely does a police officer agree to let someone off the hook simply because they ask. In fact trying to talk your way out of ticket can cast you in a negative light and place your credibility at issue.
- Failing to question the test results: not all breath test results are reliable, which means you should challenge the validity of not only the way the test was administered, but also the test results. Allowing the test results to stand without question can be a fatal error to your case.
Most DUI cases are resolved by agreeing to go on probation. If the defendant fully performs all of the requirements of the probation, the charges are usually reduced to something lesser at the end of the probationary term. Some of the more common requirements on probation include staying out of trouble, going to counseling, paying fines, and having an interlock device installed in your car. For more information on what to do if you have been charged with DUI, call us today.
For help with DUI cases, call an experienced defense attorney in Stuart and the Treasure Coast. We offer an initial consultation for no charge, and look forward to helping you resolve your case in a satisfactory way.