Did You Know? Most DUIs Include Multiple Charges
Posted on Jul 26, 2012 11:20am PDT
When you are pulled over for a DUI, chances are that you are accused of a “three in one.” While most people only focus on their charge as a drunk driver, there are often several charges associated with a DUI arrest, and you will need to answer to all of them. According to Yahoo, a DUI almost always comes with at least two tickets. The person who is pulled over will be charged for driving while intoxicated, but he or she will also be charged with the traffic infraction that caused the stop in the first place. For example, if someone is pulled over for swerving and reckless driving, that is an individual charge that is not eradicated by the fact that the person is drunk. Sometimes a person will be pulled over for speeding, for failing to use traffic signals, for running a red light, or for driving inconsiderately.
In most states, the police must have a reason other than suspecting that a person is drunk to pull them over. That means that the driver must be violating some other traffic law. This is normally a clue to police that that driver is not sober. In some states, such as Florida, the police can also issue an administrative license suspension without the need to get a court involved. A person charged with a DUI in this state has 10 days to request a review of that suspension. Sometimes a court will grant the suspect permission to drive, at least until the actual DUI trial is underway.
Sometimes a person who is caught driving under the influence will make foolish decisions as a result. These decisions might include forgetting to drive with a license and registration, failing to comply with a police officer, or resisting blood and breath test. All of these situations can also bring on extra charges. A person who resists arrest will also be held accountable for this offense. All of the many violations are added up when a person arrives in court for a DUI, and each one will be evaluated separately. Because of this, it is imperative that you have a trustworthy and hard-working lawyer on your side throughout your case.
While you may want to represent yourself at your trial, this isn’t a good idea. When multiple charges are involved, the trial can get complicated and confusing. You need a professional who knows the intricate workings of the DUI laws in your state in order to have a chance of excusing your charges. Each state has a different code when it comes to DUIs, and they operate on this special, personalized set of rules. For example, in some states the police can pull a person over for any reason in order to check and make sure that the driver is not intoxicated. In other states they need a viable reason, such as some sort of infraction.
A lot of drunk drivers are pulled over for minor offenses like failing to wear their seatbelt, driving distractedly, or failing to adhere to signs on the road. Normally failing to maintain a lane is a big tip-off for the police, and will send them your way with their sirens on. If you are pulled over for a DUI and you are innocent, then you need to talk to a DUI lawyer right away. You don’t want to end up in jail or paying exorbitant fines for a crime that you didn’t commit, plus the extra traffic tickets for your minor offenses. Talk to someone from your area today!