When you are arrested for a DUI, it is a grave and serious matter. You may have to spend months in jail because you choose to drive while intoxicated. When you are arrested for driving under the influence, repentance can go a long way. If you are sorry about your mistake, and can genuinely display a desire to make things right, then the court may lighten your sentences. You may be able to trade jail time for community service or exchange a heavy fine for a driving class. If you don’t show repentance for your crimes, chances are that the court will only be harsher with you.
Recently, a woman in Kentucky was arrested for a DUI. She side-swiped another vehicle while she was drinking and was taken to a local jail. When she was bailed out, she went home and broadcasted her crime on Facebook. While many stars will apologize to fans and friends on Twitter or Facebook, Paula Asher’s post was of a different nature. She wrote “… got a DUI and hit a car. LOL.” The statement, which mocked her charges, was seen by police, who ordered her to take it down off of her Facebook page. Asher did not comply with the request, which led to another arrest. She was held in contempt of court and ordered to spend two days in jail because of her attitude.
On the opposite end, those that have remorse over their crime have a heightened chance of reducing their sentences. A man in Tampa, Florida accompanied victims to the hospital after he hit them while driving intoxicated. He told them that an apology was not an adequate gesture for what he did, and didn’t object when he was sentenced to five years in prison for vehicular manslaughter. The man could have been issued a 10 to 15 year sentence, but the judge lowered the term because he was so repentant.
The widow of the deceased victim was in court the day of the trial, and opposed the sentence. Instead of arguing that it was too short, like many bereft victims would, she argued that the offender’s prison sentence was too long. She said that she understood that the offender was sorry, and that he deserved to live a life of freedom after. This helped to lower his sentence even more. If you regard your DUI sentence with this much sorrow and remorse, chances are that you will also receive a lesser sentence than if you mock your charges and don’t admit to your wrong-doing.
If you have been charged with a DUI, you will want to talk to your attorney about the best way to reduce your sentences. You should not talk with law enforcement before you have an attorney at your side. One poor choice of words could be held against you, as is warned when you are read your Miranda Rights. Instead, you should invoke your right to remain silent and refrain from saying negative things about your charges.
If you are remorseful about your DUI, then you should show this visibly. Be genuine, because police will probably know if you are faking your repentance. Approach the court, law enforcement, and all other parties involved in your DUI case with reverence and teach-ability. The more willing you are to make things right, the more the court may like you. Talk to your lawyer to get more information about how to act when you have been arrested for a DUI. If you were falsely accused, then you should still make every effort to be agreeable and open when working on your case. Allow your attorney to explain why you were falsely accused.