When you are charged with a DUI, there are a lot of punishments. You may lose your license, spend nights in the county jail, pay fines, be forced to complete community service, and have a mark put on your permanent record. Your insurance will skyrocket, and your bank account will shrink. While there are a lot of repercussions to a DUI, one of the worst is not a punishment brought on by the police. Instead, it is the social consequences that come with this embarrassing charge.
When you are given a DUI, chances are that your friends and family will find out. If your license is taken away, you will need people to drive you and you will probably have to explain why you can't get behind the wheel. If you are sent to jail, people will certainly notice your absence and ask where you are. It's not easy to hide a DUI, and most people aren't successful in doing so. As a result, everyone you know will hear about your misdemeanor. Oftentimes this is a shameful experience. When you have been charged with a DUI, people will automatically assume that you are a reckless, alcoholic driver. In most cases, they will dismiss your excuses as invalid.
Family members, such as parents, grandparents, spouses, or children will doubtless be disappointed when they hear about your crime. It is hard to be a role model for your children when you are dealing with this charge, and they may choose to disrespect you because of your decision. Parents are often infuriated when they hear that their children have been issued a DUI. Even some of your friends may be upset at you for your conviction.
Along with all of these issues, a DUI might affect the way that your employers regard you. An employee does not seem so responsible and trustworthy after employers hear that he or she received a DUI. In some cases, a DUI may be the tipping point, and you might lose your job. Even if you do not lose your position at work, you may be ridiculed or discounted. It may seem like a hard battle to face, with all of these people disappointed in you and angry that you made the decision to drink and drive.
Worst of all, maybe you are not guilty. There is nothing quite as bad as being convicted of a crime that you did not commit. It's shameful and painful to know that you are being judged and humiliated for something that you are innocent of. When you are charged with a DUI, but did not commit the crime, you will want to fight your charges. By hiring a reputable and tenacious DUI lawyer, you may be able to prove your innocence before the courts. That way, you can put the DUI behind you before people hear of your situation.
When you are fighting a DUI, remember that not all blood and breath tests are correct. In fact, there have been countless cases where a DUI suspect was proved innocent because the breath test machine was faulty, or blood tests were mixed up in the laboratory. Also, you may have failed some of the exercises that police make suspects complete, but it may have been for some other reason. For example, if you were wearing high heels, or if you have a head injury that could make you dizzy, then your balance may be off. By pointing out areas where the law enforcement may have made a mistake, you may be able to get rid of your DUI. Talk to a DUI attorney today to get a consultation.