Five Things to Avoid After You’ve Been Charged with a DUI
Posted on Apr 2, 2014 3:54pm PDT
If you have been arrested on a DUI charge, what you do from here on out can either help or hamper your defense. There are five things in particular that could damage your credibility or cause a judge to question your intentions. Fortunately, these are easily preventable. Give yourself the best chances of beating your DUI charge. Don't do any of the following.
Using Social Media to Update Others on Your DUI Case
Regardless of the privacy settings you may have on your account, it is still possible for prosecutors to find what you've said online, and yes, they can use your online behavior as evidence in court. Whether you post your defense strategies or successes in your case to Facebook or Twitter, there are still ways that your words can be twisted and used against you. Err on the side of caution and simply don't say anything about your DUI online.
Partying Hard
Unfair though it may seem, you very much want to reduce your drinking and partying while your DUI case is pending. You do not want any public image that a prosecutor could skew as a habit of heavy drinking and recklessness. It is even possible that a judge could catch wind of your habits, so just be cautious.
Driving Without Your License
When you were arrested for a DUI, you probably had turn in your driver's license. If that license suspension stuck and you have no legal means to driver yourself (like a temporary license), then you shouldn't drive. For one thing, you could have to cough up thousands of dollars for fines. Worse still, you could be looking at a longer and more expense sentence if you're convicted of DUI.
Missing Your Court Date
If you do this, your name will be put on a bench warrant, and you could be arrested and held in jail until your trial. This also paints a dubious picture of your character, which can not only affect your DUI case, but any arrests you could meet with going forward. This is very bad to have on your record.
Handling the DUI Case on Your Own
Do you understand administrative license suspensions, court processes, chemical tests, evidentiary procedure, and more? With your future and freedom on the line, why would you want to be without a trained legal advocate who has the experience and knowledge that could make all the difference in your case? Your best shot at clearing your name and preserving your liberties is to work with someone who fully knows what types of defenses are available to you, and how to discredit the prosecution's case. At the very least, it is in your best interests to consult a DUI attorney to get an idea of what your options are. Find the legal advocate you deserve on our directory today!
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