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You should contact an attorney as soon as possible when you are accused of driving under the influence so your attorney can work to protect your rights from day one. Though you're entitled to represent yourself in a DUI trial, it's almost never a good plan. The learning curve for trial practice is steep and usually comes only with considerable experience.
This suspension is different from a license suspension after an OVI conviction. An ALS is civil in nature and used only for chemical testing refusals, whereas a suspension upon an OVI conviction is a criminal https://drunkdrivingdefense.com penalty. After a DWI arrest, if you refused the field sobriety tests or you blew above a .08, your driving privileges will be automatically suspended on the forty-sixth day after your arrest. You have ten days to request a hearing at the MVA to attempt to have your driving privileges reinstated.
- In the last few years, there has been explosion of websites with lawyers claiming to be drunk driving experts.
- On the other hand, while qualified lawyers are not cheap, you should not have to pay in advance for a jury trial to have a lawyer perform the preliminary work reviewing your case for possible challenges.
- It is critically important to know that if you have been arrested for a first-time DUI charge in Florida that you do not plead guilty until a lawyer has fully examined your DUI and looked for potential defense possibilities.
- By having legal counsel assist that driver to file an appeal within 14 days after arrest, this case be cut to 30 days, in most cases.
- Do not hesitate to contact Seth Okin if you have been charged with a DUI and are looking for legal assistance regarding the administrative penalties.
You should also make sure the attorney charges reasonable fees, has received good reviews and has not been the subject of ethical complaints. If a person refuses a breathalyzer test during a stop, the penalties increase automatically. Their license will be suspended for 270 days, there are no modifications, and/or you have an ignition interlock installed.
And while there are certainly a few former prosecutors that became great defense lawyers, many prosecutors simply read from a script, using pre-printed questions from trial handbooks published by the prosecutor’s office. Clarence Darrow once said that, "The only real lawyers are trial lawyers, and trial lawyers try cases to juries." This is especially true in drunk driving defense. A qualified drunk driving lawyer should be able to point to specific instances where he/she has taken a drunk driving case to trial before a jury.
First offense DWI can result in:
In that case, if you’re convicted of another DUI offense, you’re very likely looking at jail time, usually somewhere between a week and a month. If you’re convicted of a third or higher DUI offense, under Michigan law, the judge must sentence you to at least 30 days in jail, and, in practice, many judges will give you more time than that. And with a third or higher DUI offense, because it is a felony, the possibility of prison time also comes into play. BAC is typically determined through a breath, blood, or urine chemical test.
Can I get a DUI charge dismissed in Michigan?
With the help of a good lawyer, you may be able to save money, retain the ability to drive at least to work or school, limit or avoid jail time and avoid a criminal record. If you have been convicted of driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs, you risk facing some incredibly severe consequences. For example, DUI cases may result in jail time, fines, loss of your driving license, and loss of your job. You do not have to hire a DUI lawyer to be your legal representation if you don’t want to, but at The Law Place, we highly recommend you do.
Maryland MVA Hearing
For this reason, it is critical that you contact a Maryland DUI lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights, restore your privileges, and defend you against your DWI charge. If you are transporting a minor at the time of your DWI arrest, you jail time could increase to 6 months and your fine doubled to $1000. Fortunately, a skilled Maryland DWI attorney may be able to negotiate Probation before Judgment (PBJ) for DWI. Probation Before Judgement strikes the finding of guilt and will prevent the points from being assessed to the defendant’s driver’s license.