Personal Injury Lawyer

DUIs are extremely serious. When you are charged with a DUI, you could lose your license, face jail time, and a variety of fines. If faced with a DUI, it helps to understand how the process works.

The Traffic Stop

In order to pull you over on suspicion of a DUI, the officer has to have probable cause. An officer may catch you driving erratically, swerving out of your lane, or speeding. Once pulled over, the officer will ask you a series of questions. If he or she has any reason to believe that you are under the influence of alcohol, then he or she may ask you to perform a number of field sobriety tests before offering you a breathalyzer.

The Filed Charges

If the officer has reason to believe that you were driving under the influence, then he or she will make the arrest. Once arrested, the officer will transport you to the local station. Odds are you will have your license removed and will instead have a paper driving permit until the court can decide whether or not you should have your license suspended. Once you have been arrested, you may end up staying there until someone can bail you out. In some instances, the judge will release you on your own recognizance. If you have to spend any amount of time in jail, then this jail time may count for your future sentences.

When it comes to the official charges, the district attorney will normally file these charges against you. Once charged, you will have to go through the court proceedings to either lower your sentence or to fight the charge entirely. DUIs are stressful because they come with extremely high consequences. You could lose your license, your reputation and more from a DUI charge. This is why it is crucial for many people to fight the charges. After all, there are often a lot of different weaknesses to a police officer’s case when it comes to DWI. To talk to a DUI lawyer, like a DUI lawyer in Fairfax, VA, for more information.

When it comes to a DUI traffic stop and charge, it is crucial that you understand what to expect. The process can be intimidating, especially given the weight of the charges that you are facing. The more that you understand about the process, the easier it will be to deal with it. In addition, if you consult with a DUI lawyer, you can have an advocate in your corner.

Thanks to May Law, LLP for their insight into what you should expect with a DUI charge.