Fighting a DUI can seem like a thankless task, but it can be done. There are certain circumstances under which you must fight a DUI if you want to keep your record and reputation clean.
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Fighting a DUI seems like an almost impossible task. It may seem as though the state and the prosecutor in your case have done everything in their power to stack the odds against you. In most cases, you really aren’t wrong in this assumption. The penalties for even a first time DUI are set as high as possible in order to discourage you from ever getting another one. However, there will always be certain circumstances in which you must fight a DUI. The evidence against you may be faulty or it may have been collected or used in a less than ethical manner. In such a case, you can and must fight.
The First Step in Fighting a DUI Is to Contact a Lawyer
The very first thing you should do after receiving a DUI is to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. The longer you wait to do so, the harder it will be to mount an adequate defense for fighting a DUI. You want to collect all of the relevant documentation and eyewitness accounts as soon as possible so as to get them while they are fresh. If you wait too long, people’s memories can grow blurry and documents can get lost. This is why you must fight a DUI by gathering all of the relevant info as soon as possible.
The Majority of DUI Offenders are First Timers
The majority of people who commit DUI offenses are first time offenders for whom this may well be their only time facing this particular charge. If this is true in your case, fighting a DUI will be somewhat easier since you do not have a record of multiple offenses to complicate matters. However, there are still certain circumstances under which you must fight a DUI, particularly when you consider that the conviction will be on your record for the rest of your life.
What Are the Costs Associated With a DUI Conviction?
Even if this is only your first DUI conviction, the costs associated with this process will be severe. After you figure in your cost for hiring a professional DUI lawyer, there are a host of other costs that you need to factor in. These additional costs will include, but may not be limited to, the following:
- The cost of your bail
- The court costs that you must pay
- The total amount of the fine imposed by the court
- The cost of the DUI education classes you may be required to attend.
- The costs associated with the rise in your insurance premiums
Fighting a DUI Becomes Easier When You Realize the Costs That Are Involved
When all of these costs are factored into the equation, you may be looking at a total of $10,000 associated with a first time conviction. The costs associated with a second or third conviction will be even higher. This is why fighting a DUI is so important. You can’t afford to simply sit back and let the court saddle you with these enormous fines.
You Must Fight a DUI to Avoid Losing Your License
A first time DUI conviction usually carries with it the suspension of your driver’s license for a minimum of six months. If you depend on being able to drive to and from work or school, this can be a devastating penalty to have to deal with. Whatever momentum you have toward working toward the completion of your college degree may be lost. Even worse, you may not be able to hold on to your job if you don’t have a reliable way of getting to it every day. The income you lose when you get fired from your job should be factored into the ultimate amount you will pay when you receive a DUI.
Fighting a DUI Should Be a Matter of Holding On to Your Pride
Another reason for fighting a DUI is maintaining your pride. When you get convicted of a DUI, you automatically lose your standing as a citizen in the eyes of the law and of the public. This can be a very hard blow to your basic sense of pride and self image. If you feel that the label of a criminal or untrustworthy person has been attached to you unfairly, this is an excellent reason why you must fight a DUI.
You Must Fight a DUI in Order to Stay Out of Prison
Perhaps the most important reason of all for fighting a DUI is to stay out of prison. As noted above, even a first time DUI offense can routinely carry a penalty of six months spent in jail. While the imposition of such a penalty is up to the discretion of the court, this doesn’t mean that you should trust in their good will. Many times, a judge may feel pressure coming from above to make an example of an offender so as to discourage others from committing this same offense. In such a case, fighting a DUI with the help of your lawyer becomes a matter of not letting yourself be used as a sacrificial guinea pig.
What Can a DUI Lawyer Do to Help Win Your Case?
A DUI lawyer is your best bet to give you a fighting chance of winning your case. They can collect all of the available evidence to help present your case in the best possible light. If you believe that the evidence being used against you is faulty, or is being used by the police in a less than professional manner, your DUI lawyer can subpoena the evidence in order to prove that this is the case. These are things that you would not be able to do by yourself, which is exactly why a DUI lawyer is so valuable.
It’s Never a Good Idea to Try to Represent Yourself in Court
When fighting a DUI, it is never a good idea to try to handle your own defense without a professional legal representative at your side. The penalties that you face will only be increased if you allow the prosecutor in your case to lead you into all kinds of contradictions. Prosecutors are experts at getting defendants to accidentally perjure themselves or commit other gaffes that can be instantly seized upon as evidence of guilt. This is why, when fighting a DUI, you should do as little of the talking as possible.
You Can Use Our Network of Resources to Find a DUI Lawyer
Regardless of whether this is your first or second offense, you can use our vast network of resources to find the DUI lawyer that is right for your needs. You can browse our network of local DUI lawyers to find the one that represents your area and then arrange for an initial consultation. In many cases, this first meeting with a lawyer is free of charge with no strings attached. From there, you can work together to plan a fully customized DUI defense that will give you the best shot at getting your penalties reduced or even dismissed.
You Can Use Our Online Resources to Get Started on Your Case
We have a large network of resources that will enable you to locate and contact a DUI lawyer today. The sooner you do so, the sooner you will be able to mount a defense that can get your penalties reduced or dismissed. You owe it to yourself to fight your case with the best resources that you can find. Now is the time to let us help you find the DUI lawyer that can help you win your case. There is not a moment to lose, so log on today to get started.