If you or a loved one have been charged with a DUI, contact our team of experienced attorneys and staff today!
Know Your Rights
The first thing to know when charged with a DUI is that you still are entitled to the same rights of an American citizen to which you were entitled before you received the charge.
Some of those pertinent rights include:
-
“The right to remain silent”
- The 5th Amendment to the US Constitution states that no one “shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.” This law is a crucial facet in protecting the rights of the accused.
- So, though you have been charged with a DUI, you do not have to speak in any way that will incriminate yourself. Make use of this right.
-
“The right to a fair and speedy trial”
- In the 6th Amendment to the Constitution it states, “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed.”
- When charged with a crime such as a DUI, fear and panic can often overtake reason and control. However, you should understand that the courts will not simply “lock you up.” You will be entitled to a trial that seeks the facts of your situation and a judgement from a jury of your peers with sentencing from the judge presiding over your case.
-
“The right to an attorney”
- This is arguably the most important weapon that you have in your defense when you are charged with a DUI. A good attorney will diligently investigate the details of your case and will fight for you before, during, and after your trial.
- Without hiring an attorney who will fight for you, you will be subject to the strength of the prosecution and left only to defend yourself with whatever little legal knowledge you may have.
Ready to discuss your case? Contact our experienced team for a free initial case consultation*
Know the Law
If you hire a capable attorney to represent you, then he or she will inform you on all of the intricacies involved in DUI charges and convictions. So, be sure to leave no stone unturned and ask your attorney as many questions as possible.
However, it is always a good idea to have a basis of understanding of how the law applies to your situation before starting the process of hiring an attorney who represents those accused of DUI’s.
Here are some of the must-knows:
-
Penalties:
- If convicted for the first time in Alabama, you could face up to one year in jail, be subject to a fine of $600 – $2,100, have your license suspended for 90 days, and be issued an Ignition Interlock Device (IID).
- An IID is a breath-test machine connected to the ignition system of a vehicle, that will only allow the vehicle to start if the blower has alcohol-free breath.
- If convicted for the first time in Alabama, you could face up to one year in jail, be subject to a fine of $600 – $2,100, have your license suspended for 90 days, and be issued an Ignition Interlock Device (IID).
*Note that for successive convictions, these penalties increase in severity.
The best way to deal with a DUI charge is to prevent it from ever happening by refusing to drive while under the influence of alcohol. However, should you be charged with a DUI, knowing these things will drastically help you get through it and be stronger because it.
