If you are arrested for a DUI, your first action should be to remain silent and hire a DUI lawyer. Hiring a lawyer soon after you are arrested can make a considerable difference in the outcome at each stage of the legal process.
Bond Hearings
If you have a lawyer, the outcome of a bond hearing might be better. Depending on the jurisdiction, there might be more options for bond than to simply pay the specified amount. In some places, cash bond has been reduced or eliminated to make the process more fair to people with lower incomes. It is your lawyer's job to come up with reasons you should be released on your own recognizance or have an affordable bond. These reasons can include this case being your first offense or characteristics that make you a low flight risk and not a danger to the community. You are far more likely to have a good outcome with a lawyer than facing the judge on your own.
Consistent Testimony
When you hire a lawyer, they will often warn you to stay quiet. In the event you are interviewed by police, when you have your lawyer present during questioning they can coach you on when to answer questions or simply remain silent. The main benefit of having a lawyer present during questioning is to prevent giving inconsistent testimony. Even if you are not lying, it is easy to give testimony that does not exactly match, especially if the police ask you questions that are confusing. Unfortunately, any inconsistency in your testimony will come back at trial and will adversely affect you. The best tactic is to only talk to your attorney. If you are in jail, you should not speak about your case to other inmates either, since they can be brought as witnesses for the prosecution at trial.
Plea Deals
Your lawyer can attempt to convince the prosecution to offer a plea deal. Most cases are decided by plea agreement because it's faster and easier than going to trial. Your lawyer can help negotiate terms of the agreement, which might include being sentenced to a term of probation rather than incarceration. Other parts of the agreement can include substance abuse classes and having your license revoked for a reasonable amount of time. If you break the plea agreement, you will be required to serve whatever amount of jail time was suspended by the agreement.
If you are arrested for a DUI, it is easy to make matters worse by handling the case yourself. Having a DUI defense lawyer at all stages of your case will increase the chance of a better outcome.
