If you intend to contest any aspect of your drunk driving arrest, you need a good DUI lawyer by your side. There’s certainly nothing in the law that states that you cannot act as your own attorney, but it is not a recommended course of action. Even if you have a good working knowledge of the law, you’re far better off being represented by someone who has the experience and education necessary to provide you with a good defense. Of course, not every lawyer is created equally. If you don’t feel you’re getting an adequate defense for your money, it is your right to find someone else. Here are some of the things your attorney should be interested in, regarding your case.

Your Activities and Consumption

If your DUI lawyer isn’t asking you any questions about what you were doing prior to being arrested, then he isn’t doing his job. This is crucial to the case at hand and may very well be the information that makes or breaks the case. Were you at a bar? A party? Were you sitting home, drinking in front of the TV? While the law doesn’t care where you consumed the alcohol before deciding to get behind the wheel, these details could matter when it comes to determining how inebriated you were at the time — if at all. If there were witnesses in attendance, they may need to be called for interview and possibly to testify on your behalf.

Officer Interaction

This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and it is the very point upon which many a DUI lawyer has found his defense. A police officer must be very careful to uphold a citizen’s rights when detaining them for questioning or sobriety tests. If your rights were trampled during this time, it could be enough to throw out the whole case. Many communities are understandably vigorous when it comes to pulling drunk drivers off the road. However, there is a difference between vigilance and overstepping the boundaries of the law. Your attorney should be very interested in figuring out which happened in your case.

Your Criminal History

While prosecutors are forbidden to bring in prior criminal history to argue a case against a defendant, it is sometimes wise for a DUI lawyer to bring up the lack of one as an argument for their client. If this is the fourth or fifth time you’ve been in trouble with the law, the judge is much less likely to show you leniency than if this is the first time you’ve ever been arrested.

A Gainesville GA DUI lawyer knows the ins and outs of the legal system. Develop your case with the experienced firm at http://northgeorgialegal.com.

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The facts about drunk driving are so horrendous and scary that simply to be aware of them will by itself introduce a measure of sobriety in us and a willingness to do more than just stand by while hundreds of people are killed or injured every year. You can literally help save a life today by simply reading the following statistics, understanding the gravity of the situation and by sharing these facts judiciously with those who you think may also be in a position to help.

1) One in three of us will be involved in an impaired driving accident during our lifetime.

2) One in three 13-year olds drinks alcohol.

3) Kids who start drinking young are 7 times more likely to be involved in a drunk driving accident.

4) More teenagers die in car accidents than from any other cause and one in three of these accidents are due to drinking and driving. The severity of accidents increases with the involvement of alcohol–2% property damage, 4% bodily injury, 22% death.

5) Six thousand people die every year because of teenage drinking and this is more than all other illegal drugs combined. More males than females are involved–26% male teens versus 13% female teens. Alcohol use makes it less likely that these kids will be wearing safety belts–of those that were killed in a drinking and driving accident, 73% were not wearing seat belts.

6) High school students who use alcohol or other illegal drugs are five times more likely to believe that good grades are not important and drop out of school.

7) One person will die every 50 minutes in a drunk driving accident in the United States. That’s 10,839 people this year.

One person is injured every minute in a drinking and driving accident. That’s over half a million people this year, the entire population of Tuscon, Arizona, Omaha, Nebraska, Sacramento, California or Atlanta, Georgia.

9) Every adult in the United States pays $500 every year because of impaired driving.

10) The average habitual drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before he is caught for the first time. These traffic stops often result in the identification of criminals who are suspected in other crimes.

Remember, today it is someone else’s son, daughter, father, mother, brother or sister who is killed or seriously injured by a drunk driver but tomorrow it could be your turn. No matter what you think, you are not special.

To learn more about drunk driving, please visit DWI in Texas and Auto Insurance Costs.

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Officer “X” Reveals His Top Methods For Making His DUI Quota.

I was visiting Alabama last week and met up with an old co-worker. She’s married to a cop, and we got to talking about how police catch the bad guys. Steve said his squad has a lot of secrets to catching drunk drivers. Since conviction of a first Alabama DUI can mean up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $2,100 and the suspension of your driver’s license for 90 days, you’ll want to make sure you aren’t part of the quota for Officer “X.”

1. Be very careful in Alabama: Their DUI law doesn’t require a drunk driver be caught driving the car! Just the fact that you’re in the car and able to operate it may be all that police need to arrest you. It’s not a secret, really – unless you don’t know the law, that is! Be aware of this Catch-22.

2. Don’t sleep it off in the park – the cops cruise through there regularly. Don’t sleep it off in any public place. It might ultimately be a lot cheaper to just rent a motel room for the night.

3. Drive safely. You have to make a driving mistake in order to be pulled over. If you’re driving safely and courteously, the cops won’t suspect you. Did you know that, if you’re driving unsafely, even if you haven’t been drinking, you can still be charged with an Alabama DUI?

4. Do not take a field sobriety test. If you’re unlucky enough to get pulled over, and the police ask you to walk-and-turn, or do the one-leg test, it is your right to say no, because it’s completely voluntary. Don’t take the bait!

5. Watch out for the bouncer. Police will often bribe the bouncer to tip them off to the people who might be drunk. Police have a quota to fill, you know!

6. Don’t go to the liquor store after you’ve had a few. Police will regularly cruise around liquor stores. If someone’s been drinking, just parking poorly will tip off the cops, let alone if they see someone fumbling to open their car door.

7. Keep your cool at roadblocks and checkpoints. They’re not a very effective method of catching drunk drivers, as only about.03% of the drivers turn out to be drunk. It’s really just a bait and switch method for meeting their DUI quota, because the cops are watching and waiting up the road for you to turn around and leave as though you have something to hide.

8. If you’re on parole, make sure you’re stone-cold sober when you see your parole officer. A lot of police officers have parole officers for friends, and friends share information. If you’re a DUI parolee, especially if you live in a small town, you’re already on the police radar.

9. And if you are a DUI parolee, remember you’re not supposed to frequent establishments that serve alcohol, except for ball parks, concerts, etc. Stay clean even when you visit these places, because there are always a lot of cops there!

10. Call a cab. The second-shift cops always cruise around bars and clubs after closing time, looking for suspects. It will be much cheaper – and safer – to call a cab instead.

MyDUIAttorney.org is a directory of qualified attorneys, lawyers and firms who deal with drunk driving cases and help defend those charged with a DUI offense. The directory provides a source of marketing and lead generation for these attorneys, lawyers and law firms, making it easy for DUI offenders to search and contact qualified professionals who can help them.

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Too often people work against their DUI defense attorney rather than with them. Lawyer and defendant should work as a team, and honesty is important. If you don’t reveal all necessary facts and information about the case to your DUI defense attorney, you are taking several risks during the trial. Their purpose is to do their best to serve you and your case. Sometimes this may entail placing a plea with which you disagree or bringing to light information which you feel should be kept secret. While you may have your own ideas about how you expect to reach the most desirable conclusion for your trial, the lawyer knows what is actually possible and likely depending on the facts that they have.

Withholding Information

The biggest mistake defendants’ make during their cases is withholding information from their DUI defense attorney. Naturally, you might remember certain facts later on as you’ve had time to reflect on the experience, but deliberately keeping information in an attempt to control the outcome or actions of your lawyer, can lead to disaster and the opposite of your intent. For example, if you don’t reveal details about where you were going or where you came from after your arrest, the prosecutors can uncover this information with their own research, greatly reducing your credibility. Even the most innocent information that you omit can be used as ammunition against you, so trust that your lawyer will know what to do with the information that you give them.

Lying

Anyone will tell you that lying to your DUI defense attorney is the equivalent to lying in front of the judge. The truth often has an ugly way of coming out when you least anticipate it, so it is far better to be honest and risk the consequences than the greater penalties that come with getting caught up in one lie or even several. If you’re at the point where you have to hire a lawyer, there is no denying the charges against you. It is far better to work towards a compromise on your plea and the goal of negotiations rather than having unrealistic expectations of getting away from the situation with no consequences.

Not Communicating

Aside from deliberately withholding information or lying, some defendants make the mistake of just avoiding or not talking with their lawyer at all. Ignoring the situation will not make it disappear, and your DUI defense attorney stands little chance of negotiating with the judge unless you make the effort to supply them with the necessary information and documents. You have to cooperate with your lawyer and be available when needed to get the job done, just as you would expect them to do the same. Leaving things to the last minute can result in greater penalties or an undesirable outcome. Help your lawyer be prepared and you won’t end up wasting either your money or their time. Make preparing for your trial or court appearance the priority that it should be.

If you are looking for a DUI defense attorney Charleston is home to a legal professional with the knowledge and experience you want. For more information, visit: http://www.stephenharrislaw.com/

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If you saw someone leave a suspicious looking bag under the seat in a subway just before leaving the train, would you call the police? Of course you would. Unfortunately, you likely wouldn’t be as civic minded if you saw someone driving drunk–the one thing that causes more wrongful deaths and injuries than any other in the US. This is because you likely don’t know what to look for and what to do if you spot someone driving or trying to drive drunk. So here are some ideas on what to look for to spot someone who is likely driving drunk and what to do if you do.

One of the surest ways to tell if someone is driving impaired is if he accelerates quickly and brakes continuously. No normal person would do this. Another sign is if someone almost hits another car, street sign or other object. Some obvious signs are if you see someone driving in the opposite lane against traffic, changing traffic lanes often, not staying in between the lane markers, turning suddenly without signals and driving without headlights. Driving too slow can also be a sign that something is wrong and the most likely cause is drunk driving.

These are far too common events on our roads and we will see them every day. But if we see someone who is most likely drunk while driving, we likely won’t do anything for the simple reason that we don’t know what to do. So what exactly is the best way to react if we have good reason to suspect that someone is driving while impaired? Here is a list:

The first thing to do is stay away from the drunk driver, the farther away the better. The worst thing you can do is drive up to or alongside the offender to try and see if he is really drunk or just having some other difficulty. It is not your job to guess and someone’s life may be in danger. Worse, the impaired driver may get confused and hit you. Next, if you are able to without putting yourself in danger, take note of the driver’s license plate number along with details of his auto’s make, model and color and then try to stop as soon and as safely as possible. One way to take note of the number safely is to read it to yourself aloud and keep repeating it aloud until you are able to stop safely. Then, while you are still repeating the number aloud to yourself and have stopped, write it down as quickly as possible, along with the details about the offender’s car–the make, model, color. You will also want to note the road he was traveling on and in what direction, and any cross streets that you may have just crossed. Then call 911 immediately and read them all of this information.

There is no need for you to do anything else. Just leave the rest to the police as they know best how to safely handle the situation.

For more information on drunk driving, go to DWI in Texas and Texas DWI laws.

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DUI in Phoenix can be charged in two ways. The first is driving impaired. Driving impaired suggests that your capability to operate a vehicle has been jeopardized from the ingestion of alcoholic beverages or another drug. Since you aren’t breaking the “per se” statute, driving impaired is not as severe a criminal offense as DUI. The “per se’ law is whenever your BAC is.08 % or more.

Phoenix drunk driving laws cover almost anything that you need a permit to operate. This would cover cars and trucks, jet skis, motorbikes, and may even extend to bicycles. seem tough to believe, but it is true. Whenever you’re under the influence of a substance that reduces your mental capability to control a vehicle, you are subject to Phoenix laws. Driving a car while being impaired by alcohol consumption is definitely the main instance of Phoenix DUI arrests. Even so, many other substances are widespread as well. These include marijuana, cocaine, meth, tranquilizers along with other well-known drugs.

Phoenix DUI laws do not allow driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of.08 % or higher. If you’re stopped while driving a car and has a BAC of .08 percent or greater, you are going to be arrested and charged with DUI.

Listed here are the legal ramifications plus the legal process for DUI in Phoenix.

The fines and punishments with regard to a Phoenix DUI will be different based on the circumstances of the criminal offense, and whether or not there is a track record of earlier offenses. However a Phoenix DUI is still a significant charge. If found guilty you are facing a large fine, driver’s permit suspension, and possibly other restrictions. Hence, even if this is your first DUI, you have got to consider this a major predicament.

First violations seldom entail prison time except if the DUI incident included a physical injury or death.

A Phoenix DUI usually is a misdemeanor except if: 1. If in the last five years you have been convicted of 2 or more DUIs. This is applicable even if the DUI was in another state besides Arizona. 2. If you have had your drivers permit suspended and you’re driving under the influence 3. A child younger than fifteen is in the automobile at the time of the drunk driving criminal offense.

A more significant charge of third degree homicide or vehicular homicide often is the end result when there is a death as a result of the drunk driving.

Typically a Phoenix drunk driving case is a tried by a jury. If you choose, you may give up the right to having a trial by jury. If that’s the case, your judge will rule.

Due to the fact Phoenix drunk driving cases are such a common legal offense, there are plenty of Phoenix DUI lawyers to help you in defense of the offense. Actually, there are many attorneys that will only handle DUI cases. These attorneys are often called ‘DUI attorneys’. Since driving under the influence is a really serious charge, it is strongly suggested that you consult with an attorney without delay after receiving charged. You obviously want to select the most effective Phoenix DUI attorney for your case.

I invite you to check out more information about Phoenix DUI.

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DUI is the punishable offense charged for driving the mechanically powered vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The common punishment for this crime is revocation of driving license of the driver. The revocation period may depend on the harshness of the crime. When you are charged for DUI, these charges can have bad impact on your professional career and even on your personal life. It is possible to erase these charges from your record if you take instantaneous action after your DUI arrest.

The DUI conviction can have much dreadful effects than what you imagine. It will not only show on your driving record, but it will also affect your probable jobs. These driving charges can also affect your auto insurance coverage. When any driver is suspected for drunk driving, he is asked to stop by the police and checked for the BAC level. The test consists of two parts. The breath test and the blood test. The drive is initially checked for any impairment in physical actions. Then the breath test is carried out to check the alcohol content in the blood. The breathalyzer is inserted into the mouth of the driver and he is asked to blow into the device. The meter in the breathalyzer displays the alcohol content in the breath of the driver. If this count is above 0.08%, he is asked to undergo the blood test for further confirmation. The professionals present at the DUI checkpoints conduct the blood test immediately and produces the results. If driver is found guilty in this test, he is chargeable under this conviction.

The most common punishment is cancellation of driver’s license. For the first DUI offense, the license is suspended for the period of 1-4 months. The license suspension period increases with the multiple offenses. If any serious injuries or demises are involved in the accidents related to DUI, the driver may face permanent suspension of driving license, and long-term imprisonment with heavy fines.

Life after DUI

The life of the person after being charged under DUI conviction becomes very challenging. Many jobs require the person with clear criminal record. Your DUI charge will be remarkably visible on your record. You may not be eligible for the job positions you desire. In some cases, you may suffer loss of current job.

It is not that DUI conviction remains on your record and cannot be cleared. It is possible to erase the DUI charges if you contact your DUI Lawyer immediately after your arrest under these charges.

There are many laws that can embarrass you after you are convicted for multiple DUI offenses. For example, if you are charged DUI for multiple times, you are forced by the law to have the bright yellow colored license plate on your car so that every driver and potential officers know that you have been charged for multiple DUIs in past.

It is obvious that you don’t want to face this serious conviction. But when you are charged for DUI, you may be charged with:

Heavy fines

Imprisonment

Job loss

Suspension of Driving License

Difficulty in finding employment

Community Services

Also, any future DUI arrest will impose heavy fines with increased imprisonment period. You may even face felony charges if it is your fourth DUI conviction. It is always better to park the vehicle and call up the friend to drop you home whenever you are drunk.

Roy K Butler is a professional expert in providing information related to DUI and DUI Charges.

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Statistics brought about in two thousand and ten have shown that over thirty percent of all drivers on the road will be involved in some sort of accident that involves drunk driving. Whether you are the driver of a vehicle, a passenger to a drunk driver, or an innocent driver out on the road, drunk driving can put all vehicle operators at risk for severe harm.

The frightening statistics begin with the fact that over forty percent of all deaths on the road are directly related to driving under the influence of alcohol. Thus far, in two thousand and eleven, it has been reported that someone is killed from driving under the influence approximately every forty-five seconds in the United States. Back in two thousand and eight, over twelve thousand individuals had lost their lives to the irresponsible behavior of driving drunk or being killed by an individual under the influence.

These statistics also do not figure in those who have been severely harmed during a drunk driving accident and have survived. Some have suffered loss of limbs, third degree burns to their skin, or partial to complete loss of mobility.

Unfortunately, a great deal of these accidents occur more on the weekends, when individuals are often not working, and celebrating their free time. Holidays are also a time in which there is a definite increase in accidents and deaths relating to driving under the influence of alcohol. This is directly related to the fact that there are more people out on the road, during holiday weeks or weekends. Also, holidays have been traditionally known as a time of celebration, often involving the consumption of beer, liquor and/or wine.

There are several groups that are taking a stand to try and stop the cycle of drunk driving, and reduce the number of individuals and families harmed and/or killed on the road. These groups include, but are not limited to:

* Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MAAD)

* Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD)

* DUI Hope

* Smart and Sober

* Young Adults Educating Responsible Drinking (YAERD)

Even as these groups continue to promote safe driving habits, there are still those who irresponsibly continue to drive under the influence of alcohol. Public ad campaigns and cities cracking down on drunk driving have also made changes in the way individuals think before acting on the road. Although, the daunting death rate for those involved in drunk driving accidents is still out there.

In making a choice to continually drive sober, and assisting friends and/or family in making like decisions, we as a whole can make a great impact on the safety of our roads. If you know someone, or you yourself are suffering from alcoholism or abuse of alcohol on a regular basis, contact a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. It’s never too late to save your life, or the life of someone else.

Robert Shryoc is the Director of Development at the Stonegate Center, a Texas treatment center. The Texas drug rehab community serves people entangled in the physical, mental, social and spiritual bonds of chemical dependency. For more information about the residential treatment facility please visit http://www.stonegatecenter.com.

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So you just got a DUI arrest. Once you have been pulled over and arrested for a DUI, the legal machinery of your state starts going into action. But not a lot of people understand what to do once they have a DUI arrest.

Remember, just because you have been charged with a DUI, does not mean you are already convicted of a DUI. Not only is that accurate in a court of law; but it is also accurate with the DMV as well. So here is the very first thing you need to do immediately after your DUI arrest…

Your DUI Arrest

Save Your Driving Privileges

Before you do anything else, you need to protect your driving privileges. After your DUI arrest, in most states the arresting officer will confiscate your driver’s license and give you a piece of paper called a “Notice of Revocation” or something similar.

What they don’t tell you is that somewhere in the fine print, there is a notice stating that you have the right to request a Department of Motor Vehicle hearing within “x” amount of days… Most states give you 10 days (some are less, like California which gives you 7 days).

What does this mean? It means that you have the right to request a hearing with DMV to avoid automatic suspension of your driving privileges after your DUI. If you miss that deadline, you waive your rights to a DMV hearing, and your driving privileges are automatically suspended after 30 days. DO NOT blow this off.

By requesting a hearing, your driving privileges are NOT suspended automatically. Instead, your driving privileges are left intact (as though you never even got a DUI in the first place) until the DMV hearing is held; which is usually scheduled for months down the line.

A DUI Arrest

It Does Not Mean A DUI Conviction

A good DUI defense attorney can push this DMV hearing back indefinitely; so that you will at least retain your ability to drive until your case is adjudicated. And since you can get a free consultation with a local DUI attorney, why not find a local DUI lawyer in your area and protect your driving privileges right now?

You’ll be able to get an initial consultation absolutely free of charge with a local DUI attorney in your neighborhood. Once you have your initial DUI, contact a local attorney and ask about the DMV hearing in your state. Depending on the time since your DUI arrest, you may still be able to protect your driving privileges until your DUI case has been heard.

Plus, you’ll be able to get any other questions about your individual DUI case answered during this free consultation. That’s why you need to talk to a local attorney that knows your rights in your state after your DUI arrest.

If you want to save your driving privileges, do a little research and see if finding a good DUI defense attorney is worth the money in your individual case. After all, what do you have to lose? Since most DUI defense attorneys have a free initial consultation, what you will learn may surprise you.

A DUI arrest is a nightmare and you need to learn exactly what your rights are.

There’s some great free information for you at

http://findduidefenseattorney.com

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Sometimes people ask “is DUI a felony?” This article seeks to answer that question.

A DUI is a felony when one of two situations occur.

First, a DUI can be charged as a felony if the drunk driving caused an accident which resulted in great bodily harm or death. Many times, a fatality can result in significant jail or even state prison time for the driver, even if it is his first DUI.

But, even without harm to others, a DUI can be a felony if the driver had picked up drunk driving convictions in the past. While it varies from state to state, a third conviction within a period of 5 to 10 years results in a felony charge.

For clarification, a misdemeanor is a lesser crime. Generally, the maximum sentence for a misdemeanor conviction is one year in county jail. A felony is a more serious charge and can result in several years in state prison.

In addition to incarceration, someone who is convicted of a DUI can face fines, probation, mandatory alcohol classes or AA meetings, and loss of driver’s license.

If you’ve been charged with a DUI – whether it’s a misdemeanor or felony – you need to contact an attorney right away. An attorney can help you navigate the legal and bureaucratic system. They may even be able to get a felony DUI charge reduced to a misdemeanor, saving you from years in prison.

You see, some felonies are considered “wobblers.” This means that the prosecutor can charge them either way. A skilled attorney can often negotiate the lesser charge.

For more information on Felony DUI Laws, go to http://www.CriminalDefenseResources.com

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