During an office party or a night out with friends, you might end up having a few glasses of an alcoholic drink. This might even be something you do often. However, if you plan to drive, this can be risky. If the police pull you over and after testing your alcohol level, find that it is over point zero eight percent, you will get arrested. In situations like this, you need to hire a DUI attorney Palm Beach County. You can opt to go to court without a lawyer, but here are the reasons why you should not.
You risk getting jail time. When you go in without an attorney, you might not be able to defend yourself properly. This could lead to you getting incarcerated, for anything from ten days to a year. For first time offenders, you can get away with getting only community service, or joining a program for alcoholics. However, if this is not the first time you have been arrested for this, ensure you have legal representation.
In most situations, your driving license will be taken away from you. For an underage offender this might be for six months, while for adults it can be longer or even permanently. This will consequently have a ripple effect. You could lose your job, your car, or your insurance cover. In most cases, you will need to get someone to drive you around, or opt for another means of transport to allow you to move around.
Fines are the one consequence that almost all DUI offenders get. The amount will depend on the case and the laws of that particular state. In some cases, you might find that these fines will accompany some other punishment like community service. You cannot avoid paying these fines, but your attorney can get the figure lowered.
A few states have a statute that allows you to plea down from a DUI to reckless driving. If you live in Jupiter, Florida, you might actually qualify for this. However, without a lawyer you might not even know that this can be done, and if you do, you might not be able to handle the work needed. The reckless driving will still appear on your record, but the charges are not as bad, and therefore, even the consequences will be less severe.
If you happen to hit another car while intoxicated, things escalate very fast, and this is now considered a felony. Here, you will be facing serious jail time and very hefty fines. It will even be worse if the person you hit sues for bodily damage, or dies due to the accident. If this happens to you then going to court without a lawyer is out of the question.
To be on the safe side, get legal counsel the moment you get arrested. This prevents you from complicating a simple case. Hire someone with a good reputation, and who has experience handling these cases. This way, you are sure your case is in good hands.
You might be embarrassed to ask for referrals from friends and family members, but do not hire the first person you meet. You should consider checking online. Certain websites can help you locate capable attorneys within your area.
You risk getting jail time. When you go in without an attorney, you might not be able to defend yourself properly. This could lead to you getting incarcerated, for anything from ten days to a year. For first time offenders, you can get away with getting only community service, or joining a program for alcoholics. However, if this is not the first time you have been arrested for this, ensure you have legal representation.
In most situations, your driving license will be taken away from you. For an underage offender this might be for six months, while for adults it can be longer or even permanently. This will consequently have a ripple effect. You could lose your job, your car, or your insurance cover. In most cases, you will need to get someone to drive you around, or opt for another means of transport to allow you to move around.
Fines are the one consequence that almost all DUI offenders get. The amount will depend on the case and the laws of that particular state. In some cases, you might find that these fines will accompany some other punishment like community service. You cannot avoid paying these fines, but your attorney can get the figure lowered.
A few states have a statute that allows you to plea down from a DUI to reckless driving. If you live in Jupiter, Florida, you might actually qualify for this. However, without a lawyer you might not even know that this can be done, and if you do, you might not be able to handle the work needed. The reckless driving will still appear on your record, but the charges are not as bad, and therefore, even the consequences will be less severe.
If you happen to hit another car while intoxicated, things escalate very fast, and this is now considered a felony. Here, you will be facing serious jail time and very hefty fines. It will even be worse if the person you hit sues for bodily damage, or dies due to the accident. If this happens to you then going to court without a lawyer is out of the question.
To be on the safe side, get legal counsel the moment you get arrested. This prevents you from complicating a simple case. Hire someone with a good reputation, and who has experience handling these cases. This way, you are sure your case is in good hands.
You might be embarrassed to ask for referrals from friends and family members, but do not hire the first person you meet. You should consider checking online. Certain websites can help you locate capable attorneys within your area.
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For the latest information about a DUI attorney Palm Beach County locals can visit our web pages online here today. Additional details are available at http://edwardreaganpa.com now.
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