Getting arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can have a serious impact on your life, even if it is your first offense. That is why it is so important that you take the right steps early to make sure that you are maximizing your chances of a positive outcome. Without the right support during this process, you can easily find yourself in a situation that has a serious impact on your life, both professionally and personally, that can haunt you for years and years to come.
If you only take away one piece of advice from this article, it is to contact an attorney now. The sooner you are working with an experienced lawyer, the lower your risk will be of making any decisions that can seriously impact your case in a bad way, even if you believed you were doing all of the right things. DUI law in New Jersey is very complicated and is not designed for citizens who do not have a strong understanding of the US legal system.
Steps During a DUI Stop
As soon as you are pulled over and there is a suspicion that you are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you need to start thinking about your upcoming legal case and acting in a way that helps your chances of a positive outcome. This means that you should be polite with the police, but do not volunteer any information or admit to any wrongdoings. These admissions will make their way into the arrest report and will haunt you during your trial.
Instead, comply with all necessary requests that the officer makes. Be aware that while you are under no legal obligation to submit to a field sobriety test, this information will be relayed to a judge during your trial. However, you are legally obligated to submit to a breathalyzer test, and a refusal will result in an automatic license suspension. Use your best judgment when deciding whether or not to submit to field sobriety tests, but it is strongly recommended that you submit to a breath test. You will be arrested if you refuse, and your BAC will be determined by other methods after a warrant is issued.
First Steps After Your DUI Arrest
After you have been arrested, KEEP QUIET. As clearly stated in your Miranda Warning, “You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.” Do not make any statements without having an attorney present.
As soon as possible, contact a DUI attorney to get started on your case. There are a variety of procedures that are very time-sensitive after a DUI arrest, and these deadlines can easily be missed when you are trying to manage all of the different obligations that you will need to attend after your arrest. When you hire an attorney, they will be able to make sure that you meet all of these deadlines, and that every action taken during this process is with the intention of increasing your chances of a positive outcome. There are a variety of different possible outcomes to a first DUI arrest, and a good lawyer will be able to recognize the most realistic goals and start building your case with these in mind.
