What is a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Charge?

Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants, including prescription drugs that are not yours, is strictly against the law in all 50 states. Some states identify this violation as DUI (Driving Under the Influence), while others consider it DWI (Driving While Intoxicated).

Do you need a DUI attorney to represent you in court?

If you have been charged with a DUI, you will most likely want to seek the expertise of a DUI attorney. Even before trial, there are things DUI attorneys can do to help make your pending trial date more efficient as well as help you get your license restored.

Once you have been charged with a DUI/ DWI, there can be a series of pre-trial conferences. These conferences are where DUI attorneys can really shine. This is another opportunity your DUI attorney has, before trial, to get any charges against you dropped. An experienced DUI lawyer may even be able to get the charges against you reclassified into a non-alcohol- or non-drug-related incident.

What will happen after I hire a DWI attorney?

Your DWI attorney will most likely want to meet with you in person to discuss your case. After you have made the decision to utilize a particular DWI attorney for your case, the attorney will notify the appropriate parties that they are representing you and will handle all further communications to go through them.

Your DWI attorneys will then file any necessary motions on your behalf. Motions can include discovery motions to see what evidence the prosecution has against you as well as file with the DMV to get your license reinstated. The DMV would then setup a hearing to allow your DWI attorneys to contest the suspension on your behalf. This is a vital part of the process that is sometimes overlooked without a qualified DUI attorney.

After all motions have been filed your drunk driving lawyer will collect evidence on your behalf. This can include questioning other witnesses, items found in the discovery motion, as well as subpoenaing the arresting officer or officers if needed. The officers can be requested to appear at the administrative hearings for questioning prior to trial.

Your DUI attorney will also represent you at any pretrial hearings and negotiate with the prosecutor on your behalf prior to trial, and throughout the course of your hearing they will represent you. The pre-trial negotiation phase is best handled by an experienced DUI attorney and this is where they will give their best efforts to get your charges reduced before going to trial. DUI attorneys have vast experience in all the regulations surrounding your DUI charge and can ensure you receive proper representation throughout the trial process.

DWI attorneys can be a huge asset when charged with a DUI or DWI offense. If you have questions or have never been to a trial before, your attorneys will ensure you know exactly what to expect. You can receive peace of mind knowing that a professional is handling your case.