The Most Important Steps To Take After A DUI Arrest
Being pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving is a stressful, scary experience. The flashing lights in the rearview mirror and the accusing questions from the police officer. The field sobriety tests, which are difficult for some people even when they haven’t been drinking. The breath test, using machines that are far from perfect. Being charged with DUI is even more sobering — and for good reason. Your driving privileges, your freedom and your future may hang in the balance after a DUI arrest.
How To Help Yourself
There are several things you can do during and after the DUI stop that can make your life easier and position you for the best possible outcome for your case:
- Use your right to remain silent. While you should politely identify yourself and provide your driver’s license, you do not have to answer police questions about where you were, what you were doing, how much you had to drink or anything else. Your answers to these questions can be used against you, and if you slip up and say something inaccurate it could make matters much worse.
- If you believe you are drunk, do not agree to a breath test or blood test. Be aware that there are consequences for refusing the test, but they may not be as severe as the consequences of a serious drunk driving charge. (We recognize that this advice may be too late, but we can help you even if you took the test and the results showed that you were over the legal BAC limit).
- Call an attorney as soon as possible. There are many ways that you can benefit from having an experienced DUI defense attorney on your side, even if you believe that the police have a strong case against you. You may even find that hiring an attorney is a better deal than the economic and noneconomic costs associated with being convicted of drunk driving. Call 901-410-5751 anytime to get started.
At The Law Office of Jeffrey Jones, we have been helping people overcome drunk driving charges since 1977. We know the challenges involved in fighting these serious charges, but experience has shown us that they can be fought. That is what we do: Fight DUI charges in pursuit of a more favorable outcome for you or a complete dismissal of the charges.
DUI Charges Are Worth Fighting
Sometimes people think a DUI charge is minor. They think that they should just plead guilty and accept the repercussions, without really understanding the full extent of those repercussions. In addition to fines and potential time behind bars, losing your driver’s license is a big deal. How will you get around? Even if you can make it to work, some jobs terminate employees convicted of crimes. You should make certain you fully understand how this is going to change your life before you simply accept it.
With an experienced lawyer on your side, you may be able to get out of jail sooner rather than later, or avoid it entirely.
When you choose us to defend you, we will begin gathering key evidence in your case right away. We may subpoena police dash cam video footage and gather other key pieces of evidence such as calibration records for testing equipment. We will then be ready to go to work reviewing and analyzing evidence. This information may prove vital to your case outcome. Police mistakes may result in your case being thrown out, regardless of the results of your breath, blood or urine test.
What if the police confiscated your car or seized other personal property after the drunk driving traffic stop? We will work to help you recover what belongs to you.
One of the most important things we do is devise strategies to minimize damage to your job and personal life. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we can start doing damage control. Paying the price for a mistake is one thing, but you do not need your entire life ruined. We regularly handle high-profile criminal defense cases and are well-versed in ways of protecting your work and reputation.
Tennessee lawyer Jeffrey Jones works hard for clients and for the community at large. He is a recipient of the Memphis Bar Association’s Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award.
Learn More About The Best Response After A DUI Arrest
Get started now taking back your life after you have been charged with drunk driving in Tennessee. Call 901-410-5751 or +1-800-863-2561 toll-free to schedule a meeting, or contact us online. We offer daytime, evening and weekend appointments.