A qualified DUI attorney should be hired in a variety of scenarios such as driving at night while dirinking and a police officer pulled you over and you’re arrested for Driving Under the Influence or DUI and taken to jail.
Your first call from jail should be to a reputable DUI Lawyer Providence since this type of attorney can get the charges expunged or reduced depending if there are prior DUIs. Another option is to have someone you trust contact a reputable lawyer so that you’re able to get out of jail, which is the best option if you’re panicked after the arrest. A DUI attorney is experienced in the drunk driving laws in the state of Rhode Island, so calling one that deals only with DUIs, will mean a better outcome.
To Plead or Not Plead
Your attorney will offer advice concerning the pros and cons of pleading guilty or pleading not guilty prior to your arraignment. If this is your first DUI arrest, you will normally plead not guilty and get a much lighter sentence than someone with prior DUIs. Your blood alcohol content or BAC at the time of arrest will play a big part in how serious the charges are. Someone who is barely over the legal limit when their BAC is checked will receive a lighter sentence than someone with a higher BAC, especially if there are prior convictions.
Filing Motions
An experienced DUI attorney may file motions on behalf of your case. An example of a motion is suppressing any damning statements you made during the arrest. Filing motions can mean the difference of a trial case or a non-trial case. The goal of a DUI lawyer is to reduce the charges and keep the case from going to trial.
Bargaining
Depending on the BAC and number of DUIs the client has had at the time of the current DUI, an the attorney may begin bargaining to get the charges lesser. This may mean asking for community service in lieu of jail time. In most cases, even on a first time conviction, a fine is issued along with a specific amount of time the driver’s license of the drunk driver is suspended.
