How to be proactive following a DUI arrest
If you have been arrested for a DUI then time is of the utmost importance. In order to get the best outcome possible a driver arrested for a DUI needs to be proactive when it comes to three aspects of the DUI case. Not only will this help you as the accused in a DUI case, but it will help your DUI lawyer better represent you. To learn what these three aspects are continue reading.
First you need to stop drinking and discontinue use of any other substance (i.e., marijuana, illegal narcotics, etc). Whether this is your first DUI arrest or your second it doesn’t matter. Why do you need to stop drinking alcohol and using marijuana? You will have to get an alcohol and drug assessment. If you test positive during the urinalysis test, or you tell the counselor you have continued to drink following your DUI arrest then the counselor may find you have a problem. That’s bad. Which brings me to the second thing you should do.
Secondly you need to schedule an alcohol and drug assessment. Why? Unless your DUI charge gets completed dismissed, which is very rare. The Judge is going to require you to get one. You might as well get it done ahead of time. Additionally it gives your DUI lawyer more information to present to the Prosecutor about how you are. Remember all the Prosecutor knows about someone who is charged with DUI is that they drank and drive. They don’t know anything else. The more ammunition your DUI lawyer can go into the negotiation with about your character the better it will be for you.
Lastly hire yourself a DUI lawyer. A lawyer that exclusively practices DUI defense. Not one that does it part time, or one that does it occasionally. One that doesn’t do anything else. Why is this important? Let’s take Seattle for example where I practice. I see Lawyers in Court all the time who don’t do this regularly. They don’t know the Judge, they don’t know the Prosecutor, they don’t know the Court procedures, or even the Cops. And in my opinion as a DUI lawyer who practices in Seattle they are a step behind because of this. And that only ruins their clients chances of getting a reduced DUI charge.
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About the author: Matthew Leyba is a DUI lawyer in Seattle, WA. He has repeatedly named a Rising Star in the field of DUI Defense by the Seattle Met Magazine, an honor only a fraction other Seattle DUI Lawyers receive. He is also rated a 10/10 by Avvo.com and listed as a Superb DUI lawyer.