The holidays have come and gone, but don’t count on law enforcement agencies being more lax about drunk driving. Over the recent celebrations where there was alcohol aplenty, there were naturally more checkpoints and more patrolmen on the lookout for intoxicated drivers. However, that doesn’t mean they get any less stringent once the most festive time of the year is over.
This means you have to be cautious and avoid drinking if you’re planning on driving (and vice versa). The consequences of a drunk driving offense can be quite costly – not only in terms of money.
What to Expect When You Get Arrested
Generally, when you’re suspected and arrested for drunk driving, you will be taken to the nearest police station and placed in jail. In the state of Washington (and several other states), there is a zero tolerance policy for minors, so if you’re 21 years old and younger and you get caught with a BAC level of 0.02 (instead of the standard 0.08), you will be arrested immediately. In jail, you might be required to submit to a blood chemical test to accurately measure the alcohol levels in your body.
You will then need to appear in court for a trial. It can be humiliating for some to go through with this process because of having to face the public with the charges. The evidences of your DUI, such as BAC levels, police reports, and even videos of your field sobriety test, may be presented, especially if you deny the charges. Your penalties will be determined based on the laws and other factors that may increase these punishments, such as a BAC level of 0.15, driving with children, etc.
How Legal Representation can Help
You can call an experienced Tacoma DUI attorney the moment you get arrested. You and the lawyer can review the aspects of your arrest and see if the law enforcers followed all standard procedures. If you find that they made mistakes or had deficiencies, such as stopping you unreasonably or not being able to dictate your Miranda Rights, then your charges can be voided.
Having a DUI attorney in Tacoma, such as Kim Hunter, on your side, you can be confident that you will only get the penalties that are due. You would be facing expensive fines, possibly even jail time, and losing your driving privileges permanently, so you would really want to reduce the penalties where possible. Your lawyer will help you review your rights to see where you can find an advantage.
(Source: 10 Things That Happen If You Get a DUI, About.com)
