Know Your Legal Rights When It Comes to DUI

by | Jul 6, 2013 | Law

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If you’ve been arrested for DUI in St. Johns County, no matter how “busted” you may think that you are, and even if the police officer pointedly informed you that you failed the breathalyzer, it’s still important and worthwhile to consult with a DUI attorney who serves St. Johns County. Regardless of what occurred during your traffic stop, remember two things above all else: It is not the police officer who determines your guilt, and an arrest is not a conviction. Consult with a DUI attorney as soon as possible so he can review your case. It may be possible to get the case dismissed or to get portions of the evidence against you thrown out of court, but neither of those things can happen without the expertise of an experienced DUI attorney in St. Johns County.

 

When you are charged with DUI in St. Johns County or anywhere elsewhere in the state of Florida, your driver’s license will be suspended unless your DUI attorney requests a hearing to challenge the suspension. In fact, that hearing is one of the advantages of retaining a DUI attorney immediately following your arrest. Not only will your DUI attorney argue on your behalf to help you keep your license, but your attorney will also get the equivalent of a “sneak preview” of the prosecution’s case against you, which will help ascertain how strong the prosecution’s case is based on the evidence presented at the hearing.

 

It’s also important to understand that even though you were arrested for DUI, you may not, in fact, be guilty according to the law, despite what you may have been told by the arresting officer, investigators, or the D.A.’s office. One of the first things your DUI attorney will want to know is why the officer stopped you in the first place, assuming that your DUI charge did not result from a motor vehicle accident of any kind. The reason your attorney will want to know all of the details of your traffic stop is that the officer had to have a legal cause to stop you. If there was nothing that you had done wrong, such as speeding, running a stop sign, or failing to signal before a turn, then your DUI attorney may be able to get the case dismissed.

 

Every case is unique, but you do have rights following a DUI arrest, and your attorney will inform you of those rights, as well as provide you with the representation you will need should your drunk driving case proceed to St. Johns County criminal court. For aggressive and efficacious legal representation, contact a DUI attorney in St. Johns County as soon as possible.