Hiring a DUI lawyer is the first thing that anyone accused of driving under the influence or facing a DUI charge should do.
The above is to ensure that a good defense is established early on more so that territorial, provincial, and federal governments are quite strict and ruthless when it comes to prosecuting DUI cases. We recently spoke with Toronto Impaired Driving Lawyer Calvin Barry to get his advice on how to handle getting a DUI for the first time.
Groundwork for Good Defense
Whether or not one is guilty of driving under the influence, the courts follow a procedure wherein the accused will be asked to appear in court. Should the first court appearance is to be without a lawyer, the defendant can file a request for two to three weeks continuance to find and hire a DUI lawyer. In the event that the prosecutor provides a disclosure package containing witness statements and police notes, a charge screening form, and a synopsis of DUI charge, this should be safeguarded and shared with the selected lawyer.
Going for A Guilty Plea
Hiring a DUI lawyer is a must even for those who plan to plead guilty. This is because even with a guilty plea, there are still negotiations to be done that can turn events to be more favourable for the defendant.
Note that pleading guilty will lead to a criminal conviction that will be tied to one’s name for life. It will be there no matter how much fine was paid and no matter how long a jail time was served. It is one thing to be accused and convicted and a totally different thing to convict one’s self. For one, holding a public office will be next to impossible as well as having a career as a medical professional, a legal professional, part of the law enforcement, and many more. You will have to be fully aware of the consequences of pleading guilty before doing so. Having a DUI lawyer can help you with this.
Defend Against a DUI Charge
Choosing to fight a DUI Charge should begin with a good strategy formulated by a Criminal Lawyer. This requires a detailed initial consultation between the accused and the DUI lawyer to counter check all details which include but are not limited to:
- What the accused drank or ingested
- What the police saw and said
- What the defendant saw and said
- How were the intoxication tests administered
- Were there any witnesses
- Was the protocol followed
- How the arrest was done
Part of the defense for a DUI charge is for the defendant to behave as a model citizen and not cause trouble during the case’s duration. This means dressing appropriately for court, showing up on time, responding respectfully when addressed, and generally showing a sense of social responsibility. Know that no matter how amazing a DUI lawyer is, things will not end well with a client that comes to court late and obviously intoxicated.
A good DUI lawyer will prepare the client for cross examinations and giving testimonies, possibly going over questions the other party will ask to help the client be more confident and eloquent when speaking in court. All in all, a defendant that can show the court that he’s repentant and shows commitment to be a better person is a dream client to defend for DUI lawyers.
A DUI conviction can mean a stain on your record that can affect what jobs you can take, where you can buy or rent a home, how much insurance you’ll have to pay, and more. You need to ensure that you don’t hurt your chances of getting a DUI pardon as soon as possible and that you have a DUI lawyer that can mitigate your charges.