Every year, innocent people are killed by those who are driving while intoxicated, or DWI. Each individual is urged to make the choice to not drink and drive. In the 1980′s public awareness grew on breaking these particular laws, mostly because of the formation of MADD, or Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. Ever since then the laws have become more stringent on drinking and driving and the penalties become harsher each year. The right thing to do if you plan on drinking in excess is to either call a cab to take you home, or ask a friend that has not been drinking. If you fail to follow this advice and find yourself pulled over by a police officer, then what do you do?
The first and foremost thing to do is to always be respectful of the officers and follow any directions they give you to the best of your ability. Disputing your guilt or acting disorderly will not help your circumstances with the officer, or when you show up in court. The judge will tend to be much for sympathetic is you are cooperative throughout the ordeal.
People make the choice to drink and drive every day, but there are situations where a person is mistakenly accused of being intoxicated behind the wheel of a car. It is important to remember that regardless of whether you are guilty or not, show respect and be compliant with the officer. Then, contact your San Antonio DWI lawyer right away so that they can investigate the circumstances of your case and present the situation to the court in the best way possible to help limit your penalties.
If convicted, the consequences for a DWI are different for each state, but may consist of jail or prison time, substantial fines and court costs, the loss of the offender’s driver’s license and/or a permanent criminal record. Contact your criminal defense attorney with 15 days of the arrest to prevent extra violations from being added to your sentence. An experienced and knowledgeable DWI lawyer will look at the whole picture, including if the law had reasonable suspicion and probable cause to pull you over, and will make certain that the arrest and search and seizure were done constitutionally.
Look on the internet, or pick up a phone book. A DWI is way too easy to find. The number of lawyers who deal with DWI’s is staggering and regrettably there are law professionals out there that exploit people. Even if this is not your first DWI offense, find an attorney who has plenty of experience in dealing with DWI’s. Be cognizant of the whole process and the decisions that need to be made because the end result can change your life forever.
Being convicted of a DWI is serious situation, so make sure you find the best San Antonio DWI attorney to help. You have a better chance for a more positive outcome if you find a lawyer whose expertise is in DWI cases, which means they are aware of the laws that change each year in an effort to decimate drinking and driving. Find a San Antonio Criminal Defense attorney that can show results, has client referrals and will take the time to talk about your case and your options. If you find an experienced criminal defense lawyer, you will still have consequences to deal with, but they may not be as severe as you originally feared.