DUI Lawyer Massachussetts DWI

California DWI

Contra Costa, California DUI/DWI Attorneys, Lawyers and Law Firms DUI/DWI Lawyers in Contra Costa County, California View all DUI/DWI Lawyers in California Search for Premier DUI/DWI Attorneys Search by State: AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MH MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX VI UT VT VA WA WV WI WY -------- or --------- Search within: 25 Miles 50 Miles 125 Miles All From Zip Code: Additional Resources How a criminal lawyer can help DUI/DWI Law (Drunk Driving) FAQs State-by-state DMV Information State laws on Drunk Driving MADD Impaired Driving Facts Alcoholics Anonymous Drunk Driving State Statisics Home -> DUI/DWI -> California -> Contra Costa County Lawyers View All Contra Costa County Lawyers Premier Results: The Chase Law Group Free Initial Consultation We practice criminal defense exclusively. We focus on your freedom. If you or a loved one has been arrested or accused of a crime, contact us immediately for a free consultation. 4181 Sunswept Drive, Suite 100 Studio City, CA 91401 Send Email | Click Here for Phone Number | Visit WebSite The Cochran Firm Criminal Defense Section Free Phone Consultation All Courts, All Crimes. Federal, State, Juvenile, Sex Crimes, Drugs, DUI, Domestic Violence, Embezzlement, etc. Available 24 Hours, for Free Consultation. Experienced Attorneys with Proven Results. Statewide, CA Send Email | Click Here for Phone Number | Visit WebSite Bonjour Thorman & Baray Free Initial Consultation Our Goal is to Achieve a Result for our Clients that not only Satisfies the Client but Exceeds the Result that the Average Attorney Could Obtain. Our Experience, Reputation, and Hard Work Generate Results for You. 24301 Southland Drive, Suite 312 Hayward, CA 94545 Send Email | Click Here for Phone Number | Visit WebSite Listings for Contra Costa County DUI/DWI Lawyers: Danville, CA Maloney Law Offices , John J, Maloney, 40 Boulder Creek Court San Ramon, CA Arlene D. Kock, A Professional Law Corporation , Arlene Kock, 2500 Old Crow Canyon Road, Suite 214 Walnut Creek, CA Bruce P. Zelis, Law Offices Of , Bruce Zelis, 1943 First Ave Jay P. Renneisen, Law Offices of , Jay P. Renneisen, 1931 San Miguel Drive, Suite 210-A Contra Costa County Lawyers in related fields Criminal Defense Lawyers Are you a Lawyer? List on AttorneyPages | Find Expert Witnesses | Find Legal Information / Advice | Legal Forms | About Us | Media AttorneyPages® is not a lawyer referral service and never receives any portion of any attorney's fees.We welcome feedback from visitors but are not responsible for any attorney's advice. Use of AttorneyPages.com is subject to our disclaimer, conditions of use and privacy policy.Use for marketing or solicitation is prohibited. AttorneyPages® , ExpertPages® and FreeAdvice® are trademarks and units of Advice Company ® 1997 to 2006 - All Rights Reserved - For feedback or listing information only, contact us by phone, Fax or Email: 2330 Marinship Way Suite 120, Sausalito, CA 94965, P.O. Box 1739 Sausalito, CA 94966 (415) 331-1212 - Fax (415) 331-4255

CTDWI | Connecticut DWI Defense | Find a Connecticut DWI DUI Lawyer Right Now • About • Free DWI Resources • DWI Laws • DWI Penalties • Client Resources • DWI Book • Contact 12 Point Client Commitment Before your hire us: 1. No Voice Mail...Ever. You will always speak to a live person, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. 2. A FREE, no obligation, no commitment consultation with one of our highly trained attorneys to immediately assess your situation when YOU are available 3. A detailed explanation of the DUI justice system in easily understandable language - no "lawyer speak" 4. Specific, clear instructions to guarantee you do not miss a deadline in securing your rights with the Department of Motor Vehicles - even if you do not hire us. 5. A complete and detailed breakdown of the legal fee and additional costs which you are facing. No hidden costs or hourly add-ons to break your budget After you have hired us: 6. Complimentary use of our Per Se DMV service, a former DMV hearing officer will review your file to establish each and every defense you have to the automatic suspension of your license. We are the only firm in the state who has a former trained DMV hearing officer on staff to aid in your defense. 7. A full and complete investigation into all the important facts in your case 8. Regular updates on your case status by our trained staff 9. Referrals to psychological and substance abuse programs if needed 10. Mailed and telephone contact reminders for court dates When your case is done: 11 File maintenance for 7 years in a password protected secure digital format 12. Continued updates of the law as it may impact your life and licenses, direction to a highly qualified, screened attorney for ancillary legal matters and advice on how to handle disclosure of DUI arrest after case is dismissed with explanatory letters to interested parties as necessary Recent News & Updates Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Great Victories come when you prepare for trial On Monday, January 23rd, we were able to successfully resolve 2 very complicated cases. First, in a case with an alcohol test over .23 (nearly 3 times the legal limit) and an admission by the client (with a prior DUI conviction) that he was drunk, we were able to convince the prosecutor to DROP ALL the charges. Only moments later we were able to successfully negotiate for a series of infractions for another client with multiple prior offenses totalling less than $500. In that case the breath tests were .245 and .219 - well over the legal limit. Being aggressive and preparing for trial sometimes gets great pretrial results posted by Jay Ruane at 2:57 PM Online Interactive Questionairre Click Here to Start Your FREE Consultation Right Now! A message from Attorney Jay Ruane 30 Second Video Clip Attorney Ruane on... 30 Second Video & Printable Transcript 30 Second Video & Printable Transcript 30 Second Video & Printable Transcript 30 Second Video & Printable Transcript Frequently Asked Questions Q: Should I agree to take a chemical test? What happens if I don't? A: Every case is different and because of that you cannot have a single answer to this question. In most circumstances, adding to the evidence the state will have against you is inadvisable. Read more Frequently Asked Questions Ruane Attorney Experience... While results obtained depend on the facts of each case, our DUI Defense experience in Connecticut has resulted in NOT GUILTY verdicts and/or total dismissal of all charges in cases where: accidents have occurred clients drove the wrong way on the highway clients have failed all field sobriety tests breath test results over twice the legal limit blood test results almost twice the legal limit a client urinated in front of the arresting officer clients have admitted to being "drunk" on video tape Click here to learn more about Ruane Attorneys . Testimonials James, I just want to take a minute to thank you for your services in helping me out in a time of personal crisis. Your professionalism and integrity was greatly appreciated. If there is anything I can do for you in the future, please do not hesitate to give me a call. I am at your service. Sincerely Yours, David K. Read more testimonials Free Book Offer Get a FREE copy of Jay Ruanes DUI Defense book for citizens ( more info ). Book Request Form Full Name Email Address What Your Fee Gets You Other Lawyers Ruane Attorneys All Criminal Court Appearances X X DMV Hearing Represented Included in Fee X Per Se DMV Review and Research X Personal Case Managers X 24 Hour availability X Free Retrieval of DMV Discovery Packet X Handling of All Schedulng and Paperwork X One Flat Fee without Hidden Costs X Attorneys in Other Areas Dallas DWI Lawyer California DUI Attorney Oklahoma DUI Lawyer Massachussetts DWI Attorney 2002-2005, James O. Ruane, Esq. All Rights Reserved. Created by Meticulous Please also see Connecticut DUI Laws | CT DUI Laws Connecticut DWI Laws | CT DWI Laws | CT DUI/DWI Defense All Material contained herein is for informational purposes only and should not take the place of consultation with an attorney of your choice.

First DUI › DUI

Alabama DUI LAW › Free Consultation Find a DUI LAWS Lawyer :: Select Your State :: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington DC West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming › About 1800 DUI LAWS › DUI Laws by State › DUI Arrests by State › Drinking and Driving › Your First DUI › DUI Drugs › DUI Laws Dictionary › BAC Calculator › Field Sobriety Tests › Driver License › The Science › Breathalyzers › Jail Alternatives › Ignition Interlock › Criminal Courts › Designated Drivers › DUI Insurance › DUI Schools › Tell a Friend //-- › Order Your DMV Record › Link to DUI LAWS › Contact Us › Why Expungement? › Expungement 101 › Felony Expungement › Rehabilitation & Pardon › Case Evaluation › Traffic School Info › About The Content › About The Quizzes › About The Final Exam › Student Comments › DUI Chat › For Attorneys Only › Website Development Alabama DUI LAW Choose your Alabama county to locate a DUI LAW Lawyer in your area. :: Select a County :: Autauga County Baldwin County Barbour County Bibb County Blount County Bullock County Butler County Calhoun County Chambers County Cherokee County Chilton County Choctaw County Clarke County Clay County Cleburne County Coffee County Colbert County Conecuh County Coosa County Covington County Crenshaw County Cullman County Dale County Dallas County DeKalb County Elmore County Escambia County Etowah County Fayette County Franklin County Geneva County Greene County Hale County Henry County Houston County Jackson County Jefferson County Lamar County Lauderdale County Lawrence County Lee County Limestone County Lowndes County Macon County Madison County Marengo County Marion County Marshall County Mobile County Monroe County Montgomery County Morgan County Perry County Pickens County Pike County Randolph County Russell County St. Clair County Shelby County Sumter County Talladega County Tallapoosa County Tuscaloosa County Walker County Washington County Wilcox County Winston County Alabama counties - map view Alabama DUI law, like the DUI laws of many other states, includes both a criminal case and a Department of Public Safety driver’s license case following an arrest for Alabama DUI. Since every Alabama DUI / DWI arrest triggers two separate cases, it is URGENT that you speak to an Alabama DUI defense attorney right away if you’ve been arrested for drunk driving in Alabama. You may contact a qualified local DUI defense lawyer by calling toll free: 1.800.DUI.LAWS. URGENT: If you’ve been arrested for Alabama DUI, the law allows only 10 days for your lawyer to make a request with the Alabama Department of Public Safety for a hearing to save your Alabama Driver’s License . Please contact an Alabama DUI defense lawyer immediately to save your driver’s license if you or someone you care about has been arrested for an Alabama DUI. Alabama DUI / DWI charges can be prosecuted under one (or both) of two theories. First, Alabama DUI charges can be brought against someone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs . Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs refers to a person whose physical or mental capabilities are impaired by an intoxicant. It relates to the driver’s impaired ability to drive a vehicle in Alabama. Alabama DUI arrests can also be based on violation of Alabama’s per se laws, making it a crime to drive with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .08% or higher. This type of Alabama DUI charge can be brought whether or not the person is actually impaired. Violating Alabama’s per se limit of .08 means that the prosecution can be based only on body chemistry , and have nothing to do with the way the person is actually driving their car. :: top :: Alabama DUI law does not require that the person be caught driving the car! Alabama is an "actual physical control" state, which means that under Alabama DUI law, just being in the car may be good enough for police. Actual physical control is the exclusive physical power, and present ability, to operate, move, park, or direct whatever use or nonuse is to be made of a motor vehicle at the moment, as determined by the totality of the circumstances. For instance, a person who meets one of the above conditions and who is asleep in, or simply sitting in, a motor vehicle may be guilty of DUI, DWI or drunk driving. Alabama DUI law creates additional punishment and penalties for anyone that refused to take a chemical test of their blood, breath , or urine following their lawful arrest for drunk driving in Alabama. A refusal to test carries with it a 90-day driver’s license suspension, with no chance at a restricted license during that time. The prosecutor will also try to use your refusal to test against you in the criminal court case, arguing under Alabama DUI law that this is consciousness of guilt. A skilled Alabama DUI defense attorney will be able to rebut these arguments, as there are many reasons why an innocent person might refuse these drinking and driving tests. :: top :: Criminal Punishment Alabama DUI penalties have increased dramatically over the years. The sentencing range, and whether the offense will be a misdemeanor or a felony, is based on the number of prior DUI or drunk driving convictions. The first DUI conviction in a person's lifetime is a misdemeanor. Upon conviction the defendant may be given a sentence of up to 365 days in the county or municipal jail and a fine between $600 and $2,100. The DUI defendant will also be ordered to attend a court approved substance abuse program and he will have his driver's privilege suspended for 90 days. Alabama’s "look-back" period for DUI laws is 5 years. This means that if a person has only one prior DUI, and the day that he is convicted of his second DUI is more than 5 years after the date of conviction for his first DUI, he will be sentenced within the range of punishment as a first offender. However, if the second DUI conviction is within 5 years of the first conviction he will be punished as a second offense. A second DUI within 5 years of the first is a misdemeanor with a jail term of no less than five days and up to 365 days in the county or municipal jail. A court may allow a defendant to perform 30 days of community service in lieu of the required five days imprisonment. On a second conviction the accused will be fined between $1,100 and $5,100, his license will be suspended for 1 year, and he will be required to attend a court ordered treatment program. :: top :: A third DUI conviction within a person's lifetime is also a misdemeanor. Upon conviction he will be sentenced to no less than 60 days and no more than 1 year in the county or municipal jail. The accused shall be fined between $2,100 and $10,100, have his driver's license suspended for 3 years and shall be required to complete a court ordered alcohol treatment program. The fourth DUI , or subsequent, DUI is a Class C felony. A person convicted of felony DUI will be sentenced to no less than one year and one day and no more than 10 years imprisonment. He will be fined between $4,100 and $10,100 dollars, and have his driver's license suspended for 5 years. The accused will also be required to attend a court approved substance program. Other DUI penalties include an ignition interlock device, which is a breath-testing machine attached to the steering wheel of your car, and prevents it from being started or driven when there is any measurable amount of alcohol in your body. If you or someone you care about has been arrested for Alabama DUI, please contact a lawyer at once. You may contact a qualified local Alabama DUI defense lawyer by calling toll free: 1.800.DUI.LAWS. DISCLAIMER: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. :: Previous page :: :: top :: | Site map | Terms and Conditions | Legal Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact us at 1 800 DUI LAWS | 1 800 DUI LAWS. All rights reserved.

Drunk Driving Report Card

MADD Online: USA's Drunk Driving Report Card Drops To "C" Grade Victims Under 21 MADD Programs Stats & Resources Take Action News National Press Releases Regional Press Releases Online Press Centers Archived Press Releases DRIVEN magazine MADDvocate MADD Media Awards Public Service Announcements (PSAs) RSS Feeds Help Support MADD Help us make a difference! Please consider making a charitable donation in support of MADD's lifesaving work. Get email updates Sign up to receive free Legislative Action Alerts and the MADD E-Newsletter Find Your Local Chapter Enter your zip code: Or you can search by state USA's Drunk Driving Report Card Drops To "C" Grade (En Español) MADD Says "C" is for Complacency in War on Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking Safety Leaders Vow to Get America "MADD All Over Again" to Curb Rising DUI Death Toll Contacts: Tresa Hardt, 469-420-4545 Misty Moyse, 469-420-4558 WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 21, 2002)  -- With alcohol-related traffic deaths on the rise, the United States was handed a "C" grade in the war on drunk driving, according to the MADD Rating the States 2002 report card released today by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the GuideOne Foundation.   The last time MADD issued the Rating the States report was in 1999 when the nation earned a "C+" grade. "C is for complacency," said MADD National President Wendy J. Hamilton, who pointed out that while alcohol-related traffic deaths dropped by 40 percent between the time MADD was founded in 1980 and 1993, progress stalled as deaths leveled off at about 16,500 between 1993 and 1999.  Over the past three years, drunk driving deaths have climbed by five percent.  Last year, 17,448 were killed in alcohol-related crashes - representing 41 percent of all traffic deaths.  More than 500,000 Americans are injured annually in crashes involving alcohol.  The annual economic cost of alcohol-related crashes exceeds $114 billion. "The nation should be acing this fight for our lives because drunk driving is 100 percent preventable," Hamilton said.  "The nation's lower grade reflects the lack of political will, leadership and resources dedicated to waging a winning war on drunk driving."   MADD today challenged citizens and political leaders to "Get MADD All Over Again" by supporting an eight-point plan to curb drunk driving and underage drinking. The MADD report cards graded the nation, each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico on efforts to combat the most frequently committed violent crime  -- drunk driving, and underage drinking -- the No. 1 youth drug problem.  Hamilton said that the nation's grade was lowered to a "C" in part due to an increase in the country's alcohol-related traffic deaths, illustrating the "urgent need for more government resources dedicated to drunk driving and underage drinking as well as strong leadership" from Congress, the Bush Administration and other elected officials.  "The war on drunk driving has reached a complacent plateau and we must change the dangerous public perception that the fight against drunk driving has been won," added Hamilton. At the federal level, in the area of political leadership, the Administration's grade slipped to a "C" since the last Rating the States report released in 1999, while the U.S. Senate earned a "B+," and the U.S. House a "C."  Nationally, law enforcement programs and blood-alcohol testing and data collection efforts improved to a "C+."   Passage of administrative measures and criminal sanctions nationwide remained above average at a "B-," youth programs and underage drinking prevention efforts dropped to a "C+" grade, and victims programs dropped to a "D+."      "At the rate we are going, one-third of Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives," said Jim Wallace, president and CEO of GuideOne Insurance.   "That is unacceptable.  Clearly, the nation and all of the states can and should do better." No state earned an "A" in this year's report.  California received the highest grade of a "B+," followed by Georgia, New York, North Carolina and Oregon, which received "B" grades.   The only state to receive a failing "F" grade was Montana.  The District of Columbia received a "D+," North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina and South Dakota received a "D." Alaska and Massachusetts received a "D-." Sixty percent of each state's overall grade was based on its alcohol-related fatality trend and priority drunk driving laws.  The other 40 percent was based on political leadership, blood-alcohol testing and records, law enforcement programs, administrative measures and criminal sanctions, underage drinking prevention, and victim issues. MADD has identified several top priority laws for states to adopt:  administrative license revocation (ALR); .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC)/illegal per se; primary enforcement safety belt laws; mandatory alcohol assessment and treatment; mandatory BAC testing for all drivers in fatal crashes; hospital BAC reporting; victim rights constitutional amendments; vehicle impoundment; and ignition interlock laws. "These measures are the basic building blocks of a comprehensive battle plan against drunk driving," said James Fell, an alcohol-traffic safety expert at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, who serves on the MADD national board of directors and the Rating the States task force. Fell said that, on average, 48 Americans are killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes every day.  He warned that the daily death toll typically rises sharply during the Thanksgiving weekend, with an average of 67 alcohol-related traffic deaths each day over the past three Thanksgiving holidays.  The National Safety Council predicts that 575 people will be killed and 30,500 injured in highway crashes during the 2002 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, with up to 50 percent of the fatalities related to alcohol-impaired driving.   Sandra Love of Coldspring, Texas, knows all too well how drunk driving can shatter a family and turn a joyous holiday into tragedy.  While traveling home from her family's Thanksgiving dinner in 2000, she witnessed her parents, two children, niece and nephew being struck by a drunk driver.  Her parents and children were killed while her niece and nephew were severely injured. Currently, more than 300 people are killed in alcohol-related crashes each week, MADD President Hamilton said.   "Drunk driving deserves top priority attention and action from all levels of government." MADD urged the nation to adopt its eight-point plan to jump-start the war on drunk driving.   The plan urges citizens and leaders to "Get MADD All Over Again" and calls for widespread use of sobriety checkpoints and other highly visible enforcement efforts, tougher laws for the more serious DUI offenders, court monitoring programs, higher beer excise taxes, enacting stronger seat belt laws, reducing underage drinking, and establishing a National Traffic Safety Fund to support education and enforcement programs. Founded in 1980, MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD has more than 600 affiliates and two million members and supporters. For more than a half century, GuideOne Insurance has steadfastly upheld its social mission to fight the battle against drinking and driving and underage drinking.  GuideOne provided seed money to help start the first MADD chapters in 1980.  The GuideOne Foundation is the only nonprofit foundation of its kind dedicated to eliminating the tragedy of drinking and driving and underage drinking in America. The entire MADD Rating the States 2002 report can be found on MADD's Web site at www.madd.org/rts Drunk driving victim/survivor Sandra Love speaks at the Washington, D.C., 2002 Rating the States press conference. Wendy J. Hamilton, MADD national president and Jim Wallace, president and CEO of GuideOne Insurance, the Rating the States sponsor, looks on as Love tells her tragic story.   (l to r) Pacific Institute researcher and MADD National Board Member Jim Fell, drunk driving victim/survivor Sandra Love, MADD National President Wendy J. Hamilton and President and CEO Jim Wallace of GuideOne Insurance, the Rating the States sponsor, at the Washington, D.C., November 21, press conference as they unveil the nation's report card.     MADD National President Wendy J. Hamilton unveils the nation's grade of "C" at the Washington, D.C., 2002 Rating the States press conference.  MADD also announces the MADD report cards grades for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico on their efforts to combat drunk driving and underage drinking.   All photos courtesy of Daniel Peck Studios   Speeches:     Speeches  from the MADD Rating the States 2002 News Conference # # # For more about this subject... 2003 MADD Media Awards New National Board of Advisors Announced at National Conference 2003: MADD, Takata, NHTSA Stop Holiday Highway Death Toll From Impaired Driving, Lack of Seat Belt Use Printer-friendly version Email to a friend Home About Us | Membership & Chapters | MADD Programs | Discussions & Chat | Victims Under 21 | Take Action | Stats & Resources | News | MADD Privacy Policy Contact Us © Mothers Against Drunk Driving. All rights reserved.

DWAIs,get a lawyer quickly.

Colorado DUI/DWAI mistakes:denver metro, boulder Complete an Interview , Call Jim at 303-332-3602 anytime or Have me call you! SPECIAL REPORT: Mistakes Made After Being Arrested and Released for DUI in Colorado: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin and Jefferson counties. How to avoid the 10 biggest mistakes most people make after being arrested for DUI. 1. Not taking the matter seriously. This is a charge that will follow you for the rest of your life, if you are convicted. The Motor Vehicle Division will keep track of it until you are dead. It has to make sure to take your license away from you for two years, if you have three lifetime convictions. The additional insurance charges alone could cost you thousands of dollars. If your your license is taken away, you have to prepay for an SR-22 endorsement to your policy. Your insurance company must notify the Division in advance, if you do not maintain your insurance. It will also raise your rates based on your conviction. 2. Not hiring an attorney. The law is complex and you need competent representation. You must raise the right defenses at the right time or you will lose them. Facts will disappear, memories fade and witnesses vanish. A winable case can quickly become a loser. What should you do? You need legal advice and fast. You want an attorney who knows how to handle your case. 3. Hiring an attorney based on the amount of the fee alone. The State has almost unlimited resources when it comes to your case. You need to hire an attorney and pay a fee which will allow him to put time and effort into your case to counter the prosecution. Attorneys must earn enough in the time they spend on your case in order to keep their doors open and make a living wage. If you go too low, your attorney will not be able to put in the time necessary to protect you. Look for a reasonable, predictable fee, not the lowest. 4. Not obtaining a temporary license and requesting a hearing at the Motor Vehicle Department within 7 days, if your license was taken when you failed or refused to take an alcohol test. If you do not request a hearing, you will not be able to drive until after a hearing or for 90 days to a year. Driving during this time is a serious traffic offense, regardless of whether you need to drive for work or personal reasons. 5. Driving after your license has been revoked. You have no right to drive after revocation and driving then is more serious an offense than your original charge. There are no provisions for you to drive for work or personal reasons. After a 30 days, you may qualify for probationary license. If arrested for driving during this time, you may have to post a $10,000 bond just to get out of jail. If convicted, you face a minimum 45 days in jail. 6. Not requesting that the officer be present at your motor vehicle hearing. If you do not request the officer's presence , you will have to supoena him or waive her presence. The hearing will be based on the officer's report only and you will not hear how the officer will testify. Many things can be learned at this hearing by your attorney, if the officer is present. If the officer fails to appear or justify what was done, you get your license back. 7. Taking the District Attorney's first offer. The first offer is not a bargain, it's just to get rid of your case with the least amount of work. Very few cases are dismissed or reduced to a non-alcohol charge at this stage. You do not give the judge an opportunity to rule on constitutional challenges. You give up your right to raise these issues and make the State prove it's case . 8. Fail to appear in Court. The Court will issue a bench warrant for your arrest and revoke any bond. The next time you are stopped for a traffic infraction, you will be spending some time in jail and posting a bond for your future appearances. 9. Talk to anyone but an attorney about your case. Anything you say to them can be used against you. When you discuss your arrestwith friends or family, you risk turning them into involuntary witnessesagainst you. It is in your best interest to remember the details of yourarrest. It will help you in your defense. In any criminal case, you mustbe represented by a competent defense lawyer. You may choose a lawyer or risk the consequencesof representing yourself. By hiring an attorney immediately followingyour citation, you won't miss any deadlines.Judges won't know if they should protect your rights unless someone defendsyou. For example, overworked prosecutors may use reports frominexperienced or over-zealous police officers to over-prosecute a case. Defense attorneys are aware of these tendencies and are trained to handlesuch situations. If you ask the judge to let you be your own attorney, heor she must allow this in most cases. But do not do this. In all DUI/DWAIs,get a lawyer quickly. You should interview immediately after arrest if youcan (you have a 7 calendar day deadline after arrest, if you lost your license). 10. Think that talking to numerous attorneys will help you handle it on your own. You need to have an attorney go to Court with you. Back to Colorado DUI Front Page © 2000 BLS