If you’re facing a DUI charge, that’s a serious offense. The consequences of a conviction can include thousands of dollars in fines, a suspended license, and even jail time. If you’re tempted to plead guilty instead of fighting the charges, here’s why that’s a bad idea
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If you’re not guilty, you don’t want a DUI on your record
People get arrested falsely for DUIs all the time. The only way they get out of those charges is by fighting them. It might seem too time-consuming and emotionally draining to fight in court, but you don’t want a DUI on your record. It can limit your ability to find employment, especially if you drive for a living.
If you’re not guilty, there is absolutely no good reason to plead guilty and allow yourself to be convicted. It is not the easiest way out, and just because you were wrongfully charged doesn’t mean you will be wrongfully convicted. Contact a DUI attorney immediately to get the best outcome for your case.
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DUI laws aren’t always what you think
Many people are under the impression that their interpretation of the law is correct when it really is not. This can go both ways – when you believe your interpretation of the law is in your favor or when you believe your understanding of the law automatically makes you guilty. In both cases, if you aren’t an attorney, don’t count on your perspective being correct.
For example, contrary to popular opinion, you can get a DUI for sleeping in the backseat of your car even if you aren’t anywhere near the controls. It’s really up to the cop you encounter.
For example, say you get pulled over by a police officer who says they pulled you over for speeding, and then they ask you to step out of the car and take a field sobriety test. Say you fail the field sobriety test and are asked to take a breathalyzer, and you fail that as well, blowing well over the legal limit. In your mind, you might think you’re going to be convicted of a DUI because you were intoxicated and failed all the tests.
This may or may not be true. It is possible that your case might be thrown out if the police officer didn’t have a valid reason to stop you in the first place. For instance, if the officer’s reason for initiating the traffic stop is that you were doing 65 mph in a 40 mph zone, but your dash cam recorded you doing 38 mph the entire time, the traffic stop might be deemed invalid, which can get your charges dropped.
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Pleading guilty isn’t black and white
You might think that guilty people who plead not guilty or no contest are just trying to pretend that they didn’t do anything wrong. If you have a good conscience and don’t like the idea of saying you’re not guilty when you know you were guilty, you will be doing yourself a big disservice.
When you plead guilty, hoping it will just make the process go faster, what you’re actually doing is ensuring you’ll get the maximum allowable sentence and fine according to the law. You’re cutting yourself off from the ability to negotiate your charges and sentence. For example, if you plead not guilty, your lawyer can fight to get you a lesser sentence and a lower fine by reducing your charges.
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If you plead guilty, you won’t have a trial
If you plead guilty right away, you will lose the chance to have a fair trial. Although most cases are better resolved without going to trial, it’s still your legal right to have one if that’s what you want.
By pleading guilty, you’re giving up your right to a defense and a fair trial. It’s ultimately your decision, but if you think a guilty plea is going to make everything go away faster, that’s probably not going to happen. You don’t know if your attorney might be able to get your charges dropped, and if you have a professional license, consider how a DUI conviction will impact your life.
If you’re a doctor, for example, you’ll have to report your conviction to the board and you could lose your license. While there’s no guarantee a lawyer can get your charges dropped, it’s worth fighting for because many people do get their charges dropped and/or lessened with the help of a DUI attorney.
Don’t just roll over – fight your DUI
If you’re facing DUI charges, don’t give up and accept the consequences of a conviction. Talk to a DUI attorney and let them fight for you.