What is considered evading arrest in Texas?
January 29, 2020
How to clear your record of a DUI in Texas
February 12, 2020
Everyone makes bad decisions at some point in their life. Getting charged with a DUI might seem like the end of the world, but the reality is that people from all walks of life have made the same mistake. When you’re dealing with a DUI, it’s important to learn from the experience, but also not to let it affect your self-worth. The best thing to do after a DUI is to face the consequences head-on and create a plan to move on with your life.
It’s normal to worry about how a DUI could potentially impact your future. In this article, we’ll break down what you can expect from a first time DUI charge, and how not to let the experience impact the rest of your life.
Find legal representation as soon as possible
For a lot of people, a DUI is the first time they’ve been in trouble with the law. While you will still have to deal with the penalties of a DUI, first-time offenders, have much less potential consequences than people who have received multiple infractions. If it’s your first DUI offense, these are the possible penalties you could face:
- Between 3 – 180 days of jail time
- Up to $2,000 in fines
- A suspended drivers’ license for up to one year
- An annual driver’s license renewal fee of $1,000
While you may not be able to avoid all of these penalties, a qualified attorney can help you lessen the maximum consequences associated with a DUI. If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, ask to speak to an attorney as soon as possible. To protect your rights, and your future, do not attempt to explain your situation to the officer while under arrest, because anything you say may be used to build a better case against you.
An attorney will do everything they can to get you the best possible outcome by assessing all of the evidence against you and challenging the prosecution’s case. If it is your first arrest, then an attorney can also assert that you are a law-abiding citizen that made one bad mistake.
In most cases, you will be able to call an attorney either from jail, if you are being held there, or once you are released from the police’s custody. As soon as you’re able, call a lawyer so that you can be as prepared as possible before your court date.
Don’t assume that you can handle the situation yourself, or that you can substitute internet advice for real, qualified legal counsel.
Protect your driver’s license
Even if it is a first offense, a DUI conviction might mean that your driver’s license gets suspended for up to a year. Even after that, you may have to pay hefty fees to continue to renew your driver’s license every year. Losing your driver’s license is one of the most challenging aspects of a DUI conviction and one that you should try and fight as hard as possible. Losing your license can cause a serious hindrance to your day to day life and freedom. An attorney who is experienced at handling DUI cases will know the best way to protect your driver’s license from suspension and can usually work with the state to come up with a solution that protects your license.
Find peace, and move on with your life
These decisions don’t define you, but you can choose to recover from them and not let them ruin your life. If you’ve been charged with a DUI, the first step to getting your life back on track is to hire a qualified Houston DUI attorney. Christopher T. Gore has over a decade of experience representing DUI cases, and helping defendants get an outcome that helps them get their lives back on track.
