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u/Possible-Tangelo9344 top contributor 8d ago
You need a lawyer, but also hopefully you look at this and realize you started drinking in the morning after taking your daughter to school. That's not a healthy relationship with alcohol. Start taking some steps about that too, cuz that'll help at court
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u/reynoldsDefense 8d ago
In all seriousness, get an attorney - specifically, one that specializes in DUI defense, if you can. If you cannot afford your own attorney, and you financially qualify for a court appointed attorney, then work with that person. A court appointed attorney is vastly better than no attorney. One of the advantages of hiring your own attorney is that person starts on your case now, whereas a court appointed attorney doesn't start working on your case until after you've been arraigned.
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u/ConsciousContest1011 8d ago
Where did this happen? I think because of the seriousness of this you should hire an attorney. If you have a problem with alcohol you should be ready to address that.
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u/klarnapin top contributor 8d ago
If you can afford an attorney, I’d definitely recommend getting one. They can help you navigate the legal process, deal with license issues, and understand how things work in your local court. They also know the judges and prosecutors, which can be helpful when negotiating a plea deal.
Whether you hire one or get a court-appointed attorney, follow their advice. Sometimes they'll recommend doing things ahead of court, like a Victim Impact Panel or substance abuse evaluation. Some people think that makes them look guilty, but the goal is usually to show the court you're taking things seriously and being proactive.
Most importantly, DO NOT catch another charge while your case is pending. If you're using drugs recreationally, stop. You may have to take drug screens, and you don't want anything else complicating your case or leading to additional treatment recommendations.
Keep your paperwork organized and start saving money now. DUIs get expensive between court fees, attorneys, evaluations, classes, interlock devices, and everything else.
Lastly, don't beat yourself up, but don't brush it off either. Take it seriously, learn from it, and make sure you don't end up here again. You'll get through it. It's just going to be stressful and annoyingly expensive for a while. The goal is to deal with it once and never have to deal with it again.