Even someone who has never been arrested for a DUI before is looking at up to 48 hours in jail, $1,000 in fines and 90 days with a suspended license if they’re convicted. Those who have already been convicted once or twice for a DUI in the past year are facing up to five years in jail, $5,000 in fines and five years with a suspended license. These are very serious sentences that can have an effect on a person’s entire life, including the inability to find a job when they’re released because they will have a criminal record.
Anyone who is facing drunk driving charges needs to speak with a DUI Attorney in Hattiesburg MS as soon as possible after their arrest. They’ll need to limit the information they give to police officers to ensure they don’t accidentally incriminate themselves. They shouldn’t answer any questions other than basics like their name until they have legal representation. Once they have a lawyer, the lawyer can help them answer any questions to ensure the answers won’t affect the outcome of the case.
The person will be able to plead guilty and accept a sentence or plead innocent and opt for a jury trial or a trial by judge. Their DUI Attorney in Hattiesburg MS can help them determine which one is right for their case. When possible, their attorney will try to have the charges dropped altogether. If this isn’t possible, the attorney will try to help them obtain a not-guilty verdict or the lightest sentence possible if they are convicted. The attorney is going to do what they can to ensure the charges affect the person as little as possible once the case is over.
Without a DUI Attorney in Hattiesburg MS, the person can be found guilty and receive the harshest sentence based on the number of prior convictions. Hiring an attorney can be the difference between dropped charges and up to five years in jail, which means it’s necessary for anyone facing drunk driving charges to hire a lawyer as quickly as possible. If you’ve been arrested and charged with a DUI, make sure you speak as little about your case as possible and see help from a DUI Attorney at T. Michael Reed law firm today. Visit here for more details.
