Top Mistakes DUI Defendants Make
Posted on May 25, 2016 7:10am PDT
Although driving under the influence (DUI) violations are some of the most common criminal acts in the country,
navigating the criminal justice system after an arrest never gets any
easier. For many people, the situation is incredibly stressful from the
moment they are pulled over to their day in court. Without a clear mindset
and confidence, mistakes are frequently made that actively damage their
case and chances of securing a beneficial resolution, such as avoiding
a conviction.
Consider the following top 5 mistakes DUI defendants make in case you are
ever in a similar situation:
-
Guilty conscience: Do not accept the penalties outright and assume you are guilty. Let the
court decide that after you have represented your case with a professional
DUI attorney.
-
Saying too much: The Miranda warning – “You have the right to remain silent
[…]” – is told to anyone being placed under arrest
for a reason. The more that is said to an officer at the time of your
arrest and afterwards, the more likely they are going to be able to use
your words to their benefit. Stay respectfully quiet and wait for your
attorney before allowing interrogation.
-
Procrastination: In virtually all DUI arrests, the defendant will only have 14-15 days to
react and protect their license from immediate administrative suspension.
While this should not stop you from challenging the criminal charges,
missing this short window of opportunity can be a major issue. A sense
of urgency and initiative is important.
-
Illegal driving: If you do lose your driving privileges to an administrative suspension
before your criminal DUI case is finalized, you must adhere to the legal
limitations enacted. Many believe they can still make short, routine,
or necessary driving trips despite not having an active, legal license
anymore. Being pulled over in such a situation will make matters worse
and hurt your chances of appearing responsible.
-
Lack of preparation: Do not make the common mistake of believing a DUI arrest is nothing to
worry about, or that it is so common it is unavoidable. You must prepare
your case as best you can if you want to avoid fines, jail time, probation,
mandatory interlock ignition device (IID) installation, and much more.
Kansas City DUI Attorney Steve Schanker can come to your defense after
you have been arrested for a DUI. With the help of his law firm that serves
clients in both Kansas and Missouri, you can fight for your rights and
driving privileges with confidence. If you believe you have made any of
the aforementioned mistakes, let him know as soon as you can during a
free case evaluation. You can also call
816.607.8860 for more information about his DUI law firm.