You might not plan for it to happen, but you could get arrested for a drink driving offense at some point in the future. Knowing how to deal with the situation properly should mean you manage to avoid a custodial sentence. In most instances, only repeat offenders will end up in jail. So, it’s vital you all learn the correct process to ensure you don’t have to spend time away from your family. Of course, there are no guarantees you won’t lose your job. That is especially the case if you drive for a living. The best course of action is to avoid alcohol completely. However, everyone makes mistakes from time to time.
Refuse the Breathalyzer and take a blood test
Most people don’t know this, but you are not legally obliged to blow into a breathalyzer. It’s much better if you refuse to use than contraption and demand a blood test. Only nurses and doctors can administer the needle, and so you will have to go to the station. With a bit of luck, the alcohol levels in your blood will have dropped slightly. You’ll still blow a reading that shows you’re over the limit. However, the amount you are over should have decreased. In some circumstances, it might take a few hours to find someone who can perform the blood test. That could be long enough for your alcohol levels to drop back to normal.
Own up to your mistake
There is no point lying to the police and the courts about your drink driving offense. You’ll just make yourself look desperate and silly. Judges and senior officers will trust the results of your blood test. So, telling them you weren’t drunk at the time is not going to help. You need to own up straight away and offer your apologies to the people in charge. Offenders who seem remorseful are going to experience more leniency. Tell the police and the judge it’s never happened in the past, and it won’t happen again. Just don’t go boasting to your friends if you get a good result. Keep it to yourself, and put the experience behind you.
Get expert legal assistance
Our recommended DUI attorney says that expert legal representation is the best way to stay out of jail. Lawyers working in that field know all the tricks in the book. They can help to make sure the court is sympathetic to your situation. The right lawyer will also try to reduce your sentence using previous cases to highlight average penalties. So, you should manage to stop the judge from trying to make an example of you. You won’t have to look far to find legal professionals working in that area. Just search online and read testimonials if you want to make sure you’re getting the best service. So long as their previous clients were happy, they probably have the right skills to handle your case.
Highlight the impact of jail time on your family
You made the mistake of driving under the influence, and so you should face the consequences in the eyes of the law. However, the judge will weigh all the pros and cons of sending you to jail. It costs a lot of money to keep people locked up, and it could cause family issues. For instance, single parents might have nobody to look after their kids. A sad story like that could encourage the judge to keep you out of prison. They will see the impact it could have on your children, and they could decide it’s not worth the hassle. You will still get a hefty driving ban, but that’s better than spending time with Mr. Big.
Offer to pay for any damages
Maybe your drink driving managed to cause an accident? Perhaps you crashed into another motorist or something at the side of the road? Either way, it’s a good idea to pay for the damages. Let the court know you will happily provide funds for any repair work, and you’re willing to help in any way. That would help to let the judge know how sorry you feel about the incident. In turn, you should get a lighter sentence.
Avoiding jail time when you’ve been caught driving under the influence is not difficult. So long as it doesn’t happen many times, you should be okay. Just make sure you provide all the necessary information to your lawyer and trust in their advice. At the end of the day, people working in that industry know the best ways of getting a good result. Sometimes you can even avoid trial completely if the police failed to file the right paperwork.
Good luck!
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