6 Steps To Take If You've Been Accused Of Drinking And Driving
ShareIf you've been accused of drinking and driving, that can be a serious situation with serious penalties. Depending on the laws in your area, you may face fines, lose your license, or even have to spend time in jail. Here's what you need to do to lessen the impact.
1. Take All the Blood Tests Requested by the Officers
It may seem like denying a blood test can get you off a drunk driving charge, but unfortunately, that is not the case. Many states have implied consent laws. This means that by getting in your vehicle and driving down the road, you consent to a blood test or a breathalyzer if an officer suspects that you have been drinking.
Refusing to take the test can often lead to worse results than just going through the test. That's true even if you fail the test.
2. Stay Silent
Take advantage of your right to silence. You don't want to accidentally admit to something that you didn't do. If the police need to question you, always make sure your attorney is there.
3. If You're Innocent, Hire an Attorney
Many people think that if they're not guilty, they don't need a lawyer. That is not true. In these cases, you need a criminal defense lawyer just as much as you do when you are guilty.
As you may know, many innocent people are convicted of crimes they didn't commit every year, and being innocent is no guarantee that the courts will find you innocent. Always get an attorney if you have been charged with drinking and driving or related criminal offenses.
4. Document Everything
Write down everything that you can remember about the situation. Don't give this information to the cops—instead, give it to your lawyers. They can use it to reconstruct the situation.
Depending on the specifics, they may argue that you were innocent. They may argue that the charges are invalid because the police made a procedural error, or they may argue that you deserve the lowest sentence possible.
5. Make Your Social Media Accounts Private
You don't want the courts to find incriminating pictures or posts on your social media accounts. So that doesn't happen, you may want to review your accounts. Make sure that everything is set to private and if relevant, untag yourself from incriminating photos.
6. Enroll in Classes
It can also help to enroll in Alcoholics Anonymous or any classes focused on how to stop drinking. That shows remorse, and your criminal lawyer can argue for a lesser sentence based on that action alone.