Archive for category DUI/DWI

A Denver DUI attorney gets a number of calls each week from people who find themselves needing his or her services. A Denver DUI lawyer is commonly called upon to help a person who has been charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. When a charged person contacts a legal representative chances are they know very little about what happens next. Unless they have been charged before, they are typically unaware of the details which must be attended to following the arrest. Most people are more than willing to let their counsel handle the details of their case. There are several things best left in the hands of legal counsel.

Often the first thing one’s legal counsel must attend to is securing a person’s release from custody. Someone who gains their knowledge of legal matters through watching movies or television shows might have a skewed sense of this process. Fictionalized dramas can make this seem like an easy, automatic occurrence. However, that is sometimes far from reality. Several factors can affect the timely release of an accused person. Is it a first offense or is the accused a repeat offender? Can the accused individual post the necessary bail or will they be released on their own recognizance? Is the accused a resident of Colorado or a visiting tourist? Is the individual a minor or of legal drinking age? Are there any additional outstanding arrest warrants out for the accused? Has the person’s driving caused injury to another person or persons? A legal representative can make sure that the accused is aware of the charges levied against them and they can then help them secure a release from custody. Without a legal explanation of the charges, one may have difficulty understanding the charges, as read to them.

One’s legal counsel next explains to the accused, in layman’s terms, how to respond to the charges. The representative helps enter a plea for their client. Often times, if wrongly accused, that plea is a simple, “not guilty.” Other times, when a person enters a plea of “guilty,” a representative can help explain some of the potential punishments they may face. A representative can go through the arrest report to see if all the proper methods were employed. Any questions concerning improper procedure can be addressed. For example, did the arresting officer read rights in a timely fashion? Was a breathalyzer test administered? What was the blood alcohol level reading? These are all areas to be evaluated.

The next thing one relies upon counsel for is representation during the actual court proceedings. In the worst case, a guilty charge could result in jail time, but a legal representative will work hard to keep their client from serving. They may be able to help one come away with merely a fine, or perhaps mandatory attendance at AA meetings. Quite likely, an offender will incur some driver’s license restrictions as penalty for the crime. A good representative can petition the court for leniency, particularly in the case of a first offense. Reliable counsel presents one with the best opportunity to come away from a drunk driving charge with a minimum penalty.