Drunk driving is a serious crime in all areas of the United States.  Different areas have various names for the offense which include driving under the influence; driving while intoxicated; or operating under the influence.  Regardless of the term your particular state uses, getting arrested for the offense is a serious issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

The penalties for drunk driving vary by state, but all states have stiff penalties.  You can have your car impounded or your license suspended or revoked.  Your insurance rates will increase significantly if convicted.  It is likely that you will incur fines, and if you hire an attorney you will have legal expenses.  In a worst case scenario, you may have to go to prison or face community service.  None of the penalties are favorable.

Almost two million Americans are arrested each year for drunk driving.  Because the risks of this so greatly affect others on the road, each state has adopted laws with severe penalties.  The safety of pedestrians, other drivers, property and you yourself are all put at risk when you get behind the wheel while drunk.  The most effective way to avoid drunk driving is to not drive at all if you plan to drink alcohol or if you have been drinking.  Most bars and clubs will happily call you a cab if you feel you can not drive safely.

Having a designated driver will also help avoid drunk driving arrests.  If you are going out in a group, designate one person to remain sober for the duration and drive everyone home safely.  This is ideal for a group of friends who go out regularly.  The responsibility of being the designated driver can rotate between the friends.  This is a safe way to enjoy yourself without putting your safety and the safety of others in jeopardy.

If you have been stopped and arrested on a charge of driving under the influence, it is advisable to hire a good lawyer to defend your case.  Some consequences for drunk driving can stay on your record for life and even prevent you from getting a job.  It is important to find an attorney who has a proven track record in this type of situation.  There is a very good chance you will have reduced charges and avoid serious jail time with a good defense attorney.

Getting arrested for driving for drunk driving can be a very frightening experience because of the embarrassment of the arrest as well as the possible consequences.  The best way to avoid getting arrested for drunk driving is, of course, not to drive when you have been drinking.  However, if you have been arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, you should hire a skilled attorney immediately.  An attorney will be able to handle your case and possibly get charges reduced or dismissed.  The penalties of drunk driving are serious.  They can follow you throughout your lifetime and have many ill affects on your lifestyle.  Do not get behind the wheel of a car when you are intoxicated and do not get into a car with a driver who has been drinking.

You go out to dinner with a few friends, share a few laughs, and have a couple drinks.  Feeling fine, you drive home.  Suddenly, you see the flashing lights of a police car in your rear view mirror.  This can be a very frightening experience.

So, what do you do?

First, do not panic.  Pull over calmly and safely as soon as possible.  Be polite to the officer and cooperate.  Think carefully about your words and actions and do not argue.  Be as calm and pleasant as possible.  Do not complain and do not touch the officer for any reason.  You were likely pulled over because of some driving behavior the officer noticed.  He has no evidence of drunk driving yet, so if you remain calm and polite you may be able to avoid a more problematic confrontation.

If asked if you have been drinking you can choose to admit to it.  The officer can usually smell it and if you lie you will not be seen as credible.  An officer will be more likely to believe you had one drink if you are upfront than if you lie or are belligerent about it.  You may also choose not to answer.  You have a right to not answer any questions.  Tell the officer politely that you want to speak with an attorney first.  Inform them that you are neither refusing nor agreeing to comply with tests or questions but are awaiting advice from your attorney.  Most attorneys will advise you not to take a breath test because the results can be unreliable.  The penalties for refusing are a lot more lenient than those for a drunken driving conviction.

The officer may decide to let you go or may arrest you.  Getting arrested is a dehumanizing experience and highly traumatic.  Not only are you faced with staying in jail until your bond is posted, but you have the added anxiety of having to get your vehicle out of impound and the possible legal ramifications.  It is very important to retain an attorney who will be able to defend your case aggressively.  A conviction of drunk driving can follow you for many years and severely affect your livelihood.

Find an attorney who has experience in driving under the influence cases and who is prepared to make as many pertinent challenges as possible.  The goal is to weaken the case against you in order to get a reduction of charges or to get the case dismissed.  Often there are procedures that were not followed correctly or tests that were administered improperly.  Aggressively pursuing all possible avenues will increase your chances of not being adversely affected by a drunken driving arrest.

If you are arrested for driving under the influence it is important to first remain calm.  Be polite to the arresting officer and cooperative.  However, ask to speak with an attorney before making any statements or submitting to a breath test.  Once arrested, you will be freed on bond.  It is then important to find a highly skilled attorney to defend your case.

If you have been stopped and arrested on a charge of driving under the influence, it is very important to find a good DUI lawyer to defend your case. You may be able to avoid some of the more extreme measures taken against you or even possibly have the case dismissed entirely. Some consequences of driving while impaired can stay on your record for life, preventing you from getting a job or even leaving the country for travel in some areas.

Not all attorneys are well versed in driving under the influence defenses. It is important to find a DUI lawyer who is skilled and has vast experience in this type of case. Ask potential attorneys for their track record in this type of situation. Specifically ask them how many cases of this sort they have defended; how many years experience they have; and how many cases they have gotten completely dismissed.

For your specific case, it is important to divulge all necessary information to your attorney. Your attorney will also get all the information possible from the district attorney who will be prosecuting your case. Your attorney will look for several possible challenges in order to reduce or dismiss the charges against you.

Because the penalties for driving under the influence are so severe and so long reaching, it is often best to try to fight the case. Even if you are not successful in completely getting the case dismissed, there is a very good chance you will have reduced charges and avoid serious jail time. This is especially true in a situation where the blood alcohol level is barely over the legal limit and where there was no accident or injury associated with the offense.

The district attorney’s position is to make the strongest possible case against you. The defense attorney’s job is to make as many arguments as possible to weaken that case. There are several variables that are common in these types of cases that can be challenged. Among them are the arresting procedures and whether they were done properly; the reliability of the testing equipment; and the certification of the person administering the test.

Getting arrested for driving while under the influence can be a very frightening experience. Not only is the arrest traumatic, but the long reaching affects a conviction may have are equally so. Hiring an DUI lawyer who is skilled in the defense of these cases is the best possible alternative. You will have a greater chance of reducing or even dismissing the charges against you.