DUI Cases and Legal Defense

DUI cases, like all criminal cases, follow a specific set of stages. Your case begins at your arrest and ends with a DUI plea, conviction, or acquittal. Occasionally, you may file an appeal to challenge your outcome.

This section describes the entire process of a DUI defense case. Learn what can you expect if you are facing a DUI charge. You can also get personalized advice about your case from a local DUI defense lawyer. 

Though similar to other criminal cases, there are a few crucial differences. A DUI charge has both criminal and administrative components. The criminal justice system handles your criminal charges. The department of motor vehicles (DMV) or whichever office oversees your state’s driver’s licenses deals with the administrative aspect.

The Basic Steps of a DUI Case

Most DUI cases begin with the same steps as below:

1. The police stop a driver, conduct sobriety tests, and arrest the driver on suspicion of driving under the influence.
2. Police officers book the defendant into custody and may conduct additional chemical testing.
3. The defendant attends an arraignment hearing and issues a plea. 
4. Depending on the plea, the case may either skip ahead to sentencing or proceed to a criminal trial. 

If the DUI case advances to a trial, you will need to navigate another series of court procedures. A successful defense can result in avoiding a conviction and its associated penalties. Failing to beat the DUI charges will result in a guilty verdict. The case would then proceed to sentencing to determine exact penalties.

Most court systems deal with a large number of driving under the influence (DUI) cases. As a result, there’s often a dedicated section of the criminal court system with separate court procedures for dispensing with DUI charges quickly and easily. This means your DUI case will likely finish more quickly, but knowing what to expect can be more challenging.

DUI Arrest Procedures

Law enforcement officers are specially trained to monitor roadways for impaired drivers. Certain signs, like weaving, erratic driving, and disobeying traffic signs, can give a police officer probable cause to initiate a traffic stop and investigate. In some states, law enforcement can establish sobriety checkpoints, where law enforcement selects drivers at random to check for impaired driving.

The police officer will ask you questions and observe you for signs of impairment, like slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, or a smell of alcohol. These signs will prompt an officer to ask you to participate in a preliminary alcohol screening (PAS). This is usually done with a Breathalyzer or breath test device. This PAS measures your blood alcohol content (BAC), or the amount of alcohol in your system. 

An officer may also ask you to perform standardized field sobriety tests. Field sobriety tests are a series of tasks and observations that check for drug and alcohol impairment.

These test results give an officer probable cause to arrest you on a drugged or drunk driving offense.

Per Se DUI and Implied Consent Laws

The per se legal limit for most states is 0.08%, or 0.05% in Utah. If your test results are at or above this level, under the law, you are too intoxicated to be driving. If your BAC measures at or more than your state’s per se blood alcohol level, law enforcement can ask you to participate in further chemical testing, such as a blood test or saliva or urine analysis.

Under implied consent laws, you have already consented to chemical testing by having a driver’s license and driving on state roadways. You may refuse chemical tests, but there are consequences separate from a DUI charge. You may lose your driving privileges, face fines, or receive a criminal charge. Refusing chemical tests will not prevent your arrest, and an officer can get a warrant for these tests. In most jurisdictions, law enforcement can use evidence of your refusal against you in court.

Arrest Processing

Once arrested, the arresting officer will confiscate your driver’s license. Your vehicle gets towed and impounded at your expense. The officer takes you to your local police department for processing. You may go to a hospital for chemical tests. Chemical tests will confirm your blood alcohol concentration and will look for drug intoxication.

You will likely spend the night in jail before a judge can arraign you and assign you a bail amount. 

Arraignment and Filing of DUI Charges

At your arraignment, you can request a court-appointed attorney, unless you can afford a private attorney.

The court reads the charge against you. Most first-time DUI offenses are misdemeanors unless you caused an accident with injuries or had an excessively high BAC level. 

You enter a plea, such as not guilty. Your plea will determine whether your case will go to trial.

Aggravating Factors

A first-time charge for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, without aggravating factors, is usually a misdemeanor. Aggravating factors will make your charge more serious and run the risk of it becoming a felony.

Aggravating factors may include:

• A BAC over 0.15%
• Prior DUI convictions
• Transporting a minor
• Excessive speed or reckless driving
• Accident causing serious bodily injury
• Accident causing death

When a prosecutor determines the charges against you, they will consider these factors. 

DUI Court Procedure

After your arraignment, if you have pleaded not guilty, you will have several more court appearances and possibly a trial. How your case proceeds depends on multiple factors. Your case can include various court hearings, a trial, and a sentencing phase.

Court hearings after your arraignment may consist of:

• Preliminary hearing
• Pre-trial conferences
• Pre-trial motions
• Trial
• Sentencing

Your attorney may work out a plea bargain that will avoid a trial. However, many states prohibit pleading out DUI charges to something lesser, like a reckless driving charge.

Some locations have separate DUI and drug courts. These can make the process more efficient and offer you more options. There may also be special programs available for DUI offenders. Keep in mind you also have administrative requirements with your driving privileges.

Administrative Procedure

The arresting officer usually confiscates your driver’s license at the time of your arrest. The office will give you a temporary paper license. You will have a certain number of days to contact your state DMV or department that handles driver’s licenses.

You may request an administrative hearing to challenge your license revocation. At this hearing, the arresting officer will present testimony and evidence about your DUI arrest. They will state if you complied with or refused chemical testing. Refusing chemical testing often results in an automatic driver’s license suspension for longer than if you had complied.

You will present your testimony about the DUI stop and why you should keep your driving privileges. The hearing officer or administrative judge will decide if the officer has enough evidence to charge you. You may keep your driver’s license if they rule the officer did not. Your criminal charge still stands, and you must appear in court to deal with your drunk driving case.

The DMV will likely require you to complete specific requirements before reinstating your license. These may include completing a substance abuse assessment or attending substance abuse education. You’ll have to pay reinstatement fees, and some states require you to retake your licensing exam.

Ignition Interlock Device and Restricted Licenses

Your driver’s license suspension time will vary by the state where you received your DUI charge, the circumstances around your charge, and if you are a repeat offender. Often, after serving a period of suspension, you may apply for a restricted license to drive to school, work, or necessary appointments. As part of this license, you may need to install an ignition interlock device (IID) at your own expense.

An IID is a breath alcohol test installed in your vehicle’s ignition system. You need to submit a breath test before you can start the car. If it detects alcohol in your sample, the vehicle will not turn on. The IID usually has a camera that snaps a photograph at the time you test to ensure the right person supplies the sample. You will need to submit occasional breath tests during your drive to keep the vehicle operating.

Violations of the IID, tampering with the device, or driving a vehicle without an IID are violations that will extend your IID requirement or earn you other sanctions.

DUI Sentencing Process

After a DUI conviction, you face sentencing. Many states have strict penalties, such as losing your driver’s license for a certain period, having your car impounded, and jail time. Your sentences will be more severe if you have aggravating factors or are a repeat offender. Some states have mandatory jail time for first-time offenders.

Criminal penalties you may face can include:

• Significant fines and fees
• Driver’s license suspension
• Jail time
• Probation
• Substance abuse treatment
• Substance abuse monitoring or SCRAM Bracelet
• Community service

In addition to fines assessed by the court, you are responsible for all costs associated with your penalties, such as substance abuse education fees and ignition interlock device installation and maintenance.

After a DUI Conviction

Driving under the influence has many consequences. Some are long-lasting. DUI convictions can impact your life even after you have completed your sentence.

Many employers won’t hire applicants with DUI convictions, especially for commercial driving. Also, a DUI can make car insurance prohibitively expensive. Most states require an SR-22 form from your insurer after a DUI to prove you have auto liability insurance.

A DUI conviction can prevent you from getting specific professional licenses. It can also impact your ability to go to college or obtain certain types of funding. You may have difficulty finding housing if the lessor runs criminal background checks.

A DUI conviction can impact your immigration status. You may face deportation.

Somewhere down the line, expunging your DUI might be possible. Expungement laws vary by state, but some states allow you to apply five to 10 years after your conviction, as long as you don’t have further convictions. However, many states don’t allow expungement of a DUI conviction.

Get an Advocate for Your DUI Defense Case

While you can represent yourself in court, having a lawyer on your side is a good idea. Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to protect your rights best.

Visit our DUI attorney directory to find a lawyer near you. A defense lawyer can help you challenge evidence, including field sobriety tests or the results of chemical tests like BAC tests. A DUI defense attorney can guide you through the plea bargain process and help you avoid jail time.