Being arrested for receiving a DUI brings serious consequences. It can affect your life, both in the short-term and in the long run. Given that this is your fault for making that bad decision of drinking and driving even when there are laws to discourage this, then that’s something you’ll have to be willing to accept to change for the better.
Hence, it’s important to be aware of the necessary steps to do after receiving the criminal charge of driving under the influence. That way, you can increase the chances of a better result from your arrest. You don’t have to suffer its dire consequences forever, as you can take this in a positive light. This means moving forward from your DUI charge with lessons – never to do it again.
That said, here’s an outline of some of the important steps to take after receiving a DUI:
1. Take A Chemical Test
Depending on the state or place where you’ve been arrested, one of the first and foremost steps you’ll have to undertake is to go through a chemical test. This is needed to show a variety of information, one of which is your current blood alcohol level.
With the test results, police officers will have a means to determine the level of alcohol in your blood when you were arrested.
The thing with a chemical test is that this isn’t always something that you can refuse. So, as much as possible, just push on with it.
2. Seek Legal Counsel
It’s important that you’re able to have a good grip of the legal laws on DUI charges in your local area. This is the very best way for you to have a strong understanding on what these charges mean and what you’ll be facing in the coming days ahead.
Hiring a qualified DUI and criminal defense law firm to be on your side and help you every step of the way can make this process a little less confusing for you. It also ensures that every legal requirement is met and completed so that you can walk away with the best results.
3. Get A Ride Home
There are instances when after you receive a DUI charge, you may be asked to spend time in jail overnight. But, there are also instances when you can be released immediately, for as long as you complied with all the necessary requirements.
So, be sure that you have someone to give you a ride home from the police station or detention center. In most cases, your license will still be revoked for days, even up to weeks or months, so you surely can’t drive anymore.
4. Set A Court Date
This step applies if there are aggravating circumstances relating to your charge. For example, because you were drunk driving, an accident happened. There was damage to property, injury, or, worse, death.
When this happens, the setting of a hearing or court date happens as soon as you’re about to be released from the jail. Be sure that you take good note of this, as failure to appear during your hearing schedule will only make your DUI charge even more complicated.
Once you get home, make the necessary arrangements for you to be present on that hearing date. Don’t delay anything. Contact your workplace or other appointments you may have to ensure that you can appear on that date. Your hearing schedules should always be top priority until such time when the final judgment is served.
5. Get Your License Back
The suspension of your driver’s license is one of the very first penalties you’ll face because of your DUI. So, among all other things you’ll have to do, it’s important also for you to strive to get your license back.
This depends on the applicable laws. You might have to submit yourself to a new driving seminar or test for it, pay a fine, or go through community service. If your DUI charge is related to the taking of an illegal drug, this may also mean that you’ll have to go through rehabilitation programs.
Whatever is required of you to be done to get your license back, complete these as soon as possible. In doing so, you can move on with your life and get back to work – especially when your license is needed for your job.
Conclusion
Especially when you’re a first-time DUI offender, you may start to ask yourself what comes next. Surely, no one intends to receive a DUI. But, when you do, it’s also something you’ll have to accept. When it does happen, however, it’s helpful to understand what to do next to better move on from it. The tips above can give you the best insights, moving forward.
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