Tuesday, December 29, 2015

What every Driver Must Know about DUI plea bargains?

If you have been arrested for a DUI violation, it is almost certain that the prosecutor will approach you with an offer for a plea deal. This means that you will be asked to plead in a particular manner and in return be allowed a few concessions such as a reduced sentence, which is known as plea bargaining.

Types of pleas

In plea bargains, the prosecution and the defense reach an arrangement that will satisfy everyone involved. You can be asked to plead guilty to a lesser crime than the one you are presently charged with. If there are multiple charges the prosecutor can dismiss one charge if you agree to plead guilty to another. Moreover, you can also agree to a sentence which will protect you from possible license suspension and a higher fine and you will have a DUI lawyer near you at this stage or a public defender (though you are much better off with the former).
You can ask for a plea bargain anytime and any where
The good news is that you can negotiate a plea bargain at any point during the proceedings. Your DUI attorney (http://dui-lawyers.usattorneys.com/) can ask the prosecutor for a formal meeting that can also be conducted over the phone or via a settlement conference at the judge’s chamber.
It is important to remember that the only thing motivating the prosecutor for a settlement is to reduce expenses and keep the court schedules free for other cases. This means he is under no pressure to make a deal - well perhaps a little pressure for these reasons. You must therefore be prepared for a compromise. If the case against you is strong the need for a compromise becomes even greater. Your lawyer will help you strike a balance between your desire and those of the prosecutors.
Do not concede to the take it or leave it attitude of the prosecutor
Remember that compromise does not mean you will allow yourself to be bullied by the prosecution. Often they dictate the terms of the deal which, for the most part, must never be allowed. The take it or leave it attitude of the prosecution lawyers is a clear indication that they are possibly trying their best to intimidate you. To counter this it is always sagacious to seek immediate help from a DUI lawyer.


Bad strategies
  • The prosecutor is not your friend and he is there to see that the justice is carried out properly and you end up paying for the DUI. Therefore, do not expose your strategy to the prosecutor.
  • While negotiating a plea bargain you must never admit guilt. If the negotiations fail then your admission will be used by the prosecution to get a conviction.
  • If the police officer who was present during the DUI violation is absent, the case will be dismissed. Do not enter a plea bargain if the officer is not present in the court as the case will anyhow be dismissed. Often times, prosecutors propose settlements when they are aware that the officer will not appear in court. If the officer is not present while such a proposal is being tabled decline the proposal and wait for his/her arrival.
Formalize the deal
If you have a verbal agreement, ask the judge to give you an appointment immediately and get the deal formalized in front of the judge.
No one wants to be charged with anything. No one wants to have their life jacked up but when you do something wrong then there is a normally a punishment that follows. This is no different than getting into trouble in elementary school and having to write sentences over and over again. The positive news is that there has been a business looking out for people like you. The business name is not vital here but their website could just change your life. Now it is much easier for you to find the right kind of legal help. Use this site, http://dui-lawyers.usattorneys.com/, to find that legal counselor you need. 

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