What are your options when dealing with a DUI charge?

A DUI arrest is very serious business and a Washington State DUI conviction can affect your career, your social life, and even your personal life. Unfortunately, all too often, law enforcement officers end up arresting and charging innocent persons with a DUI because either they use faulty calibrated breathalyzers or they simply happen to be under-trained and prone to errors.

Seattle has some gorgeous sports stadiums in their baseball and football teams but their jails are probably not as pretty. And they probably do not serve beer, hotdogs, nachos, pizza, snicker's bars, and soda there either. You do not want to get a DUI ticket but if you do get one it is too late. You are now in the system and you need a Seattle, Washington DUI lawyer to get you out so you can hopefully get on with your life and not make this mistake again. The Seattle Seahawks fell short this year in the Super Bowl bid but this website does not fall short in any category: http://dui-lawyers.usattorneys.com/washington. In fact, it does more than just entertain people, it gives people redemption. That may be worth more than a hotdog with mustard and ketchup!

It is important that people who face such charges reach out to a Seattle, Washington DUI lawyer without delay and get started on devising a strategic defense against their charges in order to beat their DUI case. Failure to do so will result in a DUI conviction and that can have some serious consequences such as prison time, hefty fines, installation of ignition interlock devices, mandatory alcohol or drug counselling, probation, community service, and ankle bracelets, to name a few.

What transpires at the arraignment?

Fabulous Seattle, WA DUI lawyers tell us that at the arraignment, the suspect will be requested to plead to the charge. What this means is that the defendant either gets to admit guilty by pleading guilty, or challenge the DUI charge by contesting or pleading not guilty. Depending on what plea is entered, the case will progress accordingly. During the arraignment you will also be appointed a public defender if you don’t already have a DUI legal representative of your own. The amount of bail will also be set provided that you are eligible for bail.

Legal professionals know that a plea can always be changed at a later stage to a no contest plea. In some states the defendant also has the right to a jury trial. He or she may request that they be tried by a jury of their own peers rather than a judge.

What are your plea options in a DUI case?

When charged with DUI you essentially have the following options:

1. Plead guilty and accept the consequences
2. With the help of your Seattle, WA DUI lawyer try to strike a plea bargain and plead guilty to a lesser charge such as a wet reckless
3. Request a trial in front of a judge
4. Request that you be tried in front of a jury of your own peers
5. Plead not guilty
6. Plead with no contest

Should you contest the charges levied on you?

The answer to this question is not a one size fits all kind of answer. It really depends on the specifics of your particular case. The best person to advise you on this would be your Seattle DUI lawyer who unlike what Pete Carroll showed when he was at USC and violated all sorts of NCAA rules, will show you what integrity looks like. 

Depending on the evidence against you, you can decide whether to fight the prosecution or strike a DUI plea deal with them.

If your blood alcohol content was marginally over the limit then there may be a reason to fight the case but if your BAC was well over then you are much better off settling the case with a plea deal. In such a situation, the chances of you winning at a trial are slim.