If you
have been arrested for a Washington 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 DUI 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 DUI lawyers
in Everett, WA have been involved in these exchanges many times.
Have you
seen Breaking Bad? Just watch Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) do his job. He does
that all day long with the DA for a fee.
Saul did
not seem to use the Internet that much but that is just a show. Not using the
Internet is just ridiculous pretty much for any profession. If you need legal
help, this site (DUI-USAttorneys.com) was designed for you. Legal help
is right around the virtual corner if you press on that site.
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 Washington DUI attorney 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 that you will
incredibly appealing. You must therefore be prepared for a compromise. If the
case against you is strong the need for a compromise becomes even greater. Your
legal professional will help you strike a balance between your desire and those
of the prosecutors.
You may
not lose an arm and a leg, perhaps just a tiny part of your finger. This is a
DUI remember – you are not dropping bodies all over the city like The Wire’s
Barksdale and Stanfield had their guys (and female) doing.
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 prudent to have an Everett, WS DUI
lawyer working on your side judiciously.
Unimpressive
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 obtain 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 since the case is going to 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. Patience is a virtue.
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.
If
you have been arrested and face a DUI charge, what you need is
aggressive defense from a seasoned Washington DUI lawyer. A legal
representative can spell the difference between a reduced sentence or dismissed
charges and on the other side of the spectrum years in prison. So make the first
step and call for legal assistance. Waiting until the last minute to strike may
have worked for coxswain Bob Moch and the Univ. of Washington crew team in the
pursuit to go to the 1936 Olympics but it will probably not work for you.
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