The Overwhelming Consequences of DUI Charges

Being charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances is a very serious deal. The law enforcement authorities are not willing to let any DUI offender slide, due to a huge increase in DUI accidents on the roads all over the nation. Thousands of people are injured or even killed during the DUI accidents every year, so it is only natural that the law enforcement agencies are so eager in catching any DUI offenders.

Hence, if you or your loved ones were arrested in line with the DUI charges, you should prepare yourself for some genuinely overwhelming consequences. First of all, during the arrest, the police officer is going to take your driver’s license away from you and will provide you with a temporary permit instead. This permit will allow you to drive your vehicle for 30 more days. After that, the license is going to be suspended. If you wish to keep your license, it is very important to initiate an administrative DMV hearing within 10 days after the accident.

Losing your driver’s license is not the biggest problem you may be facing. DUI charges are going to cost you quite a bit of money – you will be obliged to pay expensive fines and may even be required to pay restitution. Furthermore, high risk drivers are also obliged to acquire special SR22 insurance by the court. SR22 insurance is very expensive and will cost you three times as much as the regular insurance. Besides, an ignition interlock device could be installed inside your car in order to prevent any accidents from occurring in the future.

The judge may also find it necessary for you to attend special alcohol or drug awareness classes and you will have to pay for them from your pocket. Also, you may be sentenced to community service, which means that you are going to be performing community work for hundreds of hours.

If you injured or even killed a person during the DUI accident, you may also be sentenced to jail or state prison. Even if you will avoid incarceration, your reputation will be totally destroyed. Few employers will want to hire a person with criminal records; few landlords will agree to provide you with the property for the sake of their neighbors.

Therefore, if you wish to minimize the damage done by the DUI charges, it is absolutely crucial to get in touch with a professional Sacramento DUI attorney at the earliest opportunity. Only a qualified legal representative will have enough skills, knowledge and expertise to go through the case and determine if the law enforcement authorities had the right to pull you over to begin with. In case the police officers had no probable cause to pull you over, the case will be dismissed, which is the most desirable outcome for you.

You could try and work with a public defender as an option, but public defenders mostly have their hands full already, so it is advisable to work with a legal expert, who will devote all of his time and efforts to assist you. Do not let the DUI charges ruin your life and fight for your legal rights in court. Hiring a Sacramento DUI lawyer is going to be the very first step towards succeeding and winning the case.