NSB3 Blog

Being convicted of a DUI can change your life dramatically. Regardless of whether you lose your privilege to drive, spend time in jail or end up being convicted of other crimes, you could be facing serious charges with a DUI looming over your head. Upon being arrested for a DUI, you will want to enlist the help of a qualified defense attorney to help understand what options you have available to you.

In order to drive and be in accordance with the law, individuals must have their driver’s licenses. Some people mistakenly believe that driving is a right. However, according to federal law, driving is a privilege that can be revoked if certain conditions are not met. People who get pulled over without a driver’s license could face serious consequences, depending upon the circumstances.

Under most programs, a person convicted of a DUI who lacks the financial resources to pay the fees charged for the court-mandated program may obtain a waiver by presenting proof of indigence with the company offering the DUI program.

Your state's DMV is the best resource for finding out if your license is suspended. Alternatively, some states provide this resource through the Department of Revenue. The DOR may become involved when the suspension is the result of unpaid fees or taxes. Nevertheless, your state's DMV website should be the first place you look.  

Unfortunately, there are no circumstances under which you'll be able to represent your accused acquaintance without first passing the bar exam in your state. In fact, individuals who have not been admitted to a state bar are explicitly banned from practicing law within that jurisdiction. 

Depending upon your past experiences, you're likely to find the ordeal of being arrested and booked for a crime to be nerve-wracking and humiliating. Regardless of whether you're guilty of the crime with which you've been charged, you could easily be made to feel violated and dehumanized during the course of your arrest. If you're forced to spend a night in jail before being released on bail, you might feel even worse. Depending upon the seriousness of the crime with which you've been charged, you might have to spend the entirety of your pre-arraignment period in jail. In this case, you'll have to face a number of serious and potentially terrifying hassles.

If you've recently been arrested on a public intoxication charge, you may be weighing your legal options. Before you opt to spend hundreds of dollars to hire a lawyer and fight your charge, you'll need to consider the circumstances surrounding your arrest. In most jurisdictions, public intoxication charges are regarded as either petty or simple misdemeanors.

Most states require motorists convicted of an alcohol- or drug-related driving violation to complete a state-approved DUI program. The intent of the programs is to reduce the number of repeat offenders by offering education and instruction the dangers of driving under the influence and to offer a forum in which participants can address personal issues they might have with alcohol or drugs.