Popped For a Holiday DWI? 5 Things You Should Know!
The holiday season is a time to celebrate. While each one of us “celebrates” in our own individual ways, alcohol seems to be a common factor in most celebrations – especially during the holidays. Whether it is a beer, a glass of wine or a holiday specialty drink like eggnog, alcoholic beverages are just about everywhere during this season. However, as jolly as a glass of alcohol may be, it can also have negative consequences.
During the holiday seasons, law enforcement knows that alcoholic beverages are part of many people’s celebrations. This is the exact reason why they enforce the laws even more and often set up random check points to check for drunk driving. If you are one of the unfortunate few who is cited or arrested for a DWI (driving while under the influence), below are some important things you need to know.
5 Things You Should Do If Arrested or Cited For Drunk Driving
Getting arrested or even cited for drunk driving can significantly impact all aspects of your life. However, it is important to know that just because you were arrested or cited, it does not automatically result in a conviction. This is why it is important to be familiar with the steps outlined below to protect your legal rights:
- You should not argue with the police officer that issuing the citation or arresting you on the alleged charge of drunk driving charge.
- You should keep any evidence that may be relative to helping you avoid a DWI conviction.
- You should not admit guilty to the charges, unless directed by your attorney.
- You should not ignore any summons associated with the DWI arrest.
- You should immediately consult with and hire an experienced drunk driving attorney to help protect your legal rights.
No one ever expects to get arrested for a DWI; but if it does happen, you need to know what to do, what not to do, and what steps to take immediately after the event to protect your legal rights and increase the likelihood of avoiding a conviction and its negative consequences.
How Can a DWI Lawyer Help Me?
A good drunk driving attorney can you help you protect your legal rights and avoid, or at least reduce, a DWI conviction. More specifically, a New Jersey DWI lawyer can help:
Determine whether you should plead guilty
Help you during plea bargaining and sentence bargaining
Investigate the specific facts surrounding your DWI arrest
Devise strategies and defenses to avoid a conviction
When looking for a DWI attorney, some things you should consider are:
Whether the attorney specializes in defending DWI cases
How much the attorney charges
Whether the attorney will schedule an initial free consultation
Whether the attorney himself will be handling your case
Call Us
If you or someone you know has been issued DWI citation or arrested for drunk driving in New Jersey, an experienced attorney can help. For more information or to schedule a free consultation with New Jersey DWI attorney Dan T. Matrafajlo, please call the Law Offices of Dan T. Matrafajlo at (908) 248-4404.