So You Got A DUI Driving Drunk, Now What?

A DUI is nothing to take lightly. It is one of the most serious driving offenses. If you have been given a DUI, it is important to start behaving proactively immediately. Those who wait around for court proceedings and verdicts without taking action often find themselves slapped with huge fines and possibly even prison time. There are steps you can take immediately if you have been given a DUI. It is impossible, of course, to predict the results of your hearing or trial, but by following these steps you can improve your chances, get help, and move forward with your life.

Get Professional Help or Counseling

When you get a DUI, it is important to consider the implications. Drunk driving is a serious offense, and individuals who drive drunk may have serious mental or emotional problems. A judge will consider these problems when he or she evaluates your case. You can show the judge that you are serious about changing your behavior by seeking professional help or counseling services before your trial. Do not simply seek help to make a good impression. A judge has the ability to check up on your counseling and receive evaluations of your time in a rehabilitation program. Unless you are taking the program seriously, your case could become much worse.

Hire an Attorney

It is also a good idea to hire an attorney to help you in your DUI case. A good attorney will have experience with cases like yours. All cases are different, but you should ask your attorney about the results of cases that he or she handled with elements that were similar to your case. If this is your first DUI, ask your attorney for their case history with other first time offenders. If you have received a DUI in the past, ask for information about cases with repeat offenders. There is no guarantee that your attorney will be able to turn your case around. All cases are different with different circumstances, different judges, and different results. However, your attorney’s case history can give you an idea of what to expect.

Prevention Is The Best Medicine

If you’ve already been given a DUI, you may think it is too late for preventative measures. However, it is never too early or too late to start thinking about changing your behavior. The punishment for a DUI is so severe for one reason: it is designed to act as your wake-up call. Driving drunk is extremely dangerous to both drivers and others. Avoiding driving drunk will prevent you from ever getting a DUI.

Breathalyzers and Designated Drivers

The only surefire way to avoid a DUI is to not get drunk in the first place. Drunkenness can cause severe health problems and put you in danger whether or not you are in a vehicle. If, however, you do plan on getting drunk, you can take precautionary measures to ensure you don’t get a DUI. Establishing a designated driver on a night of drinking is a common practice. A designated driver must be responsible and must consume no alcohol during the entire evening. If your DD consumes alcohol, you may want to have a personal breathalyzer to test his or her blood alcohol concentration. Always, if you are too drunk to drive, call a cab or take a bus. Cab fare is a worthy price to pay for a saved life.

These tips were contributed by Tulsa Oklahoma DUI Lawyer, The Tulsa DUI guy.