What to Do If You Find Yourself Facing DUI Charges

Being charged with a DUI is a very serious situation. It is not like a standard traffic ticket which at worst, costs you a fine and a few points on your driving record. Being arrested for a DWI at the Lake of Ozarks can lead to a lengthy court case where a judge will ultimately decide your fate. If you are found guilty, that conviction can affect you for the rest of your life. So, if you find yourself facing DWI charges in mid-Missouri, there are a few things that the attorneys at Deputy and Mizell encourage you to keep in mind. To find out what they are, keep reading!

Contact a DUI Defense Attorney As soon as you are able, it is extremely important for you to contact a DUI defense attorney. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner you will have guidance to help you through the process so you do everything you can to help your case, and nothing to hurt it. That is why it’s important that you pick an attorney with a long track record of successfully defending DWI cases. Take Notes Don’t rely on your memory. Take notes of everything that happened before, during, and after your arrest. The more information your attorney has the better he or she will be able to defend you. Your attorney will need to know things like what you told the police officer, if you were read your Miranda rights, how much you had to drink, when your last drink was before you were arrested, etc. Your lawyer will also be interested in any details about the officer’s behavior during the arrest, any instructions you were given, and how you responded. Be honest with your attorney so he or she is able to understand all the details, and find the legal factors that may be challenged. Be Careful What You Say The less spoken, the better. The arresting officer may ask you questions that lead you to admit to a crime. As you will be informed when your Miranda rights are read to you, anything you say can be used against you. If you admit to driving while intoxicated, it will make your defense much more difficult. Do not lie to a police officer, but if you are unsure how to answer a question, please remember that you don’t have to answer any questions before you have been able to speak with your attorney. Be respectful, and simply inform the police officer that you want to speak with an attorney before answering any more questions. Speak to a Drunk Driving Charge Attorney At Deputy and Mizell, we strongly encourage people not to drink and drive. It is absolutely not worth the risk. But when facing a DUI charge at Lake of the Ozarks, many people make the mistake of assuming that there is no defense for a DWI and that they might as well save the time and money necessary to fight it and just plead guilty. Nothing could be further from the truth. A number of things can be challenged in these cases, many of which can lead to a dismissal or reduction in the charges you are facing. When you hire our firm, we closely examine every aspect of the case. We build the strongest possible defense in an effort to obtain the most favorable outcome on your behalf.

We have been successful in previous cases challenging the validity of the initial traffic stop, the accuracy of field sobriety or blood alcohol concentration (BAC) tests, and many other issues. To learn more about how the criminal defense lawyers in Camdenton and Lebanon, MO, of Deputy and Mizell can aggressively defend you against a drunk driving charge, visit our DWI charges page. Remember, your initial consultation with our central Missouri law firm is FREE, and we are ready to fight on your behalf. We hope you enjoyed these tips and invite you to stay in touch to hear more helpful hints by following us on social media. We included links to our channels below for your convenience.