Ralph had just received his third “drunk driving” arrest. He was thinking about representing himself in court, but his father, Sam, told him that this would be a really big mistake. When Ralph heard this, he asked Sam why he should even consider getting a DWI attorney.
Although Sam wasn’t a lawyer, he told his son that he learned the hard way when as a young man he received a “drunk driving” arrest, represented himself in court, paid three thousand dollars in penalties and fines, and served five months in the jail downtown. As he mentioned to his son, after he got out of jail, he found out from an attorney friend that had he hired a DUI lawyer to represent him in court, he more likely than not would have had his fines and penalties substantially reduced and he may have never served any time in the city jail.
What a DWI Attorney Can Do in a DWI Arrest.
When Ralph heard this he knew he needed more DUI facts so he asked his dad for more information about what a DWI lawyer can do in a DWI arrest. His dad then articulated the following: “If you have been charged with DUI, it is advisable for you to get advice from a DUI lawyer in your local area right away. By doing this, you will know what to expect when you appear in court. From a general standpoint, criminal DUI cases tend to move fairly rapidly through the court system and unfamiliarity with procedural requirements and the various deadlines could harm your case. With this in mind, it certainly makes a lot of sense to hire a DUI attorney for your ‘driving under the influence’ or ‘drunk driving’ case.”
When Ralph listend to his dad explain this, it was as if his eyes were opened for the first time about the critical nature of hiring a ”driving under the influence” attorney. Stated differently, Ralph realized that he needed a DUI lawyer.
The Honest Truth About Taking a Field Sobriety Test
He then told his father that he had heard a lot about field sobriety tests. Consequently, he asked his father what a field sobriety test was.
His father responded with the following: “Ralph, field sobriety tests are given by police officers to determine if an individual has been operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both. Field sobriety tests frequently consist of the ‘pen light’ test, the ‘one-leg stand,’ test, the ‘walk and turn’ test, and other field sobriety tests. If you are stopped by the police for a suspected DWI, you need to know that you are not required to take these or any field sobriety tests. What is more, many DUI lawyers think that sobriety tests lack scientific merit and are invalid.”
Ralph’s father then wanted to emphasize the following: “Ralph, unlike a chemical test such as a breathalyzer test, a blood alcohol test, or a saliva test, where refusal to take such a test can have far-reaching and negative consequences, an individual is not legally required to take any field sobriety tests. The bottom line reality is that police officers have typically made up their minds to arrest the individual when they administer one of more of the field sobriety tests. In a word, field sobriety tests provide additional evidence that the driver inevitably ‘fails.’ As a result, and in most instances, a polite refusal to take any field sobriety test may be appropriate”
Near the end of their conversation, Ralph said that was beginning to understand more about “drunk driving” laws and what DUI attorneys can do for an individual who has received a ”drunk driving” arrest, but he was still wondering why he was pulled over by the police in the first place. In his own words Ralph asked his father the following question: “Dad, why was I stopped by the police? Precisely what were they looking for”?
His father answered Ralph in the following manner: “Ralph, there are many different reasons why you could have been ‘pulled over’ by the police. Some illustrations include the following: weaving in and out of traffic, missing a front license plate, tinted windows, speeding, involvement in a traffic accident, driving erratically, and expired registration tags. What is more, an anonymous individual may have reported you to the police after seeing you leaving a restaurant, a sporting event, a party, or a bar ‘under the influence’ and getting behind the wheel of your vehicle. In short, there are many possible reasons why you were ‘pulled over’ by the police.”
After getting “schooled” about DWI arrests, the role of ”drunk driving” attorneys, and the fact that he didn’t have to agree to take any field sobriety tests at the time of his arrest, Ralph decided that he would without a doubt hire a ”driving under the influence” lawyer to represent him in court.
Ralph Gets Inspired That He Will Always Drink Responsibly and Never Go Through Another “Driving Under the Influence” Arrest
Something else, however, happened after he had talked to his father. Ralph finally began to understand the critical nature of DUI arrests and as a result, he came to a decision that from this point forward, he would always drink responsibly so that he would never again have to experience another “driving under the influence” arrest.
His dad smiled at Ralph and told him the following, “Ralph, it took me until I was forty years old to realize what you just told me. I am very proud of you.
This did wonders for his self worth and so Ralph thanked his dad and then said, “if I can always drink responsibly, I will never need to hire a DUI attorney again!”
Does Ralph Need Alcohol Treatment For His Alcoholism or For His Alcohol Abuse?
There was, however, one thing that neither Ralph nor his father thought about, namely, if Ralph needs alcohol treatment for his alcohol abuse or for his alcoholism. In fact, Ralph may be required by the court to get rehabilitation for his unhealthy drinking.
