If you were recently arrested and charged with driving under the influence, DUI, or driving while intoxicated, DWI, for the first time, you likely have a great number of questions and are somewhat worried about the process and what it will mean for your future. The first thing to know is that it is almost always in your best interest to elicit the help of an experienced DUI attorney. An attorney can help you proceed with your case and will look out for your freedoms and interests.
After being arrested and charged with DUI, you will go some or all of the following steps including:
Arraignment--during the arraignment, after reading the charge against you, the judge will ask whether you plead guilty or innocent. Your attorney will let you know before this happens whether or not it is in your best interest to plead guilty or not guilty. If you do not have an attorney already, the judge may choose to appoint you a public defender. At this time, your attorney or public defender may ask for any copies of police reports and other documents such as blood alcohol test results.
Preliminary hearing--at this hearing the judge will decide whether the evidence produced by the prosecution could convince a jury that you were driving while intoxicated.
Plea bargaining--this is negotiating a deal with the prosecutor for different terms or charges
Pre-trial motions--this is when your attorney may bring motions to have damaging evidence kept out of the trial.
Trial--the majority of driving under the influence cases are resolved before ever going to trial, but you should be prepared for trial as a possibility.
Being prepared for the process of dealing with a DUI charge can be a great asset if you are ever charged with DUI or DWI.
To find out more about the process of dealing with a DUI charge, visit the website of experienced Rhode Island DUI defense attorney James Powderly.
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