Should You Pay the Fine or Hire a DUI Attorney for Your First DUI

Your first DUI offense may only be well, a first--but it shouldn't be a reason for you to relax and think you'll get away with disobeying an actual law. It's important to hire a lawyer to know the specifics of dilemma and his/her assessment on what will happen in court. Paying the fine may cost you too much and you may end up paying a bit more with jail time or a probationary status. First time DUIs happen to teenagers as well, so it's not good to risk a young person's future with such heavy penalties.

The first DUI charge

In some states, the first DUI charge can lead to suspension of your license, possible jail time for a year, or a $600-$1200. California even requires a minimum jail time of 96 hours for a first offense, license suspension for 6 months and a maximum of $390 fines. . Either way there's a huge inconvenience, so it's wiser to get a lawyer who can get you a lesser sentence based on what your state does to first time DUI charges.

If your BAC level is well above .08 or at .08, then you're in for some penalty time. BAC levels are objective forms of evidence, so it's not good to gamble this in court without a lawyer. The penalties faced with this BAC level are $400 fine, three months license suspension, and 30 days jail time. Anything higher than .1 and you won't be able to drive for a year.

Obviously there a lot of serious penalties at hand, even for just a first time. Paying the fine is not the only consequence you face and without a lawyer you may end up paying with your time or license. A lawyer does more than lessen a sentence; you're given a comprehensive evaluation of your situation. Information is most crucial in a first time offense since it's something you've never encountered.