If you get pulled over to the side of the road by the police and the officer subjects you to tests that indicate that you have been drinking and your blood alcohol level is over the limit, you will be taken to a police station where you will be formally charged with a DUI offense. Once you have been charged, the next stage is for you to be arraigned in court; many people are not even familiar with the term let alone know what to expect. When you are arraigned the charges against you are read, you as the accused have the opportunity to plead either guilty or innocent of the charge.
In preparation for the arraignment it is highly recommended that you engage a DUI lawyer in Summerville SC who can tell you what to expect in the way of punishment and to determine if it appears there are any extenuating circumstances that might possibly allow him or her to either have the charges reduced or even dropped.
During the arraignment you can plead guilty or innocent of the charge. In most cases, if a plea of guilty is entered the sentencing will be immediate, in many cases the state laws are such that the judge is obliged to give a set penalty. On the other hand, when you plead innocence, the case will be continued; a court date will be set for some future time. In the event the defendant is found to be a second or third offender the judge will usually require bail before releasing the individual awaiting trial.
It is the right of anyone charged with a crime to have legal representation, when you are charged with a DUI offense you have the right to have a DUI lawyer in Summerville SC present during your arraignment. Although the court must give you a lawyer if you do not have one or can’t afford one it is always best to have your own lawyer. You should not wait to hire your lawyer, have one before you are arraigned, in this way you will know what to expect and how best to handle it. Once the judge has read the charges and the lawyer has had an opportunity to study the charge sheet, he or she can advise your next step.
It may be tempting to simply plead guilty to the charge and get it behind you; this is especially true if this is the first offence. Your DUI lawyer in Summerville SC will usually advise against this as you will end up with a criminal record. A plea of innocence will allow the lawyer the opportunity to work on getting a suitable verdict.
If you have been arrested and charged with driving under the influence you will need aDUI lawyer in Summerville SCto provide guidance and assistance. You are invited to contact the Frost Law Group, LLC.
