Ralph had just received his third “drunk driving” arrest. Although he was very depressed about this, he was giving some serious thought about representing himself in court. His father, Sam, however, told him that this would be a major mistake. When Ralph heard this, he asked Sam why he should even consider hiring a DWI attorney.
Even though Sam wasn’t an attorney, he told his son that he learned the hard way when as a young man he received a “driving under the influence” arrest, represented himself in court, paid five thousand dollars in penalties and fines, and served 30 days 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 attorney to represent him in court, he probably would have had his penalties and fines significantly reduced and he may have never served any time in the local city jail.
What a ”Drunk Driving” Attorney Can Do in a Drunk Driving Arrest.
When Ralph heard this he knew he needed more DUI facts so he asked his father for more information about what a ”drunk driving” lawyer can do in a “drunk driving” arrest. His dad then articulated the following: “Be aware of the fact that what matters is not so much whether you are guilty or innocent, but if the prosecution has enough evidence to prove its case against you. And remember, you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And by hiring a DUI lawyer, you are increasing the chances that you will experience the best possible outcome for your circumstance.”
When Ralph listend to his dad explain this, it was as if his eyes were opened for the first time about the significance of hiring a DWI 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. As a result, 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 underline the following: “Ralph, different than chemical tests like a saliva test, a blood alcohol test, or a breathalyzer test where refusal to take such a test can have extensive and adverse outcomes, a person is not legally mandated to take any field sobriety tests. The reality of the situation is that police officers have usually made up their minds to arrest the person when they have the driver take one of more of the field sobriety tests. In short, field sobriety tests provide ‘extra’ evidence that the driver inevitably ‘fails.’ Consequently, and in the vast majority of cases, a polite refusal to take any field sobriety test will be the correct course of action.”
Near the end of their conversation, Ralph said that was beginning to understand more about “drunk driving” laws and what ”driving under the influence” attorneys can do for an individual who has received a DWI arrest, but he was still wondering why he was stopped by the police in the first place. In his own words Ralph asked his father the following question: “Dad, why was I pulled over by the police? Exactly 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 “driving under the influence” arrests, the role of DUI 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 definitely hire a ”driving under the influence” attorney to represent him in court.
Ralph Gets Motivated That He Will Always Drink Responsibly and Never Face Another “Driving Under the Influence” Arrest
Something else, however, happened after he had talked to his dad. Ralph at last started to comprehend the critical nature of DUI arrests and as a result, he decided that from this point forward, he would always drink in moderation so that he would never again have to suffer through another DWI arrest.
His father smiled at Ralph and told him the following, “son, it took me until I was fifty-five years old to realize what you just told me. I am really proud of you.
Ralph thanked his dad and then said, “if I can always drink in moderation, I will never need to hire a DUI attorney again!”
Does Ralph Need Alcohol Treatment For His Alcohol Abuse or For His Alcoholism?
There was, however, one thing that neither Ralph nor his dad thought about, namely, if Ralph needs alcohol rehabilitation for his alcoholism or for his alcohol abuse. In fact, Ralph may be mandated by the court to get rehab for his careless drinking.
