Take the Do-It-Yourself out of the equation when dealing with something as complex as a DUI charge. When a pipe breaks in your house, you call a plumber. When your computer crashes (and the blue screen of death appears), you call the IT expert. When you find termites, you call an exterminator as soon as possible. You do this because these are problems that you know you can’t handle by yourself and you need the help of a professional. So why would anyone think they could handle something as serious and involved as a DUI without the expertise of an attorney?
Too many people across New York proceed without an attorney in Driving Under the Influence cases each year. They do not think that it is worth it to retain an attorney to help them, when an experienced law firm can save them money and a lot of aggravation. DIY personalities are playing Russian Roulette with their future, or do not fully grasp the magnitude of the penalties for drinking and driving.
Even a person who is arrested for DUI for the first time in New York, with just over the minimum Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) of 0.08, faces extraordinarily harsh penalties; these could include up to fifteen days in jail, mandatory license suspension, a minimum $250 annual assessment fine, and a minimum total of $750 in fines over 3 years, and possibly hundreds of dollars more.
The penalties only increase if you have been previously arrested for DUI or have a BAC over 0.18. Anyone in New York with a BAC over 0.18 can be charged with Aggravated DUI and face up to one year in jail, license revocation for a year, a $250 annual assessment fine, for a minimum total of $750 in fines over 3 years, and the possibility of thousands of dollars in additional fines.
These are not consequences to be taken lightly. A DUI is a very serious violation that requires the assistance of a professional to help fight these charges and minimize the damage. The same way you would call for help with the flood, or the computer crash, or termites, you need to retain a qualified attorney to navigate the maze of the judicial system in New York and protect your rights.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for DUI in New York, do not delay in retaining an attorney. This is not a “Do It Yourself” situation.
“A DUI Is Not a DIY: Save Money and Hassle Using an Attorney” Was Written by Michael B. Schulman, Managing Attorney.