Do you need to hire an attorney if you are pleading guilty for DUI?
December 11th, 2009
My fiance got arrested last Saturday night for DUI, but I was wondering if he needed a dui attorney if he was planning on pleading guilty? Since it’s obvious that he is, since he did fail the breathalizer, but is it now necessary for me to call an attorney for him when he goes to court in the morning? Also, what is the most penalty for a first-time DUI – is there any jail time involved? I’m really worried about him since I haven’t seen him since, and we are trying to keep it from our parents so I can’t ask them for help.
Listen to Bookworm…that’s the correct answer. NEVER enter a courtroom without an attorney when it concerns a DUI charge! If you can’t afford an attorney, the court will appoint one for you…and there’s a good reason for that. Even the court system knows it’s ridiculous to stand before a judge without legal representation.
Ignore the answer above me. It is incorrect. Anyone who can’t answer a question without also insulting the rest of the answers has questionable knowledge themselves.
December 11th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I would recommend it.
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December 11th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Always get an attorney for DUI……
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December 11th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
My sister got arrested for DUI about 3 years ago and she tried to plead guilty with no lawyer. The judge asked her if she wanted to go to jail, at which she replied no. The judge said she better get a lawyer then. He can give it a try but it’s about money and the whole system (even the lawyers) get some. We live in Iowa and a first time DUI ends up costing about $6000 here. If he’s near the poverty line for income he would get a court appointed lawyer for free.
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December 11th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
In NJ the legal limit is now .08 . If you fall between .08-.099 it is a 3 month loss of license + $1,000/year surcharge + whatever fines at court. Anything at .10 or higher is a 6 month loss of license. If it was close to .10 but over a lawyer can sometimes get the BAC lowered to .099 so you would only lose you license for 3 months instead of 6 months. I believe there is a possible 30 day jail term also but I’ve never seen anyone go to jail for their 1st DUI unless someone was hurt by the person. You should at least talk to a lawyer and see if he can do anything for you.
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December 11th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
First off, the morons telling you to get a lawyer have no clue what they’re talking about. If you’re pleading guilty and it’s his first offense, he will get the first offender penatlies, fines, probation, alcohol classes and AA meetings. There is no need for a lawyer.
Now you haven’t told us the state or your friend’s age – if you’re claiming he’s under 21, he’s in a little more trouble, but he’s still not getting jail – he’ll lose his license until he’s 21 at the minimum and get stiffer fines and stuff but there is absolutely NO reason to get a lawyer. You’ll find when you go to court, there will be about 50 other people there with DUIs and about 2 will have a lawyer, and literally everyone gets the same fines and penalties.
Ignore most of the other answers you get here, most people here pass of ridiculous guesses as answers.
PS – and the buffoon below me telling yhou "never enter a courtroom without an attorney" is guessing. Take it from someone who’s been there. If you’re pleading guilty, you will be in the courtroom with 50 other people also pleading guilty. Do you think somehow you’re going to get worse penalties than the other 50? Why pay a bunch of money for a lawyer is going to get you what you would get on your own. Again, most people in this group are guessing and guessing incorrectly. I insult them because they are idiots passing off bad advice to people that can actually hurt them or cost them money.
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December 11th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Listen to Bookworm…that’s the correct answer. NEVER enter a courtroom without an attorney when it concerns a DUI charge! If you can’t afford an attorney, the court will appoint one for you…and there’s a good reason for that. Even the court system knows it’s ridiculous to stand before a judge without legal representation.
Ignore the answer above me. It is incorrect. Anyone who can’t answer a question without also insulting the rest of the answers has questionable knowledge themselves.
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December 11th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
You should always get a lawyer if you can afford one. Even if you have a strong understanding of the law a lawyer has friends on the inside, and can make things happen for you.
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December 11th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
i had a dui. you do not need a lawyer. plead guilty and he will lose his right to drive for like six months and pay a fine.
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