If you’ve been stopped and charged with a California DUI, how you conduct yourself during the stop and the ensuing investigation can significantly affect the outcome.

Do not make any statements to law enforcement officers.

Police officers may attempt to question you or prompt you into making incriminating statements. If you’ve been stopped, politely refuse to answer any questions.

Avoid taking field sobriety tests.

Because field sobriety tests are voluntary, you can refuse to take them. Field sobriety tests have increasingly come under fire because of possible inaccuracies and the subjective nature the tests. Rather than face an arrest as a result of law enforcement’s interpretation of a test, the best bet is to decline to take one.

Act Promptly If You’ve Been Arrested

Taking immediate steps to protect your rights can mean the difference between a conviction and reduced or even dismissed charges. In addition to criminal and DMV penalties, a DUI conviction can have a ripple effect on many areas of your life including:

• Difficulties obtaining a job
• Substantially higher automobile insurance premiums
• Negative impact on your credit score
• Problems qualifying for an apartment lease
• Restrictions on ability to receive a commercial driver’s license
• Restrictions on freedom to travel internationally

Contact The DMV Immediately

Do not delay contacting the DMV. You have only 10 days from the day you are arrested to arrange for an administrative hearing with the DMV. If you (or your attorney) fail to contact the DMV within 10 days of your arrest, your license will be suspended at the end of 30 days.

A DUI Arrest Is Not The Same As A Conviction

Don’t forget that you’re innocent until proven guilty – a DUI arrest is not the same as a conviction. Mistakes are not uncommon in DUI investigations. A police officer may make procedural errors in conducting the stop or a lab technician may make errors in processing a test. Often, the police officer has difficulty operating the testing machines properly. Sometimes errors are as simple as improperly filling out paperwork. When these mistakes or others occur, your case may be dismissed.

Contact Southern California DUI Attorneys at The Chahine Law Firm At Once

If you’ve been arrested for a California DUI, contact The Chahine Law Firm immediately. We can ensure you follow the proper steps to obtain a hearing and protect your rights. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better able we are to investigate the details surrounding your arrest and determine the best possible defense to either reduce or eliminate the charges against you. Contacting an attorney immediately – while the details of your actions preceding the stop, the stop itself and police officer’s conduct is still vivid in you memory can be the key to winning your case.

We represent individuals throughout Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. For more information, contact The Chahine Law Firm at 1-800-950-7755 for a free consultation.