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An arrest for Driving Under the Influense (DUI),
Actual Physical Control While Under the Influence (APC),
or Driving While Impaired (DWI) is a "double whammy" offense.
It's a "double whammy" because you will have
to deal with both a criminal and a civil matter in
these types of cases:
- Criminal matter: a conviction for
these types of offenses can result in jail time of up
to 1 year for misdeamenor cases, and State prison time
up to 10 years for felony cases.
- Civil matter: The Department of Public
Safety will attempt to suspend or revoke your privilege
to drive in this state for anywhere from 30 days to 3
years - some suspensions or revocations will be without a
modified driving privilege.
This type of case may actually be a "triple
whammy" if you consider the economic expense
to you: the State will want money for fines, fees and
costs in the criminal matter and several fees in the
civil matter; the State will also require that you complete
education courses at private providers who will require
that you pay their fees; you'll have to pay an attorney;
and your insurance company will likely raise your insurance
premiums for several years into the future.
Does this sound bleak? It's not the end of
the world.
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ADVICE |
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See a lawyer within 15 days of your arrest so
that you protect certain rights you have with the
State Department of Public Safety concerning your
driving privileges.
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Many good people have been arrested after having made
the mistake of imbibing and then using a motor vehicle.
You are not an evil person. The sooner you act to take
care of this matter the better your situation - and your
peace of mind - will be.
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ADVICE |
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Read all paperwork, front and back, that you
received from any official regarding this arrest
to help you understand what you're facing and what
your rights are. Save all paperwork!
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Bring everything you received from this arrest with you
when you visit with your lawyer. The sooner you speak with
the lawyer the fresher your memory will be about the incident.
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