Being charged with a DUI in Massachusetts can be a traumatic experience and could happen to just about anyone. After facing charges, you might wonder if you should contact a drunk-driving attorney. You may also be curious about how you will be prosecuted and what consequences you will face, both personally and professionally. Read on to learn more about what you should do when facing a drunk-driving charge.
Hire an Experienced Attorney
It is important to hire an experienced DUI attorney immediately upon being charged and, if possible, at the onset of interrogation. Doing so will provide your attorney ample time to review your case and prepare a defense. Depending on the nature of the evidence presented against you, your attorney will file motion(s) to have the charges reduced, or completely dismissed. Also, an experienced DUI attorney may be able to negotiate a favorable plea on your behalf.
Contact me for a free phone consultation to discuss the nature of your case. to speak with me directly.
Should I Accept a Plea Deal?
You should never enter a guilty plea regarding a DUI charge without first consulting an experienced attorney. A common misconception in drunk-driving cases is that the individual charged must enter a guilty plea. Before pleading guilty, meet with an experienced Boston DUI attorney who can assert an array of defenses on your behalf to get the charge against you reduced or dismissed.
For example, the attorney may challenge the constitutionality of the initial traffic stop or the legitimacy of the field sobriety or blood alcohol test. An attorney may also contest the testimony of the arresting officer.
What Will Happen to My Driver’s License?
If you refuse to take a breathalyzer test, register a blood alcohol content of .08% or higher, or if you are convicted of a DUI, your driver’s license will be suspended. The duration of your suspension will depend on a variety of factors.
You will have a chance to attend an administrative hearing with the Registry of Motor Vehicles to defend your position. Upon the conclusion of the hearing, and depending on the results of your criminal case, your driving privileges may be restored, temporarily revoked, or completely suspended for a duration of time.
Will My Employer Find Out?
Your employer will not directly be notified about your DUI arrest or conviction, unless you are in the military, in which case different procedures apply. However, the arrest will become public knowledge, meaning it will be filed on public record. If someone from your company reads the local paper, he/she can find out about your arrest.
If you are a licensed professional, such as a doctor or nurse, you may have to attend an administrative board hearing to discuss your conviction and the result it will have on your license.