Being arrested can lead to serious problems. You will have to go to Court, face a Judge or jury, and there is always the possibility of going to jail. If you end up incarcerated you will not be able to go to work and earn a living, which results in a real financial hardship for your family. These possibilities exist in even the most seemingly minor of cases, so it is a good to have an idea of some things you can do if you are arrested that might help your case later.
In order to give you some helpful information, let’s look at one of the most common cases; a DUI. The number of people pulled over and charged with DUI each year is pretty high but the success rate is also high, meaning most cases (especially first time offense) are resolved satisfactorily and without the need to spend time in jail. Three things to keep in mind if you are arrested for DUI, or for most any other crime are:
- Remain calm and keep your cool. It can be hard to watch your tongue, but if you are able to keep your wits about you and not insult the police officer the experience will be less confrontational. Many times, when a defendant resists arrest or talks back to the officer, the situation escalates out of control. This can lead to additional charges against you and will cast you in a negative light to the Judge right from the start.
- Know your rights! Of course this depends on the type of arrest being made, but generally speaking you are not required to give any information that incriminates you. In the case of a DUI you do have the right to refuse the breath test, but doing so could cause complications.
- Keep your comments to a minimum. Even if you are being polite and think you are merely chatting with the officer, remember that everything you say can be used against you. You can still be calm, polite, and respectful while keeping your answers short and to the point. In the case of an arrest, the less information you provide, the better.
Being arrested is scary, and we understand that it is hard to keep all of these things in mind when you are in the moment. If you have been arrested, call us for help. We offer a wide range of criminal defense services, with an emphasis on drug and alcohol related offenses. Our team of trained legal professionals knows what to do to help, and will work with you as a team to come up with a defense that fits the facts of your case.
If you need help with an arrest, call an experienced criminal defense attorney in Stuart and the Treasure Coast to help you. Your first visit is a free initial consultation.