Always remember, if you are pulled over by the police and ticketed for DUI, this is not a conviction. Though a DUI arrest will make you feel you are facing a Twilight Zone period in your life, you do not have to face it alone. Stay calm and focus on finding a criminal defense lawyer; depending on the ticket, you confront criminal charges.

You can do an internet search for criminal defense lawyers in your area. You can use the yellow pages, a referral from someone you trust, a referral from a referral agent, call the courthouse for a list, or, if you have limited means, have the court appoint you a lawyer.
You have every right under the federal Constitution and your states constitution to defense in court. Take full advantage of all your rights. The intricacies of the laws of DUI warrant your respect. Especially, if you truly are not a habitual drinker and driver, and this is an unfortunate incident you will never repeat.

The repercussions of just showing up at court to take the full force of the law against you could follow you well into your future. Showing up with a lawyer shows the judge you respect the seriousness of the charge and are trying to put this behind you. Even with a DUI case, you are presumed innocent of charges until proved. The lawyer is there to disprove the charge, by disproving the evidence against you. Once you are in court for anything, it's all about the law.

There are several openings a lawyer can use to soften, or even negate, the charges against you. They can show the court the police lacked cause to stop you in the first place. Thus, all evidence after the stop could possibly be thrown out. During the arrest itself, if the arresting police person did not give you consent warnings, per individual state statute, your blood alcohol test might be thrown out. In addition, some states have law that state the arresting police must tell you of your right to a second, independent test at that time. If this is not done, the blood alcohol test might be thrown out.

If a lawyer cannot have your case thrown out on technicalities, they might have your case mitigated within the scope of the law and the judge's ability to show their discretion. At the very least, it is good to feel someone next to you, guiding you through the system. When you hire a lawyer, you're not just hiring someone with a license to practice law. You're hiring someone who will believe in you and fight for you, and help you get back to a normal life. DUI charges are very serious now. They are becoming more serious as society sees drinking and driving as more criminal than it has been in the past. If charged with a DUI, do yourself a big favor and hire the best criminal defense attorney you can afford.