I actually have not been charged with DUI here in Decatur, Alabama. But, to be honest, I do drink and drive all the time. What advice could you give me so that I can avoid being caught? And in case I will be caught, what are the things that I should do?

Chandler

Decatur, AL

It is advised that you should not drive alone while in an intoxicated condition. But in case this is unavoidable, you should have a favorable witness along with you in your car. I also suggest that you put eye drops to mask bloodshot eyes, which strongly indicate an inebriated condition.

In case you will be caught drunk driving in Decatur, Alabama, you should avoid taking a portable breath test or any field sobriety tests while in an intoxicated condition, as you are not required to do so by law. You should also ask for an attorney before questioning and after Miranda warnings are given. You should not disclose facts as to how much you have been drinking and what were you drinking. All implied consent warnings should be fully read to you by the respective arresting officer. You must be polite and courteous regardless of how rude a police officer may be towards you. Also, while blowing into the Breath analyzer, don’t blow hard because blowing hard may reflect a higher than normal reading. Lastly, make sure that you seek help from an Alabama DUI lawyer who has good experience in handling DUI cases.

My father was charged with DUI here in Alabama. He refused to take any chemical test to determine his blood alcohol content. Aside from the harsh penalties that he might be facing, what are the consequences he might have for the blood alcohol test refusal?

Lucy

Mobile, AL

Not only your face criminal charges for DUI, he will also have to deal with the hassle of dealing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and possibly having his license suspended or revoked. That is why it is very important for him to contact an Alabama DUI lawyer. Getting a legal representation as quickly as possible will help him to document all of the facts of his case while they are fresh in his mind. This does not guarantee a positive outcome but it gives him the best chance of winning his case.

It can also affect the way his case is handled by the prosecutor since your father refused the chemical testing to determine his blood alcohol content (BAC). Refusal to submit to this type of testing leads to a 60-day suspension of his license under Alabama law regardless of whether he was actually guilty of DUI or not. During the suspension period, he has no opportunity to apply for a restricted license that can help him get to work, medical appointments, or other important places. Refusing these tests could also make his court case more difficult, as the prosecutor will argue that his refusal to take the test was because he knew he was guilty of DUI. Getting an Alabama DUI lawyer can help him at this point because a skilled attorney can refute these claims.

• Can you tell me which lawyer will be defending me in the court of law? The answer to this determines how the rest of your consultation will go, and if it will go at all. If they aren’t going to be your representation, you should either request to speak with your representation or tell them goodbye.
• Can you give me a rundown of your experience? You don’t need every detail from their coffee cup heat to the kind of tie the judge was wearing, but knowing experience when hiring a Mobile Alabama DUI lawyer is important. You’ll want to know the number of years since they started practicing law, and how much of that time they’ve been working on DUI cases, and of their whole case load how many DUI cases they handle, and how well they do on these.

First of all, while there are books and websites which explain the intricacies of DUI law, coming to a complete understand of them will take an enormous amount of research. Even then, you’re knowledge will still be incomplete because you don’t have he experience that a  DUI lawyer does so you don’t know the way certain cases play out in a court of law.

Along with helping you understand DUI law in Alabama and how it interacts with your case, a DUI lawyer is able to take the reigns for you on several issues. For one, they can take care of the petty paperwork, phone calls, scheduling, and so on which might otherwise occupy your precious time. Also, and most importantly, they can defend you in court in an area where they are comfortable and you are not.

• By the hour.

Be careful about hourly fees. Even if your  DWI lawyer quotes you a low price, remember that they won’t be charging you just for the couple of hours in court, but for research, consultations, and other work they will do on your case. If something complicates your case halfway through, this price could rise significantly. Always ask how many hours they expect to put into your case.

• Fixed fee.

Rare among a the  DWI lawyer community, still you should know what kind of service you will be getting for it, and find out about any hidden costs.

• Contingency fee.

Usually, this will be set by a court. Make sure you get this fee agreement in writing.

The fee agreement given to you by your DUI lawyer should contain a description of what kind of services it guarantees you, and what your own responsibilities are. You should also be informed of things such as possible interests and charges, and what the charge is for different parts of your case.

It’s pretty simple to shape this. Just go in there knowing what you want, ask for it, and figure out how much the charge will be for this. Here are a couple of questions which might help you shape the best fee agreement, but don’t forget you are getting a quote, not an entirely accurate number because things change.

• How will I be billed for the time you spend on my case?
• Will anybody else be involved in my case? How will I pay for that?
• Is there anyway I can keep my costs down here?
• What will all of te fees and charges come out to?