Reader’s Question:

Driving home about three days ago, my brother was caught drunk driving in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and was charged with DUI. If he will be convicted, what is the worst thing that can happen to me and will he get a harsher sentence if he fights the case than if he pleads guilty?

Sabrina

Tuscaloosa, AL

If your brother pleads guilty on his DUI case in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, it is not always that he gets a harsher sentence if he fights the case than if he pleads guilty. The sentence of the case depends on many factors. This question is the kind of one that is judge-specific and case-specific. Some judges may punish an individual more after a jury trial, but not a bench trial which is a trial in front of the judge only. Your brother has the option of whether to seek a bench trial or jury trial, so the DUI lawyer can control this to a certain extent. His DUI case may have a fantastic legal issue that needs to be appealed to a higher court, and this might require some sort of trial to be able to obtain the right of appeal.

If he will be convicted of DUI, the worst thing that could happen to him depends on his situation and the facts of his DUI case. At a minimum, he will have to pay a fine, perform community service hours, have his car impounded, be placed on probation, attend DUI school and counselling (if recommended).

Tags: drunk driving laws, DUI, DUI lawyer