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  • WildBill846 6:28 am on March 20, 2010 Permalink |

    This really depends on the state in which it occurred. I know Wisconsin law does not grant the judge discretion to downgrade the charge to something like reckless driving, and has strict minimum penalties, but I heard of attorneys that routinely got charges reduced in North Carolina.

  • fr_chuck 6:28 am on March 20, 2010 Permalink |

    There is one attorney in Atlanta that I don’t think has ever lost a DUI case, now he costs 5000 ( and that was 5 year ago) just to walk into the court for the first hearing.

    But there are alot of things that can be challenged and information requested.

  • yaIgottaquestion 6:28 am on March 20, 2010 Permalink |

    odds are the judge will make you get one anyway, just get one. it will help.

  • Mustela Frenata 6:28 am on March 20, 2010 Permalink |

    Well FWIW –

    Having a lawyer did not help the guy whose jury I was on about 15 years ago — he was guilty, the prosecutor proved he was guilty, and we threw the book at him for (A) being guilty and (B) wasting our time making up stories and trying to get off on stupid technicalities (remember, few people on a jury want to be there — it is a duty that they perform willingly, but you don’t want to be p!$$!ng them off). If we could have locked his lawyer up too, we would have.

    Having a lawyer did not help my sister-in-law much — he advised her to plead guilty (because she was) and the court gave her the usual suspended/restricted license bit, fine, and community service — and what little the fine was lowered for her was more than made up for by the lawyer’s fees. In the end she probably would have been better off to simply plead guilty herself and ask the court to divert her to a substance abuse program.

    So you have to ask yourself, "Do you feel lucky, punk?" — Oh wait, that’s Dirty Harry… I mean, ask yourself "Am I guilty, did I break the law and drive while under the influence?" If so then admit it to yourself, then maybe go talk with the prosecutor and try to work out a deal (having a lawyer along, even the Public Defender, might help here), and go before the Judge and admit it to him and ask for help.

    If you DIDN’T do it and you just got railroaded by the cops who had it in for you and were just waiting for some poor sap to arrest so they could make quota, well then get a lawyer and fight it — but remember, that’s going to be a tough sell. If you can’t PROVE it, you might still be better off just plea-bargaining it down and taking a reduced punishment. The moment you show up in court CLAIMING the cops railroaded you, you could easily be viewed as one of the dirtbags who constantly show up with such stories to try to get off for a crime they DID commit… without some rock-solid proof, you are probably going to take the fall.

  • g-dogg 6:28 am on March 20, 2010 Permalink |

    get lawyer and stop drinking and driving you idiot.

  • Doc. justasinner111 6:28 am on March 20, 2010 Permalink |

    DWI an DUI ought to be the death penalty. No plea bargains.

  • hank 6:28 am on March 20, 2010 Permalink |

    They help a little. They can postpone the trial and make it difficult for the arresting cop to show up. He can help when it comes to faulty breathizers or worst case scenario with sentencing. Money being the equalizer they can cost as much as the DUI by its self. You need to figure out how bad your case is. If you were weaving and smeeled like a bottle of gin and blew 2.0 then you kmight as well face the music your self since there is not much that can get you off. But if you barely blew over the limit or were truely sober then he might be the way to go. In general Lawyers always help. They just cost alot of money

  • kny390 6:28 am on March 20, 2010 Permalink |

    Without an attorney you will probably get the maximum allowed by law. With an attorney you will probably get a lot of help in not paying max. fines and time without a license.

  • jimmy h 6:28 am on March 20, 2010 Permalink |

    There are attorneys that can really help u with your case

  • Reesie 6:28 am on March 20, 2010 Permalink |

    If you are considering not hiring an attorney, then you are really taking a huge risk. It is never a good idea to represent yourself in a trial, the judge will hold you to the same standards as attorneys and that makes for a long, tedious and annoying proceeding. Having an attorney will allow for all avenues of mitigating factors being explored. It is worth it to find an attorney who practices frequently in your area courts and is familiar with the judges, prosecutors, etc. They can best advise you if you should ask for continuance to get a different judge, etc. There are always points of negotiation, but of course much will depend on the facts of the case and whether you have priors, or if it is a first offense.

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