What Do You Do If You've Been Charged with a DUI in San Diego?

A DUI (Driving While Intoxicated), otherwise known as DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), is a serious offense that shouldn't be taken lightly. So, you've been charged with a DUI in San Diego - what do you do now? This can seem like an overwhelming situation if this is your first DUI charge, but if you follow these tips, it will at least take some of the burden and stress away:

Find a San Diego DUI lawyer that specializes in drunk driving defense. There are many lawyers out there, but you want to hire one who specifically deals with drunk driving cases. You wouldn't hire a plumber to fix your car problem, right? Same concept applies to lawyers. You definitely don't want to hire a lawyer who doesn't know anything about drunk driving laws and procedures.

In the state of California you only have 10 calendar days to request a DMV hearing, so make sure this is one of the first things that you do. You can do this yourself, but it's probably best that you have your DUI lawyer do it for you so that the date of your hearing coordinates with your lawyer's calendar.

Try to remember detail for detail the events leading up to and during the DUI stop. Writing down these details is highly recommended. Your lawyer will be able to better assist you if you can remember what was said between you and the convicting officer(s) and the field sobriety tests that were conducted. Did you say anything that could be used as evidence during your trial? (i.e. "Yes, I'm drunk", "Of course I've been drinking!", or "I've only had a few beers...").

Don't assume that just because you were registered as having a blood alcohol level (BAC) over .08% your case is lost. This is why hiring a San Diego DUI lawyer is recommended. Your lawyer can determine whether or not the machine or method used to measure your BAC was accurate or not. There are many factors involved that can affect your BAC that you may not even know about. I once read a story about a painter who was arrested for a DUI because some of the chemicals in the paint caused the breathalyzer machine to register a high BAC.

Whatever you do, always try to remain positive through the whole process! You can do it by yourself, but it's always nice to have a lawyer by your side who is experienced. This will give you the confidence you need when it's time to face the court!