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Do I Really Need An Attorney If I Am Arrested For A DUI?

You are on your way home from a dinner out or a party and you have had a drink or two. Before you know it, you are stopped by a law enforcement officer and you are being arrested on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI).

As you sit in the back of a police cruiser from Phoenix or Mesa, you start to ask yourself if you need to consult an attorney. The answer to this question is yes. The penalties for DUI in the state of Arizona are severe even if you are a first-time DUI offender. In the state of Arizona, it is important that you should consult experienced Arizona DUI lawyers like those associated with the Law Offices of Craig W. Penrod, P.C.

DUI charges in the state of Arizona can be very complicated cases to defend. The scientific evidence involved in DUI cases that is used to essentially establish guilt or innocence in an Arizona court is far from perfect. The body of law regarding DUI cases is much different than that of other types of criminal cases. Because of the uniqueness of the evidence in a DUI case, the law in many ways imposes much more stringent requirements upon law enforcement officers and prosecutors in the gathering of the evidence and the assurance of timely preservation of the constitutional rights of defendants.

Effective representation requires candid and timely communication between you and your lawyer can be crucial to the successful outcome of your DUI case. Communication helps you to better understand the process of resolving your legal issues. Effective communication between you and your lawyer will give you a strong voice in your legal defense. The best way for you to have a successful first meeting with your lawyer is to gather and organize all documents and materials that may pertain to your DUI case and to bring them with you to the first meeting with your legal counsel. It’s not important whether or not you think this information may be important allow your attorney to decide if the information is important. This may save you time and money by helping your lawyer to have better understanding of your case, including the potential strengths and weaknesses of your legal defense.

Your lawyer needs to clearly understand what you wish to accomplish in order to assess the chances of successfully accomplishing your legal defense. Accurate details and truthful answers about your DUI arrest, even if you believe this information may hurt your DUI case or could be embarrassing, will assist your lawyer in providing you with the most effective assistance in your DUI case. Surprises can put a strain on the relationship between you and your lawyer can harm your DUI case.

Rest assured that with only a few exceptions, your lawyer has an ethical obligation not to disclose the information disclosed in the discussions between you and your lawyer. That means that, except in extreme circumstances, your lawyer will not talk about your DUI case with anyone else without your permission. Thus, if your lawyer will need to discuss your DUI case with others, you will need to give your lawyer permission to do so.

The Law Offices of Craig W. Penrod offers free consultations for all DUI and criminal matters. Our Arizona DUI attorneys and Arizona criminal lawyers can provide you with the experience and knowledge needed for qualified representation. An experienced Arizona DUI lawyer is vital in cases of driving while intoxicated and our DUI attorneys set that standard. If you’re in need of a criminal defense, our Arizona criminal attorneys are ready to assist you. Let our Phoenix DUI lawyers and Phoenix criminal attorneys serve you.