What to Do After a DUI Arrest in Idaho

After a DUI arrest in Idaho, you may face a number of penalties. DUI penalties in Idaho typically includes fines, jail time, mandatory rehabilitation programs and a license suspension. Depending on whether this is your first or subsequent offense, the penalties can range from minor to very serious and life-changing. This is why it is vitally important to know the right steps you should take after being charged with DUI.

You may understandably be a little shaken after a DUI arrest, especially if it is your first DUI offense. The whole process of being stopped and arrested, taken to a police station, and then asked to undergo a breathalyzer test can be quite daunting. The important thing is to remember that a qualified DUI attorney in Boise, ID can help you defend against the charges. So you shouldn’t plead guilty after being arrested.

Here are the steps you should take after being booked for DUI.

Plead Not Guilty at Arraignment

Depending on the nature of your DUI offense, you may have to spend a certain number of hours at the police station following the arrest. In some cases, you will stay at the station until you are sober. In either case, the next step is an arraignment or hearing. At this hearing, you are asked whether or not you plead guilty to the DUI charges. Do not plead guilty at this stage. Once you enter a plea for ‘not guilty’, a decision is made about your bail at the hearing. It is then time for you to post bail.

Post Bail

In some DUI arrests, you may be released without bail. But when a bail has been set at the arraignment, you must submit the amount of the bond. This bond is the surety that you will appear at the subsequent hearings of the case. If you can’t afford the amount set for the bail, you can hire the services of a commercial bond agent.

A bond agent will submit the bail amount on your behalf. In return, the bondsman will charge you 10% to 20% of the amount of the bail. The bondsman will also serve as the surety so that if you fail to appear at the hearings, the bondsman will be responsible. You can alternatively ask friends or family members to serve as surety for the bail.

Hire an Attorney For Your DUI Arrest in Idaho

Once you are released on bail, it is time to prop up a defense against your DUI charges. It is critically important at this point to hire a good attorney. An attorney will help you counter the charges against you. You will also get legal help and advice on the laws that apply to your specific case, and the different ways in which you can defend yourself.

You have the option of going with a public attorney for a DUI case. However, public attorneys are overworked and underpaid. In contrast, an attorney that specializes in DUI cases will pay more attention to your case and work with the specific particulars of your DUI arrest in Idaho.

Request a DMV Hearing

One of the first penalties that come into play right after your DUI arrest is license suspension. Following your arrest, the police officer confiscates your license so that you no longer have driving privileges. This is why it is important to request a DMV hearing as soon as possible following the arrest. At such a hearing, you can request that your license be reinstated.

In doing so, you can cite various reasons such as the necessity of dropping your kids to school on car. In many cases, a DMV administrative hearing will restore your driving privileges. However, if you fail to request a hearing, your license remains suspended.

Finding a Reliable Attorney Who Handles DUI Arrest in Idaho

DUI cases are typically complex. Every case is unique and a number of factors such as BAC level and the circumstances of arrest have to be considered. With professional legal help and aid at your side, it is possible to fight DUI charges. A good defense may help you have the charges dropped altogether or the sentence reduced to a bare minimum.

Here at Boise DUI Guy, we work with you to minimize the penalties in a DUI case. We understand that many DUI charges are simply unfair. This is why we help you build a strong defense against these charges. With a good DUI lawyer in Boise, ID on your side, you have a much better chance of coming out of a DUI case with little to no prison time or fines. Contact us today to book a FREE consultation with our attorneys.