What is the difference between paying a lawyer $500 to settle a dui case and just pleading guilty via a DA? -

I was arrested for a DUI, admitted to drinking, blew a .14 on the official breathalyzer, and it was at a checkpoint on St. Patty s Day. I also have a prior arrest for public intox in 2002. I feel it may not be worth it to fight the case and pay thousands of dollars for a lawyer for no reason. Yet, I don t know what to do as far as settling the case either. Essentially, I want to know if there is any chance of keeping it off my record, and if not, what is the best way to minimize costs.

Do yourself a favor and get a lawyer. He/she may be able to help you.

Public drunkenness and DUI are quite different. Public drunk won t jack up your auto insurance like a DUI. Plenty of people party too hard and act a fool every now and then and get arrested for it, but they don t all go driving home drunk possible endangering the lives of others along the way. If this is your first DUI, you do stand a decent chance of keeping it off your record IF you shell out the money for an experienced attorney. Look at it like this: a bunch of money right now at one time, or a lot more money spread out over a long period of time in the form of higher auto insurance rates thanks to a DUI on your record.

The lawyer will try to get you a reduced fine and or sentence. The DA will just try to get you the maximum.

unless you are willing to fight the charge you may as well save the 500 that you were going to pay the atty. and pay the fine.That amount of money is too cheap for an atty.to be able to mount a successful defense

I would definately get a lawyer. There are some that specialize in DUI s. They are good at trying to get a reduced fine and are a big help in pleading your case. It is better in the long run.

Really depends what the DA is offering you. If the DA is open to allowing you to plead to a lesser charge with terms you can live with then a lawyer is really not needed unless you really think you can win which by your own admission you were guilty. A Lawyer can be an asset because they are aware of what lesser charges are available and what a punishment is practical. That being said you can attempt to contact the DA s office in regards to the possibility of a plea in exchange for lineincy. If the DA offers unfavorable terms then seek legal councel.

A lawyer can plead you to a lesser charge or get it dismissed entirely.

The value of at least talking to an attorney is that he/she may be able to get it reduced to a 1st DUI and help you keep your driver s license. The D.A. will bargain with an attorney--but not with you. The attorney knows how to challenge the breath test. Was the BAT machine calibrated properly? Did they wait the proper length to time to take the BAT? Did they take it too soon? Did they check the BAT machine to see that it read zero before and after your test? Did they have probable cause to stop you? An attorney may be able to keep you from a mandatory jail sentence by getting the charges reduced. Do you know how to continue cases in the hope the police office misses court? Do you know what to do if the officer doesn t show up? Those are a few reasons off the top of my head.