Like most weekends, you went out with your friends to your favorite bar and had a few too many drinks. However, this weekend is different than the other ones. This weekend is different, because after you had too many drinks, you decided to get behind the wheel and drive home. You know that drinking and driving is wrong, but with so much alcohol in your system, you made a bad judgment call. The decision was made even worse when you were pulled over, arrested, and charged with a DUI in Baytown, TX. So, now what? Arrest and Booking Once you have been arrested on DUI charges, your car will be impounded, and you will most likely be handcuffed and taken to the police station. You will have your fingerprints and mug shots taken. Then you will be booked into jail. While you might be given the chance to call an attorney or a family member, you won’t be released until after your arraignment. Arraignment Usually a day or so after your arrest, you will have your first court appearance. You will stand before a judge, who will read the charges brought against you. Hopefully, by this point, you’ve had a chance to consult with an attorney who can help you decide how to plead. You will then enter into a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. If you haven’t chosen an attorney and would like legal counsel, the court can appoint one for you at this time. After the charges have been read and you have given your plea, a bail amount will be set. Unless you can come up with this money, you will remain in jail until the case is resolved. Preliminary Hearing After you have been arraigned, the prosecution will present evidence as to why you should be charged with the DUI. If the judge agrees that there is adequate proof to convict you, he will allow the case to proceed. However, if there is not any reasonable evidence that you committed the offense, the charges could be dropped. Trial or Settlement Once the preliminary hearing has finished, the case will either settle or go to trial. Most of the time, DUI cases don’t go to trial. Usually you will be given the opportunity to settle. This means that you will accept the charges without argument. Normally, plea bargains aren’t offered in these cases due to the serious nature of the crime. However, if you decide not to settle, you could choose to have your case go to trial. If this is the case, your lawyers will choose a pool of jurors to listen to and decide on a verdict regarding your trial. Both lawyers will be given the opportunity to try and prove why or why not you should be charged with the DUI. Sentencing Once a verdict or settlement has been reached, a judge will decide an adequate punishment. If you are not found guilty, of course, you will be released, and the charges will be dropped. However, if found guilty or pleading guilty, you could end up with a punishment of heavy fines, incarceration, house arrest, or community service. If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Baytown TX, it’s best to hire an attorney to help you through the lengthy process. An attorney will fight for your rights and create a strategy that is the most beneficial to you and your future. Don’t walk into your first hearing alone. With a legal professional by your side, you’ll be calm and confident in the outcome of your case.
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