While your idea of the perfect night out may involve drinks, it certainly doesn’t involve getting arrested for a DUI. According to the Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 1.5 million people are arrested in a given year for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. That translates to one out of every 121 licensed drivers are arrested for DUI. In Virginia, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a criminal offense, meaning if you are pulled over and are in fact under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will be handcuffed and arrested.
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Important Steps To Take After A DUI Arrest In Halifax
While many mistakes that can lead to a DUI arrest, the stress — as well as the lack of knowledge of the DUI arrest process — can also lead to making further mistakes after the arrest that will only worsen the situation. At Affordable Bail Bonding, many people come to our expert bail bondsman in Halifax, VA for non-judgmental assistance with DUI bail bonds. Of course, it’s best to avoid driving under the influence, but if you or a loved one ever gets charged and arrested for a DUI, it is important to be educated about the important steps that need to be taken to ensure jail time is not further extended. Below, our Halifax bail bond company shares the essential steps that need to be taken following a DUI arrest.
Step #1: Hire A Lawyer
After a DUI arrest, it is important to hire an experienced defense attorney as quickly as possible to help you with your case. When arrested for driving under the influence, or for any reason for that matter, it is recommended to hire a lawyer to ensure the best legal outcome. Having professional legal advice following a DUI will help ensure that the right decisions are made both while in jail and after the release. Those who are arrested for driving under the influence can hire a defense attorney from the jail phone, or they can have a trusted family member or friend assist them with getting an attorney to help with navigating through the DUI arrest process.
Step #2: Utilize Bail Bonds in Halifax to Get Out of Jail Fast
When someone is arrested for driving under the influence, a bond will be posted for their release. In Virginia, the bond for a DUI arrest is based on a number of factors. Typically, though, when considering whether someone arrested for driving under the influence will be admitted to bail on the condition that they post bond, the court makes the decision based on whether they believe the person is a danger to themselves or others, and whether they are considered a flight risk.
If admitted to bail, those who are arrested can use the jail phone line to contact a bail bondsman in Halifax. In most cases, the jail will provide a list of local bail bondsmen and their contact information. Additionally, they could rely on a trusted friend or family member to contact a bail bond company for them.
Step #3 Attend All Schedule Court Dates
When scheduled, there are a handful of things you should never do on your court date, including not showing up. When bailed out of jail following a DUI arrest, the most important thing someone can do to resolve your case is to attend all of their scheduled court dates. In the case that they are unable to attend their scheduled hearing, it is important that they contact their hired defense attorney and their bail bondsman as soon as possible. If a person fails to show up for their court date without proper notification or reason, it will make their situation infinitely worse. For starters, a warrant will be issued for their arrest, adding more charges to their case. Not to mention the original DUI charges may also worsen, plus any posted bail through the assistance of a Halifax bail bondsman will be forfeited.
Step #4: Stay In Contact With Your Lawyer & Bail Bondsman Until Your Case is Resolved
Of course, anyone that has been arrested with a DUI charge should remain in contact with their defense attorney, if they had hired one. Additionally, it is important that they stay in touch with their bail bond company they are working with after each court date to update them on the status of their situation and case. Keeping up with consistent communication with a bail bondsman throughout the life of their case will make it easier for bail bondsman to assist them if any bail-related issues or problems arise during their case.
Of course, not getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is the best way to prevent a DUI arrest, but everyone makes mistakes. If you or a loved one is arrested for driving under the influence, it is important to follow the steps above to ensure that jail time is minimal and that the best legal outcomes will be attained.
Need Assistance With DUI Bail Bonds?
If you or a loved one needs to be bailed out of jail following a DUI arrest in Halifax, contact the non-judgmental bail bondsman at Affordable Bail Bonding! We specialize in DUI bail bonds and are open 24/7! To learn more on how we can assist you with DUI bail bonds or any of your bail bond needs, contact us!