Allentown PA DUI lawyer
So you've been busted and charged with "driving under the influence" ("DUI") or "driving while intoxicated" ("DWI"). While you'll unquestionably need a attorney at law to defend you in court, it can make things a lot lessbaffling toknow what's going to come about in court before you talk to a lawyer.
Arraignment
The first hearing in your DWI case is sureto be an arraignment. After reading the charge against you, the judge willinquire whether you plead guilty or innocent. Unless you're represented by an attorney and have talked it over carefully with your attorney, you'll want to plead "not guilty."
If you have an legal representative, or are appointed a public defender who is present in the courtroom, the prosecutor might probably supply your attorneycopies of any police reports and other documents the prosecutor is intending todepend upon in presenting the case against you (such as blood alcohol test results).
{Motions in an Allentown DUI Judicial Proceeding
Your attorney will likely bring movements to have certain damaging evidence kept out of the trial. Examples of evidence that defense lawyers work hard atremoving from a DWI trial at the pretrial motionlevel involve:
- Physical evidence such as alcohol bottles confiscated from the car
- Blood alcohol content testing results
- Any incriminating statements or confessions you may have made to the arresting officer(s)|
Trial for a DUI
Although many DWI cases are solved before going to trial, it'splausible you'll find yourself at trial. If so, the trial probably will proceed in a predictable manner, with:
- Jury selection (unless it is a trial by judge, which is fairly unusual in DWI trials)
- Opening statements by your attorney and the prosecutor, outlining the evidence each intends to present
- Testimony from witnesses
- Cross-examination of the witnesses by both attorneys
- Motions from your attorney after the prosecution has presented its case, sometimes asking the judge to dismiss the case for lack of evidence
- Closing arguments from both lawyers summing up the evidence, and arguments about how the law applies
- Jury instructions (by the judge) on the law the jury must apply
- Jury deliberation
- Jury verdict|
Sentencing for a DUI
If you're convicted for Pennsylvania Drunk Driving, the judge may sentence you to:
- Pay fines
- A short jail stay
- A long jail term if you were involved in an accident where you injured or killed someone
- Probation or a suspended sentence, with conditions on where you can go and actions you're prohibited from (such as drinking)
- Community service, working with local non-profit community organizations
- Drug or alcohol counseling or outpatient or intensive inpatient rehab
- Install an "ignition interlock" device on your vehicle}
You'll need a aggressive Pennsylvania DUI defense attorney to advocate for you before and in the course of trial. It's most appropriate to find a legal practitioner you trust as soon as possible right after being charged with a PA offense.
For help with an Allentown Pennsylvania criminal defense, contact a criminal lawyer Allentown.
