Being arrested for a DUI offense for the first time guarantees a whirlwind of emotions that leaves the arrested confused and unsure of what to do next, especially if the particular person has no experience in criminal apprehension or law in general.
To prepare yourself in case you encounter it in the future, here are some quick information about Las Vegas DUI first offense. This will ensure that you will keep your feet on the ground during the arrest and you will not do anything that will be a detrimental to your case up to the moment you finally have a DUI lawyer by your side.
What is DUI?
DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence. This is one of the worst offenses in Nevada as it causes loss of lives and resources and a reminder that drugs are prevalent in the State as ever.
A person is guilty of DUI when they fulfill the following measures:
· He or she has a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) level of at least or more than 0.08
· His or her drug tests showed that he or she violated the limit set by the Drug Schedules
· He or she refused sobriety tests or tried escaping from law enforcement
What happens after the arrest for Las Vegas DUI first offense?
Here is a rundown of what usually happens before, during, and after an arrest for first DUI offense in Nevada.
· Police notices the driver’s erratic driving behavior or discovers alcohol or drugs in the vehicle itself
· Police will ask driver to pull over and to perform several sobriety tests
· Driver’s results will come out positive and you are taken under custody for booking and detention
· A DUI lawyer comes to the driver’s aid for potential interrogation and the rest of the legal procedure
· Arraignment commences where the driver’s charges are officially advised and where it is decided if the case will go to trial or not
A first DUI offense in Nevada is a misdemeanor and consists of penalties such as:
· Jail sentence up to six months
· Fines of $1,000
· Attendance to a Nevada DUI school and other Department-approved DUI programs
· Driver’s license suspension for 90 days
What can you do?
For a Las Vegas DUI first offense, it is recommended to have a DUI lawyer immediately. Know that you hold the right to have them as decreed by the Fifth Amendment’s right to counsel.
During the entire legal process, you need to calm down, especially if you are completely guiltless of the accusations and you have one of the best criminal justice attorneys with you, you can come up with defenses to help push your claim of innocence.
If defenses do not work, you can still have means of escape such as a plea bargain and to some level, a record sealing.
A Las Vegas DUI first offense can definitely be contested. You only need to know the facts to better formulate your defenses with a DUI lawyer.