Please also see our Frequently Asked Questions Page for more information on DUI cases.

The consequences of a DUI conviction are harsh. Many states require the driver's licenses of those convicted of DUI to be suspended without regard to the impact on the person's job, education, family, and medical needs. Many states also require people who are convicted of DUI to go to jail, pay stiff fines, use expensive ignition interlock devices, go through alcohol treatment and urinalysis, obtain expensive high risk insurance, and to be on probation. The vast majority of states even have the ability to take your license before you are convicted through an administrative hearing. You can generally be convicted of DUI if your breath or blood level was above .08, or if your driving was "affected by the alcohol you consumed" - a very vague standard. Additionally, in most states you can be convicted of DUI if you were under the influence of any drug, even prescribed medication.

All persons accused of DUI (also called DWI, OUI, OUII) have several rights. You have the right to have an attorney represent you, the right to a trial, the right to confront and cross examine the witnesses against you, the right to a jury trial, as well as many other rights. Depending on the state you are stopped in, you may have the right to refuse field sobriety tests and the breath test.

Calling a DUI attorney at 1-800-DUI-ATTORNEY will be the first step in protecting your rights. Many people find that, by hiring a competent and experienced DUI attorney to represent them, they are relieved of much of the stress caused by not knowing what to do.

Feel free to check out the following links regarding DUI issues:

National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/)
Center for Consumer Freedom (http://www.consumerfreedom.com/issuepage.cfm/topic/1)
Personal Breath Test Devices (http://www.atradingpost.com/Breath2.htm)
State Laws (http://www.whatsdrivingyou.org/laws/index.html#/laws/index.html)