By now, everyone in the United States should be aware of the dangers involved in drinking and driving. We also all realize that drinking and driving can lead to an arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). Nonetheless, arrests for DUI continue to occur. Most are the result of an otherwise law-abiding citizen who had a momentary lapse in judgment. Most of these first-time arrests result in a conviction, not necessarily because the evidence of guilt was overwhelming, but because the defendant simply wants the whole thing to go away. If you find yourself in that position, think twice about accepting a guilty plea agreement based solely on your desire to make it go away because according to a Sarpy County DUI lawyer what you don’t know about a DUI conviction can hurt you.
What Don’t You Know?
Being arrested, taken down to the jail, and having to make that dreaded phone call for someone to come bail you out is bad enough; however, the negative consequences of being arrested for a DUI don’t stop there. If you are ultimately convicted of the charges against you, there are a number of additional negative consequences that may follow. Many of these additional consequences you may not know about, but they can have a profound impact on your life. A DUI conviction:
- Is costly. Start with the court costs and fines that can easily run $1000 or more. In addition, if you are placed on probation, expect to pay a monthly probation fee of $50-$100. Expect to pay as much as three times more for your liability insurance premiums for several years after a DUI If the court orders you to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle, you will also need to pay for the installation and the monthly monitoring fee.
- Is public information. A DUI conviction will remain on your criminal record for life. That means that prospective employers, landlords, or even your neighbor can access the record of your conviction. The conviction could cause you to be disqualified for employment options or any number of other things.
- Cannot be expunged in Nebraska. Unlike many other states, the State of Nebraska does not allow any criminal convictions to be expunged.
- Could result in professional discipline. DO you hold a professional license, such as a real estate agent, accountant, nurse, teacher, or even doctor? If so, you are probably required to report any criminal conviction to your governing body and you may be subject to professional discipline as a result.
- Can be used against you in the future. Hopefully, this was a one-time lapse in judgment and will not be repeated; however, if you are ever arrested and charged with a crime again in the future, the fact that you have a previous DUI conviction can, and likely will, be used against you to exacerbate your sentence.
- Could disqualify you for a change of status. If you are not an American citizen, any criminal conviction should be avoided at all costs. Having a conviction for any offense, even DUI, could prevent you from being granted a change of status in the future.
- May be avoidable. Now for the good news. You may be able to avoid a conviction. Although the police officer and/or prosecutor probably made it sound as if your conviction is a foregone conclusion, many times it is not. Despite what you may have heard, there are sometimes excellent defenses to charge of DUI. The important thing is to consult with an experienced Nebraska DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible after your arrest to discuss any possible defenses in your case that might result in avoiding a conviction.
Contact a Sarpy County DUI Lawyer at Petersen Law Office
If you were recently arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Nebraska, contact a DUI lawyer at Petersen Law Office 24 hours a day at 402-513-2180 to discuss your case with an experienced DUI defense lawyer.
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