So you received a DUI charge. The incident was probably very stressful and you can't believe you let yourself get into this predicament. But you did. There is no going back only forward from this point. What you do now is critical for you and your future. The choices you make and decisions.

RECEIVING A DUI CHARGE DOES NOT MAKE YOU A BAD PERSON

Yes drinking and driving or driving while impaired is very dangerous to not only you but to others. The laws are in place to protect the public. The dangers of driving impaired cannot be minimized. Its not a good idea. Yet, bad things do happen to good people. Perhaps you had one too many at a wedding reception or an anniversary party. You had no intention of driving impaired but you lost track of the drinks and your common sense. Once you saw the flashing lights behind you, reality hit you hard. You are out of luck. Regret and a wake up call sets it. But its too late at this point. Remember though, this does not make you a bad person. Even sports stars, Hollywood actors and even politicians frequently are in the news after receiving a DUI charge. Thus, you are only human not a bad person. What you do after this is what counts.

GET A GOOD DUI-CRIMINAL LAWYER TO HELP YOU DURING THIS PROCESS

Do not "wing it" on your own. DUI laws are strict and carry heavy fines, loss of drivers license and incarceration. Even the lowest level DUI charge carries jail time. This jail time increases based on your B.A.C. (blood alcohol concentration), if you have priors and whether or not you had a valid drivers license at the time of the offense. Some individuals go to prison for many years because they did not possess a valid license and had prior DUI convictions. The government prosecutes these cases very vigorously. Do not take this lightly. Having an experience lawyer will help guide you through this process and minimize your punishment. A good DUI lawyer will look for any defenses you may have. There are defenses to a DUI and you may not know about these if you try to represent yourself or just accept whatever fate the prosecutor offers you at Court. Your freedom and life is on the line. Having a good lawyer may help you get your license back and may even keep you out of jail. You may have defenses such as: lack of driving, faulty blood or breath testing procedures or improper stop or field testing by the police. These defense can also help you win your case or get a reduced charge such as a reckless driving instead of a DUI conviction.

A DUI CONVICTION HAS NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES

A DUI Conviction could result in loss of job or even more. This is a criminal conviction. Not only could you lose your license but no doubt your insurance rates will significantly go up. In addition, the DUI will stay on your record for a period of time. For most misdemeanors this is 84 months. This means if you receive another DUI within that time period you would face charges as a repeat offender and additional fines and jail time would be required. The Arizona criminal code has specific sentencing terms which must be followed by the Court and the prosecutors. Therefore it is very important to have Counsel to represent you to not only navigate through the courts but also to defend you and preserve your rights. Having your charge reduced could be a major victory and save you both money and jail time. You can also challenge your driving suspension with the Arizona Motor Vehicle Department. There are time rules though so it is important to be aware that if you wait too long, you may lose your ability to challenge this. A good DUI lawyer will be able to file a motion and set your case for a review or witness hearing.

MARIJUANA IMPAIRMENT CAN ALSO GIVE YOU A DUI CHARGE

Even though marijuana is basically legal (with some limitations) in Arizona and many other states, this does not include driving while impaired. Just like alcohol, you can legally consume marijuana but once you drive and the police suspect impairment, you will be arrested and charged just like an alcohol DUI. The police will take your blood and will perform FST's (field sobriety tests) on you. If they suspect drugs, this may include a Drug Recognition Test. This involves looking at your tongue and eyes and observing you perform some field tests. Once the blood test comes back the prosecutors office will decide whether or not to proceed on the case. This comes down to the THC level.A.R.S. 13-1381 (A) (3). Unlike other drugs, the State may still need to show and prove IMPAIRMENT, not just that THC was in the blood. A person can still present evidence as a valid defense in order to challenge the presumption that those metabolites caused impairment.

No matter what. Get a lawyer and defend yourself. Your life, freedom, job, driving privilege and finances depend on getting a good result. Don't let the charge or even a future conviction define you as a bad person. You are not. Yet, take this serious, fight the case with a good lawyer to get the best result. And try to never get in this situation again. It would only get worse.