Norman DUI Lawyers
- Daniel Bays:
Chances are if you have been arrested for DUI, you are about to make one of two mistakes. The first mistake is to go out and pay some lawyer $5000.00 to handle your misdemeanor DUI becasue he or she is a "big time" DUI lawyer who handles only those types of cases. The second mistake you will make is to go hire your cousin Vinny and pay him $300.00 to take the case. Don't do either of these two things.
A good DUI lawyer will attend seminars on the subject and stay current on changes in DUI law. A good DUI lawyer will have a good reputation in the county where he practices. A good DUI lawyer will know how to defend a DUI by attacking the probable causes for the traffic stop. A good DUI lawyer will attack the manner and method of the Standard Field Sobriety Tests. A good DUI lawyer will request an administrative hearing with The Department of Public safety to fight for your driving privileges. A good DUI lawyer will not plea your case out on the first setting. A good DUI lawyer will also challenge the breath/blood test results by attacking the validity of the process or the reliability of the machine.
Aside from those things, your lawyer should be professional, return your calls, explain the process to you and be available to answer any questions you may have.
Your cousin Vinny is not going to fight very hard for you and if you hire Mr. Big shot, your case will certainly get passed on to a baby lawyer in the firm.
- Tracy Schumaher:
If you are facing criminal charges, selecting the attorney who will represent you is the most important decision you will make. Whether you've been charged with a simple misdemeanor or a very serious felony offense, a poor defense could have a disastrous impact on your life. The outcome of a criminal matter can follow you for decades; limiting employment opportunities and resulting in the loss of privileges. With so much at stake, it is imperative that you choose an attorney who will work with you to achieve the best possible result. You need someone who will protect your rights.
- Myong Chung:
Have you had your drivers license suspended because of a DUI or DWI
conviction? ... Sometimes even one day can cause you to lose a precious
legal right or advantage.
- Stockwell Law Offices:
Laws in Oklahoma relating to DUI arrest are very strict and harsh on those
individuals arrested. In Oklahoma if a person takes a breath test and
tests .08 or greater you will be arrested for DUI. If the breath test
is .15 or greater the district attorney can charge Aggravated DUI on that
individual. An Aggravated DUI comes with much harsher punishment than
a standard DUI. Punishment for a standard DUI can result in confinement
in a county jail for up to one year and a fine not to exceed $1,000.00.
Additionally, the individual will have to undergo a Drug Alcohol Assessment
and follow whatever recommendations the assessor deems necessary for that
individual. That may include inpatient substance abuse treatment, outpatient
substance abuse treatment or a variety of other programs. As for an Aggravated
DUI the court may also order a 30 day inpatient or residential substance
abuse treatment followed by not less than a one year of supervision and
aftercare at the Defendant’s expense and 480 hours of community
service following the period of aftercare and the use of an ignition interlock
device for a minimum of 30 days. However, if the person does have a breath
alcohol concentration of .15 or greater it may still be possible to have
the Aggravated DUI charge amended to a regular DUI, thus limiting the
amount of punishing the court may impose.
Virtually each legislative session through the Oklahoma Legislature changes
the DUI laws within the state by making them even harsher and more costly
to the person arrested. In the most recent legislative session the legislature
increased virtually all costs for the programs the court may order. The
cost of the DUI School increased to $150.00, the cost of the DUI Assessment
increased to $175.00, court costs increased approximately $100.00 to a
total of $625.00 for court costs alone for arrests occurring after November
1, 2004. All totaled the costs and fees generated for an arrest for DUI
arrest could exceed $2,000.00 not including the cost of your attorney
and/or the cost of an ignition interlock device installed on your car,
if you receive a modified driver’s license from the Department of
Public Safety. That is why it is in your best interest to hire a qualified
lawyer to defend you for your DUI arrest.
Nothing above has any effect on your driver’s license. Even if you
are acquitted at trial or the case is dismissed outright by the district
attorney, you will still need to resolve your driver’s license issues
with the Department of Public Safety. It is imperative that within 15
days of your arrest you or your lawyer, notify the Department of Public
Safety in writing that you request an administrative hearing. This allows
you to retain your driving privileges until the administrative process
has concluded with the Department of Public Safety and it gives your lawyer
sufficient time to investigate your case, review the reports, review any
videotapes that may exist and make a determination as to whether or not
you have a good chance to prevail at the administrative hearing. If at
the administrative hearing you win, your license will not be revoked by
the Department of Public Safety. If, however, you lose you must appeal
to the district court to have a new hearing regarding your driver’s
license privileges. If it is determined by you and your attorney that
the chance of prevailing at the administrative hearing is not good, you
may have an option to request a modified license. A modified license allows
the first time offender to be granted a 180 day modified license by the
Department of Public Safety. This will allow you to drive 24/7 for this
time period. The only draw back will be that you will be required to install
an ignition interlock device in your vehicle or any vehicle you drive
during that suspension time. The ignition interlock device requires you
to blow into this device prior to starting the car and periodically while
the car is operational. If the device detects any odor of alcoholic beverage
it will lock itself down for a period of time not allowing you to drive
it. The cost for having a modified license is approximately $685.00 for
the period of 180 days.
A second or third arrest during a five year time period limits your driving
abilities substantially. Unless you win at the administrative hearing
or an appeal to district court you will not be able to drive your vehicle
legally during the revocation time period. For a second DUI within the
five years it is a one year revocation, non-modifiable. For a third DUI
within the five years it is a three year revocation, non-modifiable. This
means if you drive during that time period and are caught by law enforcement
officers you can again be arrested for driving under suspension and your
license will again be revoked for a time period at the end of the current
revocation you are serving.
- Evan Taylor:
When you enter an flat-fee agreement you pay one price for the entire
representation. A flat fee allows you as the client to know exactly
what the lawyer¹s services will cost up front without the fear that
each hour of work will cost you more and more. This arrangement is
often available for criminal charges, traffic tickets, and other such
matters.
- Rodney Watson:
In today's society, a vehicle is a necessity. ... The first line of
defense is to challenge the reason that you were stopped. There are bad
stops! There are many things that you need to do before appearing in
front of a judge. ... If it is your first arrest, the goal is make sure
that you can continue driving. For second offenses, the goal is often
to keep you out of jail and able to continue providing for your family.
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