When you are arrested for any charges, the law assumes you are innocent until you are proven guilty. When dealing with a DUI case, one might decide to plead guilty but there are consequences to this plea. Once you plead guilty, you lose some of your constitutional rights. You no longer have the right to remain silent, the right to a jury trial and that of cross-examining witnesses. Do not decide to plead guilty without the authorization of your DUI Lawyers in Port Orchard WA.
When you admit you are guilty, a form that has some of the punishments you are likely to face is handed to you. The judge goes through the details in an open court to make sure that you understand your conviction and any rights you have. Below are some of the consequences of a guilty plea.
Whether you are guilty of the DUI offense or not, pleading guilty gives you a conviction. There will be no need of a jury after your plea because you have already been found guilty resulting from your guilty plea. Whatever the reason of your pleading guilty was, withdrawing it is next to impossible. No matter how much the public defender may be pressuring you, do not convict yourself without the authorization of a lawyer. Sometimes, after looking at your case files, your DUI attorney may agree to the plea.
DUI convictions will mostly depend on the level of alcohol or damage caused. A DUI guilty person can serve a jail term of up to six months or a certain amount of fines or both. Harsher sentences are given to those who might have killed a person after an accident. As a result of being found guilty, your license may be suspended for a year and you may be required to attend mandatory DUI classes. If you violate any conditions convicted upon you, you may have to face additional charges which will definitely make your records worse.
First time DUI offenders may attain clean records after attending DUI classes on the courts order.
