The following are 10 simple questions for determining whether you really need a lawyer for a DUI.
- Do you want to go to jail?
- Do you want to have a criminal record for the rest of your life?
- Do you want to lose your driving privileges?
- Do you want to lose your job?
- Do you want to pay the highest mandatory minimum fine in Iowa?
- Do you want to pay more money for insurance?
- Do you want to lose your firearm rights for a year?
- Do you want to deal with a prosecutor by yourself?
- Do you want to face the judge by yourself?
- Do you want to be prohibited from going to Canada?
If your answer is "yes" to all of those questions, you do not need a lawyer for a DUI charge. If your answer is "no" to any of them, lawyer up!
DUI's or OWI's (Operating While Intoxicated) as they are called in Iowa, are serious criminal offenses. In Iowa, they have the most severe mandatory minimum sentences of any misdemeanor offense that a person can be charged with. Even a first offense is punishable by up to 1 year in jail. A third offense is a Felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $7,500. Criminal convictions in Iowa remain on a person's criminal record for life. These are just the criminal penalties.
Mandatory license suspensions also accompany every drunk driving charge in Iowa. These can range from a minimum of 6 months to up to 6 years, depending upon the case. Hard suspensions where no driving is permitted for at least 30 days are also common and may even be required by federal law.
If you are comfortable facing these charges and life-long consequences on your own, you do not need a lawyer. On the other hand, if you care about your future, you want and need a lawyer that will fight for you. With your future on the line, why would you consider anything other than a lawyer that specializes in defending drunk driving charges? When good people need GReat Lawyers, good people go to GRL Law.
