Law Office Of Steve Whitworth

During my many years of practice, I have handled over a thousand criminal cases and have extensive trial and courtroom experience. I have done a significant number of DUI jury trials and Department of Motor Vehicle (license suspension) hearings.

I hope the following does not apply, but it occurs too often to ignore. Some persons may feel a sense of resignation and hopelessness after being arrested and charged with a DUI. Those persons may erroneously conclude that they should just "go into court, accept their responsibility, and plead guilty because they in fact were intoxicated while they drove."

While I understand and sympathize with these thoughts, I strongly disagree. DUI cases carry so many consequences that a person ought to consult with, and retain, counsel to represent him or her in court. DUI cases and their consequences can haunt a person for the rest of his or her life. An uninformed guilty plea or a no contest plea to a DUI offense may result in consequences that should have been avoided, such as license suspensions, jail time, criminal and civil fines, restitution, mandatory attendance of a drinking/driving school, the installation of an interlock device on your car, or the impounding of your vehicle. To all these consequences, add the loss of your time and dignity. And to further compound matters, DUI convictions may create severe employment issues, both now and in the future.