After being pulled over and arrested for DUI you’re confused, worried, and shamed. You’re not sure what the process is and moreso what will happen to you as a result.

Here’s the top 5 issues you must deal with as soon as possible:

1. If you’re sober, get your car back (if it was impounded). The tow lot will charge you a holding fee (sometimes by the hour) the longer you wait to get your vehicle back. In order to get it back you’ll need the paperwork the arresting officer gave you which includes a pink piece of paper which serves as your interim drivers license.

There should also be a tow location on there where your vehicle is being held… if not call the police station and ask them where it is.

2. Review all the paperwork you were given by the arresting officer and the police station upon release. You should have:

**A pink piece of a paper that authorizes you to drive (since your license was most likely confiscated).

**A citation stating the offenses you are being charged with. The charges depend on the state you’re located in and the specifics of your case… but in standard drunk driving cases you’ll likely see 2 charges for 1 offense. The charges are (1) operating a vehicle under the influence and (2) driving with an unlawful BAC (blood alcohol concentration); .08% or higher.

3. Schedule your DMV hearing. On your citation there should be a telephone number to call in order to schedule a hearing to contest the suspension of your drivers license. Depending on the state you only have anywhere from 7 – 10 days to do this! So don’t wait, call and schedule the hearing. You should do this right away, even before you hire a DUI lawyer.

4. Recall the events of your DUI arrest. While it’s still fresh in your mind you should sit down and review the details of your arrest. Make notes of what happened but do not share these notes with anyone especially law enforcement!After you have retained counsel you can share them with him/her as they will be bound by attorney-client relationship and must keep any details confidential.

5. Start interviewing DUI Lawyers. Start looking for specialized criminal defense lawyers who ONLY practice DUI law. The best thing to do is call around to all the ones you can find in your geographic area using a variety of sources…

** Contact Our Member DUI Lawyers .

** Check the phone book, also ask family/friends for referrals.

Then start scheduling free consultations with them immediately to discuss your case and their ability to handle it effectively.

These are the immediate steps you MUST take if you’ve just been arrested for a [tag-tec]DUI[/tag-tec]. I understand that it is a confusing and worrisome time for you and you probably just want to hide out for a few days, but don’t!

Get these things done as soon as possible as they’ll make a big difference for you in the outcome of your case.

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