Drunk driving is a serious offense in Hawaii, and even for your first DUI conviction, you may have to spend up to five days in jail, besides a year of driving license revocation and other consequences. When pulled over by a police officer, you are expected to stop, and while you have the right to refuse both breath and chemical tests, it may not go well in your favor. Your immediate concern should be your defense, and hiring the right DUI attorney in Hawaii should be your priority. In this post, we are discussing how DUI/OVUII charges are dealt with in this state.
The Administrative Hearing
Immediately after being arrested for DUI, the arresting officer will revoke your license, and you would have to contest the administrative license revocation. You should request a hearing, which will happen at the Administrative Driver’s License Revocation Office. In the meanwhile, you may get a conditional license permit.
The Criminal Case
Besides the administrative hearing, there will be a criminal case related to the DUI, for which there are penalties on conviction. Your DUI lawyer will work with you and investigate the matter to gather the necessary details. They will then work on your defense and determine how to challenge the charges. For instance, it is common for Breathalyzer tests to be inaccurate, and in some cases, the police officer may not have the legal right to ask you to stop. Expect an attorney to be your zealous advocate for the case.
A previous DUI charge
If you have been convicted of DUI in the past, an ignition interlock device could be installed on your vehicle. You are required to blow in the device, and if you are not sober, the vehicle will not start. You can get an ignition interlock device installed and ask for a permit to drive, for which you are required to pay a service fee every month.
Dealing with the DUI arrest
Don’t let the DUI arrest impact your life. You need to get an attorney on your side because if you are not good with the defense, the consequences can be severe. Most lawyers will gladly offer a confidential consultation, for which you don’t have to pay a huge fee. Make sure that you hire an attorney who is experienced, popular, and handles DUI cases regularly. It would help if you also asked for an estimated cost of expenses, which would allow you to prepare for the financial aspects.
