It is normal to have questions and concerns if you’ve been charged with a Utah DUI or any other criminal offense. These are some of the most common questions our clients ask us about DUI charges. Please check out our Salt Lake City Criminal Defense Attorney blog as well. There you will find regularly updated, comprehensive discussions on a number of topics related to Utah DUIs and criminal law.

What Penalties am I facing?

A Utah DUI is usually a class B misdemeanor, but can become a class A misdemeanor or even a felony if there are certain aggravating circumstances such as previous DUIs, having a minor in the car at the time of the offense, causing an injury, etc. It is estimated that a first time DUI in Utah can cost you more than $10,000 including all fines, surcharges, attorney’s fees, and increased insurance costs. Furthermore, you face a mandatory sentence of 48 hours of jail or community service.

Can I lose my driver’s license?

Yes, unfortunately, you are facing the possibility of a license suspension. The loss of your driver’s license is one of the most troubling aspects of a Utah DUI. In fact, Utah is particularly tough on DUI offenders in this regard. In Utah you face a license suspension of 120 days with no option for a limited permit for transportation to and from the work place. These penalties are harsher than many other states that do provide for limited work driving permits during the suspension period.

What happens next?

Typically the first thing we will do is request a hearing with the driver’s license division in attempt to get your temporary license suspension lifted. This hearing must be requested within 10 days of your arrest. (so please call us immediately at 801.200.3795 if you’ve been arrested!) This hearing is very important, not only for the purpose of trying to keep your license, but also because it gives us a chance to question your arresting officer on the record. This is our first opportunity to expose any procedural errors police may have made during your investigation and arrest.

How can a good Utah DUI attorney help me?

A good Utah DUI attorney will build a defense by independently investigating your charges and the law enforcement officers who participated in your arrest. We will fight your DUI charges by reviewing video, audio, and dispatch records from your arrest, visiting the scene of the arrest and interviewing any potential witnesses. Through our independent investigation, we are often able to identify procedures that law enforcement failed to follow during your DUI arrest. Failure by law enforcement to follow these procedures correctly can result in infringements on your rights as well as inaccurate test results and insufficient cause to make your arrest. In short, this may allow us get your charges reduced or dropped, or help you win at trial.