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No matter how hard you try, you can’t undo the past and handle it differently.
You might wish you could, though, especially if you’re sitting in jail after being arrested for a DWI.
While you can’t do anything about the charge you’re facing, there are things you can do afterward.
Are you wondering, “what happens when you get a DWI?” If so, there are several things to expect. The most critical part of this, though, is how you handle it from this point.
If you want to handle this charge the best way possible, you should take these five steps after getting a DWI.
- Find a Way to Get out of Jail
Getting charged with a DWI is a crime you encounter while driving.
A police officer can arrest you for this if you register over the legal blood-alcohol limit on a breathalyzer. Officers can also take you into custody if they suspect you are drinking or under the influence, even if you refuse to take a breathalyzer test.
No matter what, getting a DWI will land you behind bars. The jail will not allow you to get out until you make arrangements with the court, and there are several ways to do this.
- Pay a Cash Bail
Option one is to pay a cash bail. A cash bail is an amount set by the court that a defendant can pay for a pretrial release. This money comes from the defendant himself or from a friend or relative.
If the court sets a $5,000 cash bail, for example, you’d have to pay this much money out of your pocket. Once you do, they’ll let you out of jail.
You’ll get this money back once the court releases it, but this will not occur until months later. It will also require following all the court’s orders during this time. You can lose the money by disregarding what the court instructs you to do.
- Take a Bail Bond
Using a bail bond is a popular option for people who get arrested and don’t have the cash they need to cover their bail amounts. A bail bond comes from a bail bond agent.
The bail bond agent pays your bail for you, and you pay a small fee for the service. The cost generally equals at least 10% of the cash bail amount. In the above example, your fee would be at least $500.
You cannot receive this fee back, even if you follow the court’s instructions.
- Get the Court to Approve an ROR
An ROR stands for being released on your own recognizance. It is an option you have for a pretrial release, but it is not always easy to get a court to approve this option.
If you petition the court for an ROR, you are asking them to let you out of jail without any bail costs. If they approve your request, you can get out for free.
You’ll have to agree to some terms, though, and you’ll have to follow the rules the court gives you.
All Methods Result in Your Release
Using any of these methods will result in the jail releasing you before you face the criminal process for your charges. It is possible to face and fight your charges while behind bars, but it’s much more challenging to do this when you’re locked up in jail.
- Hire a Criminal Lawyer With DWI Experience
You can begin working on the second step while you are in jail or once you get out. It’s up to you, but this is a step you should never skip.
This step requires hiring a criminal lawyer for assistance. You shouldn’t hire just any attorney you find, though. Look for a DWI Lawyer with experience and an excellent reputation.
Your attorney will be the person assisting you through the case. He or she will know the law, the challenges you face, and the best way to handle the charges you’re facing.
- Request an ALR Hearing
The Texas Department of Public Safety requires drivers to lose their driving privileges after they incur any serious driving offense, including a DWI charge.
So, one of the first things you should expect is to lose your driver’s license. Losing your ability to drive is not a convenient problem to have, though. Instead, not having a license can cause significant disturbances in your life.
Fortunately, you may have a way to avoid losing your license. To fight to keep your driving privileges, you will need to request an Administrative License Revocation hearing.
You must make this request within fifteen days of the notification you receive that your license is being suspended, so don’t wait too long.
Your hearing will not likely take place right away. It may take three or four months for it to occur, but attending this hearing is a necessity if you want to fight to keep your driving privileges.
- Prepare Your Strategy for Your Hearings
During the next few weeks, you’ll need to work with your lawyer to develop a strategy for your situation. The approach may be to fight the charges based on a lack of evidence. It could also be to face the charges by admitting guilt.
You should also understand that courts often willingly offer plea bargains to those facing DWI charges.
A plea bargain requires that you plead guilty to the charge, but it generally allows you to receive a lighter charge and lesser consequence.
Taking the plea bargain is not a requirement, but it is often the safest route for a DWI situation. Before you accept or reject the plea, the court offers you, talk to your lawyer.
Get your lawyer’s advice and recommendations before choosing any route in your case. Your attorney knows best and will give you expert advice.
- Follow All the Necessary Instructions
Once you determine a path and work through the necessary legal steps to complete it, you’ll have an outcome. If you accepted a plea bargain or ended up with a guilty verdict, you will have consequences to face.
The consequences of a DWI case varies, but they are typically a lot lighter for first-time offenders. In any case, the court will give you a list of consequences for the crime, and you must follow these.
Here are some common ones you may encounter:
- A short jail sentence – It’s unlikely you’ll have to serve time in jail, but it is a possibility, especially if you are a repeat offender.
- Alcohol rehabilitation services or classes – Taking courses is also a typical requirement that courts set as a way of helping people educate themselves on drinking and driving.
- Community service – Performing work in your community for free is a punishment that you can encounter for crimes of all types.
- Fees – There will be fees you must pay to the court. If you paid bail, the court might take the expenses from your bail account before giving you a refund.
- Probation – Don’t be surprised if the court sentences you to a probation term. Probation is a popular consequence of many types of crimes.
- SR-22 insurance – Purchasing a high-risk auto insurance plan from a company that will monitor your coverage is also a potential consequence you face.
You may end up facing some of these punishments or others.
No matter what you do, you must complete any requirements the court gives you. If you complete them all, you will eventually get through the punishments and able to move on with your life.
At this point, the court will also release your bail money. If you paid it, you’d get it back. If you borrowed it from a bail bond agent, they would receive the money they paid for your release.
If you don’t follow through with these requirements, you’ll face further consequences. One consequence is that you could lose the bail money you paid.
If you hired a bail bond agent for this, they will also lose the money and will come looking for you to get it back.
This Is What Happens When You Get a DWI
You probably wish you could replay that night. Because, if you could, you probably would make a different decision before you got behind the wheel in your car.
But now you now that this is what happens when you get a DWI. Following these tips, after you receive the charges, will help you handle it properly and experience the best results.
To learn more about what you can do when facing a DWI charge, check out the rest of our site for more information and tips.
