The night Mississippi police put handcuffs on your wrists and drove you to the county jail in the back of a squad car may still seem like a bad dream. However, the fact that you had to call your spouse and come up with money to post bail quickly brought home the reality of your situation. The officer who arrested you may have mentioned that your tires drifted over the yellow line before he or she stopped you.
From there, your mind may have filled with all sorts of worries as events unfolded and, perhaps, forever-changed your life. DUI charges can affect all areas of your life. If you are keenly aware of your personal rights and know where to seek support when needed, you may be able to mitigate your circumstances and minimize the long-term negative consequences of an unfortunate situation.
So much at risk
Not only does DUI affect your personal life (especially if you have an ongoing alcohol-related problem that tends to cause discord in your marriage or family life), it can also wreak havoc in other areas of your life as well, such as the following:
- If you happen to be a licensed medical doctor, a teacher, commercial truck driver or other certified professional, your career may be hanging in the balance and greatly dependent on whether the court hands down a conviction. In some lines of work, merely facing charges may be enough to cost you your job.
- If you were surprised by and unprepared to meet the expenses associated with your current DUI situation, you are definitely not alone as many people are unaware of how costly it can be until they gain firsthand experience. You may face increased insurance premiums on your car, have to pay penalties or fines, as well as cover court fees and other associated costs. It can all add up very quickly.
- Down the line, you might experience difficulty trying to seek employment. Prospective employers may hesitate to hire you if you have a DUI conviction on your criminal record.
It’s impossible to presume a particular outcome if police arrest you for DUI. You may be able to rectify your situation in a matter of hours or days. On the other hand, you may also be in for the long haul if your case goes to trial. Either way, it’s helpful to know where to seek support to overcome any obstacles that arise and to help move forward toward a post DUI future.
Many Mississippi drivers ask criminal defense attorneys to represent them in court when facing DUI charges.
