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Once arrested for DUI, a judge will set an arraignment hearing wherein all formal charges against you will be read out and you can enter your plea.
Skipping court and trying to avoid a bench warrant or bail jumping charge without first consulting with an experienced attorney is never wise; rather, hiring one may save both time and money in the end.
Your driving privileges may be suspended
Missing court dates can have severe repercussions, including suspension of your driving privileges. Depending on your case’s details, however, you may be eligible to restore it by enrolling in the Drinking Driving Program, paying any fines accrued, attending counseling or treatment programs as ordered, keeping an IID installed until jail time has been served and paying a suspension termination fee.
Your license could have been suspended due to missing court dates or failing to pay traffic tickets, and as soon as this occurs it’s important that you contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. They can assist with voluntary surrender and can often argue on your behalf in court that there were extenuating circumstances that led to a bench or arrest warrant being issued – any attempts at dodging will almost always result in harsher punishment upon conviction of original offenses.
You may be arrested
A judge can issue a bench warrant for your arrest if you fail to appear for court, giving law enforcement authorities permission to arrest you at any time – even during routine traffic stops.
Criminal defense attorneys can often help to mitigate or preempt these consequences. If the reason you missed your court date was due to medical care needs, family concerns or lack of transportation, your lawyer could present evidence that proves you acted responsibly.
Immediately respond to any outstanding bench warrant for your arrest by either directly contacting the court, or hiring a criminal defense lawyer who can do it on your behalf. Your lawyer could present any extenuating circumstances which led to missing court dates which might influence how a judge responds; furthermore they can help arrange voluntary turn-in of themselves in order to avoid arrest while working towards having it cancelled outright.
You may face additional criminal charges
Missing your court date can have devastating legal repercussions. Working quickly to address any outstanding issues and mitigate damage is imperative in these instances. Your lawyer is there to help guide your through this difficult time.
A judge will likely issue a bench warrant for your arrest if you do not appear for the initial DUI court process hearing, known as an arraignment. This hearing serves to read out formal charges against you and allow for you to enter a plea of no contest or guilty plea.
Failure to appear for court dates can result in additional charges, such as bail jumping. Hiring a criminal defense lawyer will help defend against such allegations while also searching for weaknesses in evidence presented by prosecutors, such as accuracy of breathalyzer or blood test results. Often if there was a valid reason such as an emergency or unexpected event that prevented your presence at your DUI trial date date.
You may lose your job
As people miss their DUI court dates, they often experience professional difficulties. While “ban the box” laws limit when employers may inquire into criminal arrests and convictions, most companies retain the right to terminate employees if any DUI occurred during work hours or involved company property; or breached specific job duties.
As soon as a bench warrant becomes active, its effects could expand exponentially – including problems with employment background checks and crossing borders for travel. Should someone discover that they have one active, it is critical that they seek legal advice immediately and obtain representation.
An experienced attorney can help clients address the cause of their warrant, such as outstanding fines or court orders that triggered it. Sometimes judges recall warrants after issues are addressed (this often happens with DUI charges), though this process can take considerable time and it is vital that action be taken quickly to secure its recall.
