Ralph had just received his fourth "driving under the influence" arrest. He was thinking about representing himself in court, but his father, Sam, told him that this would be a really big mistake. When Ralph heard this, he asked Sam why he should even consider getting a ”drunk driving lawyer.

Although Sam wasn’t a lawyer, he told his son that he learned the hard way when as a young man he received a "driving under the influence" arrest, represented himself in court, paid thirty-five hundred dollars in fines and penalties, and served 120 days in the city jail. As he mentioned to his son, after he got out of jail, he found out from a lawyer friend that had he hired a DUI lawyer to represent him in court, he more likely than not would have had his penalties and fines substantially reduced and he may have never served any time in the local city jail.

What a DWI Attorney Can Do in a Driving Under the Influence Arrest.

When Ralph heard this he knew he needed more DUI facts so he asked his dad for more information about what a DWI lawyer can do in a DWI arrest. His dad then articulated the following: "If you have been charged with DUI, it is advisable for you to get advice from a DUI lawyer in your local area right away. By doing this, you will know what to expect when you appear in court. From a general standpoint, criminal DUI cases tend to move fairly rapidly through the court system and unfamiliarity with procedural requirements and the various deadlines could harm your case. With this in mind, it certainly makes a lot of sense to hire a DUI attorney for your 'driving under the influence' or 'drunk driving' case.”

When Ralph listend to his dad explain this, it was as if his eyes were opened for the first time about the importance of hiring a ”drunk driving" lawyer. More to the point, Ralph realized that he needed a DUI lawyer.

The Real Facts About Taking Field Sobriety Tests

He then told his father that he had heard a lot about field sobriety tests. Consequently, he asked his father what a field sobriety test was.

His father responded with the following: “Ralph, field sobriety tests are administered by the police in order to find out if a person has been operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both. Field sobriety tests are often based on coordination and agility. The 'rationale' underlying these tests is that if a person is impaired from drugs, alcohol, or from both, his or her coordination and agility will be negatively affected and the person’s 'performance' on these tests will suffer.”

Ralph’s father then wanted to stress the following: "Ralph, remember that you cannot be legally forced to take any field sobriety tests when you are stopped by the police. The police officer that administers the tests is the only 'evaluator' of your performance and is therefore frequently documenting only the things that you do incorrectly or fail. As a result, in the vast majority of cases, a polite refusal to take any field sobriety test is appropriate.”

Near the end of their conversation, Ralph said that was beginning to understand more about “driving under the influence” laws and what DUI lawyers can do for a person who has received a DWI arrest, but he was still wondering why he was stopped by the police in the first place. In his own words Ralph asked his father the following question: “Dad, why was I stopped by the police? Precisely what were they looking for”?

His father answered Ralph in the following way: “Ralph, there are several diverse reasons why you could have been 'stopped' by a police officer. Some examples include the following: involvement in a traffic accident, expired registration tags, missing a front license plate, weaving in and out of traffic, speeding, tinted windows, and driving erratically. Not only this but someone could have also reported you to the police after seeing you leaving a sporting event, a party, a restaurant, or a bar 'under the influence' and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. In a word, there are more than a few reasons why you were 'stopped' by a police officer.”

After getting “educated” about DWI arrests, the role of ”drunk driving" lawyers, and the fact that he didn’t have to agree to take any field sobriety tests at the time of his arrest, Ralph decided that he would definitely hire a DWI lawyer to represent him in court.

Ralph Gets Inspired That He Will Always Drink Responsibly and Never Experience Another DUI Arrest

Something else, however, happened after he had talked to his dad. Ralph at last began to understand the critical nature of "driving under the influence" arrests and as a result, he made up his mind that from this point forward, he would always drink in moderation so that he would never again have to go through another "driving under the influence" arrest.

His father smiled at Ralph and told him the following, “son, it took me until I was fifty-five years old to realize what you just told me. I am really proud of you.

This did wonders for his self esteem and so Ralph thanked his father and then said, "if I can always drink responsibly, I will never need to hire a DUI attorney again!"

Does Ralph Need Alcohol Rehabilitation For His Alcoholism or For His Alcohol Abuse?

There was, however, one thing that neither Ralph nor his father thought about, namely, if Ralph needs alcohol counseling for his alcoholism or for his alcohol abuse. In fact, Ralph may be required by the court to get treatment for his hazardous and careless drinking.