New Year’s Eve into the early morning hours of New Year’s Day is one of the most dangerous stretches on the roads in Minnesota because of the increased presence of drunk drivers. Minnesota police are well aware that more people will try to drink and drive on New Year’s, which is why they will be conducting extra DUI patrols throughout the night. Simply put, there’s absolutely no reason to get behind the wheel if you’ll be ringing in 2022 with some spirits, because you’ll have a significantly higher likelihood of getting a DUI.
Despite our warning, we know for a fact that hundreds of Minnesotans will be booked for DUI over the New Year’s holiday. Heck, maybe you’re reading this blog right now because you’re wondering what steps you should take after being arrested for a DUI. Below, we explain what you should do if you are arrested for DUI over the New Year’s holiday.
Steps To Take After A NYE DUI
If you have been placed under arrest for DUI, one of the first things you’ll want to do in the immediate aftermath is stop talking to police. As we discussed in this blog, you’re not going to be able to talk your way out of a DUI, especially on one of the most dangerous days on the road. You’re not going to be able to get out of handcuffs, and more often than not you’ll do more damage to your defense.
That’s because anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. If you say “I only had two beers,” police won’t think “Alright I’ll let this guy off since he’s probably under the legal limit if he only had two beers,” instead they’ll write in their arrest report that you admitted to drinking before getting behind the wheel. Being on record admitting to consuming alcohol isn’t going to do anything to help your defense. We could share other examples, but the point is the same, nothing you say here is going to help your case, and it can end up backfiring spectacularly.
Next, and this is very important, you’ll want to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. Not only can they provide you with some individualized legal advice, but since New Year’s falls on a Friday this year, it’s possible that you’ll have to spend a number of days in jail until you can be seen by a judge. Some courts may observe the New Year’s holiday on Monday, so if you can’t have bail set until you’re brought before a judge, it’s possible that you may have to wait until Tuesday in order to secure your release.
That’s where we can come in. We have extensive experience in the surrounding county courthouses and can get in contact with the on-call judge over the weekend to get your bail amount set. Don’t sit in jail for days when you can be released within hours by talking with the team at Appelman Law Firm. Give us a call at (952) 224-2277, let us know where you’re being held, and we’ll work to secure your release.
If you’ve already been released, our last piece of advice is to make sure you sync up with a lawyer. A DUI conviction carries stiff penalties, and you’re going to want to avoid a worst case scenario. The best way to do that is with a lawyer by your side. Let us meet with you during a free case consultation, review your options and see if we’d be a good fit. If you want to bring us onto your case, we’ll put on an aggressive defense and get you the best outcome possible. For more information, or to set up one of those consultations, give us a call today.
