DUI Charge – What’s Going To Happen At My Court Date?
- You’ve been charged with a DUI. What happens at your 1st court appearance?
- Here are 5 things you need to know
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1/ Your 1st court appearance for your DUI is not a trial- The first time you go to court for your impaired driving charge is called a “first appearance.”
- This court date is not a trial.
This court date is simply the first time you will appear in court for your DUI charge.
- And that means the Police officers that charged you will not be at your first court date.
- If your DUI case goes to trial, then the Police officers that arrested you will be there.
2/ You must go- Even though your first court date is not a trial, legally, you must show up to that court date.
- Now you should check whether that court date is in person or online — but you have to attend.
- And, if you don’t attend, you will be subject to a warrant and an additional criminal charge.
3/ You’re going to get evidence- One of the purposes of your first court date is to get the evidence that the Crown will be using to prosecute your Impaired Driving charge.
- That evidence will be included in a package called disclosure that will be given to you.
- What’s included in that package and how that evidence is analyzed and used is critical to getting a positive outcome from your DUI case.
4/ IMPORTANT. The evidence is probably not complete. That’s NOT good.- Most people believe that the evidence package they get at their court date will be complete.
- While that assumption is logical, it’s probably not true.
- The Crown will give you the evidence they have, but it’s not necessarily the evidence you need to defend yourself properly.
- In other words, there will be evidence that’s missing.
- It is critical to get all the evidence so you can mount a proper legal fight against your DUI.
5/ Do NOT plead guilty- I get it.
- Getting charged with a DUI is stressful.
- And what makes this stress even worse is that the legal process you have to go through may take a long time.
- That pressure often leads people to plead guilty just because they want to “get it over with.”
- You should not do that because the consequences of a criminal conviction are life-changing.
- Take a step back and speak to a lawyer to get a free consultation about your options.
- It is very common that when an experienced DUI lawyer gets involved in your case, you will get a much better outcome than if you dealt with your impaired driving case alone.
- One of the purposes of your first court date is to get the evidence that the Crown will be using to prosecute your Impaired Driving charge.
- That evidence will be included in a package called disclosure that will be given to you.
- What’s included in that package and how that evidence is analyzed and used is critical to getting a positive outcome from your DUI case.
4/ IMPORTANT. The evidence is probably not complete. That’s NOT good.- Most people believe that the evidence package they get at their court date will be complete.
- While that assumption is logical, it’s probably not true.
- The Crown will give you the evidence they have, but it’s not necessarily the evidence you need to defend yourself properly.
- In other words, there will be evidence that’s missing.
- It is critical to get all the evidence so you can mount a proper legal fight against your DUI.
5/ Do NOT plead guilty- I get it.
- Getting charged with a DUI is stressful.
- And what makes this stress even worse is that the legal process you have to go through may take a long time.
- That pressure often leads people to plead guilty just because they want to “get it over with.”
- You should not do that because the consequences of a criminal conviction are life-changing.
- Take a step back and speak to a lawyer to get a free consultation about your options.
- It is very common that when an experienced DUI lawyer gets involved in your case, you will get a much better outcome than if you dealt with your impaired driving case alone.
- I get it.
- Getting charged with a DUI is stressful.
- And what makes this stress even worse is that the legal process you have to go through may take a long time.
- That pressure often leads people to plead guilty just because they want to “get it over with.”
- You should not do that because the consequences of a criminal conviction are life-changing.
- Take a step back and speak to a lawyer to get a free consultation about your options.
- It is very common that when an experienced DUI lawyer gets involved in your case, you will get a much better outcome than if you dealt with your impaired driving case alone.
What happens at a court date for a DUI charge?
At a court date for a DUI charge, the defendant will appear before a judge and the Crown prosecutor will present evidence of the alleged offence. The defendant will have the opportunity to contest the charges and, if a plea bargain cannot be reached, the case may proceed to trial. It's important to have legal representation at this stage, as a knowledgeable DUI lawyer can help navigate the court process and provide the best possible outcome for the defendant.
Is it important to have a lawyer present at a court date for a DUI charge?
Yes, it is important to have a lawyer present at a court date for a DUI charge. A DUI lawyer is familiar with the legal system and can provide valuable insight and guidance on how best to proceed. They can help negotiate a plea bargain or present a strong defence in court. Having a knowledgeable DUI lawyer by your side can help ensure the best possible outcome for the defendant.
