DUI or DWI: What’s the Difference?

The first thing you’ll need to know is whether you’re facing a DUI charge, or a DWI charge. Some states differentiate between the two, while others do not. In those that do, a DUI stands for “Driving Under the Influence” and this offence is generally not as severe as a DWI. A DUI may refer to an individual that was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When alcohol is involved and a DUI is the charge, it indicates a lesser degree of drunkenness than a DWI.

In the states that make no distinction between the two, a DWI stands for “Driving While Intoxicated” and this charge can carry hefty penalties. Consequences of a DWI include jail time, loss of license, and incredibly expensive fines. States that have both designations often allow a DWI charge to be lowered to a DUI. But, this is usually only with the help of a DUI attorney – another reason why you need to hire one when facing this charge.

Other states however, that don’t differentiate will hand down the same sentence for being over the legal limit, no matter how much or how little you are over.

Where to Find a DUI Lawyer

Once you understand what your actual charge is, and that you need a DUI attorney, you’ll need to go out and find one. So where can you do that?

One of the best places to find a DUI attorney is through word of mouth. If you have friends who have been in the unfortunate circumstance of being charged with a DUI or another misdemeanor, ask who their lawyer was and if they liked them. You always need to make sure that the attorney they have dealt with is a criminal attorney. While they may have a lawyer that helps them with their real estate, their will, or a divorce, these types of lawyers do not deal with criminal law and so, they most likely won’t be able to help you with your case. While they will be able to represent you in court, should you really want them to, they won’t be as well-versed in the ins and outs of DUI law and how they can help you.

If the people you know have never needed to hire a criminal attorney, you still have many options at your disposal. One of the best ones is to look at online directories. Many are out there, some are set up by the bar association in the area while others have been put together by different non-profit groups and other organizations. A few of the online directories specific to DUI attorneys are: Drunk Driving Lawyers, Find a DUI Attorney, and DUI Find Law.

Of course, you’ll always find directories that aren’t online too. The old standbys such as your local Yellow Pages, local newspapers, and bulletin boards around the neighborhood are all still very good options for finding a DUI attorney.

One of the great ways to find out if a DUI lawyer has the potential to be a good fit for your case, a great way to find out how they are in court before you even meet them is to go see them in action! Go down to your local courthouse and sit in on some cases. Generally these are open to the public and they’re a great way to really get a feel for particular lawyers and how they are in court.

Of course, if you really want to make sure that you’re getting the right attorney for the job, do all of these things when you’re trying to find a DUI lawyer. That way you’ll be sure that you’re getting the broadest choice, and that you’ve covered every base possible.