Maybe you just blew .01 over the legal limit, refused the breathalyzer, or were falling over drunk, regardless you ended up being charged with a DUI or DWI. What do you do now? The point of this site isn’t to debate the moral or legal issues of a DUI/DWI, but to offer information and resources to those trying to figure out what will happen next.
First find your DUI ticket and read it. Depending on your states laws you may only have a few days to file for optional hearings. Also the chances are good that you had your driver’s license taken during your arrest process, so your citation may be your legal driver’s license until your first DUI court date.
 
If you can afford it, go ahead and find a DUI lawyer. Expect to pay at least a $500 retainer fee for the lawyer.
 
If have any friends or family who have had a DWI or DUI, you might try to talk to them about the process. Every state is different with how they deal with DUIs so getting a detailed description of the process specific to your area will be very helpful to you in the long run. Since you are dealing the judicial system, information is your friend. They may also be able to suggest a good lawyer.
 
Also don’t expect to get the DUI/DWI process over with quickly. Even if you get the charges dropped it could take several months to sort out. In the mean time do yourself a favor and keep a low profile and stay out of trouble.
 
You will find more detailed descriptions of the most common steps in the DUI and DWI process on the remaining pages of the site.