How Coronavirus Could Positively Impact Your Case

One of the most important considerations right now is how coronavirus is impacting criminal
charges. We wrote a past blog about how dates are being impacted but it’s important to also
understand how this unique time might improve the results of your case.

Get A “To Do” List From Your Attorney

First, use your “free time” wisely. If you have been charged with a DUI or another alcohol-related
offense, there are productive things you can do while you are waiting for your next court date.
We ask our clients to have a drug and alcohol assessment done as well as a victims’ impact
panel. Believe or not, there are agencies who are still making it happen! These appointments
are not easy to schedule during normal times so you will really have a leg up getting that done.

Get Ahead Of The Criminal Charge

Second, even if you haven’t been charged with a crime yet, call our office. We can talk to the
Prosecutor’s Office and challenge the investigation. If there are serious legal challenges to the
potential charge, we may be able to convince the Prosecutor to decline filing the charges.

Exculpatory Evidence

Third, since you are not in-custody, you can assist your attorney with investigating your case
early to ensure potential exculpatory evidence is not destroyed. For example, you can help us
understand the scene of where or how you had contact with law enforcement. We may want
residential security camera footage, security footage from a business, or traffic camera footage.
Often, those videos are destroyed within 7-14 days so time is of the essence.

DOL…DOL…DOL…Don’t Forget!

Finally, DO NOT WAIT ON YOUR DOL HEARING REQUEST! If you had “contact” with a police
officer for a potential DUI or Physical Control charge (if you were not arrested but they may be
forwarding your information to the Prosecutor’s Office), your 7 day window to request the
hearing will likely start from the date you had that contact with law enforcement. It only 50% of
our cases do the officers give the suspect the actual DOL request form. It is up to you to know
that you need to request that hearing within 7 days even if you were never given the form. You
have no other recourse if you wait beyond the 7 days.

If you have any questions about your DUI arrest, stop, investigation, or the DOL hearing request
process, do not delay in contacting our office. We are available 24/7. If this post was relevant to you, CLICK HERE for many similar posts.