Pleading not guilty means you intend to fight the criminal charge and your case may go to trial.
“Not guilty” is the plea you should most likely enter if you are charged with DUI in California. When you enter a plea of not guilty, you are saying you did not commit the crime of driving under the influence and that you will fight the charges. This is the only way to pressure the prosecution into giving you a more favorable outcome, and the only way to potentially win your case.
Many drivers accused of DUI don’t want to plead not guilty, however. They may want to plead guilty for a variety of reasons:
- They know they had a few drinks and they want to be honest
- They don’t want to go to court
- They want the whole thing to be over
Unfortunately, in California the penalties for DUI greatly outstrip the crime. If you don’t fight the charge, you could end up paying for it for the rest of your life. A DUI can affect your career, your chances of going to school, your family, and your ability to drive. And being convicted will cost you thousands of dollars.
The legal definition of DUI is very strict. You can be convicted for a serious criminal offense even if the drinks you had didn’t cause your accident or didn’t affect your driving. The best way to confront any DUI charge is to start off by pleading not guilty.
Have you been charged with DUI? We can connect you with an experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyer and get you a FREE consultation. Fill out the form to the right or call (310) 896-2724 and get your free consultation today.
