Dale City DUI Arrests

If someone was arrested for a DUI in Dale City it is crucial that they get in contact with a knowledgeable DUI attorney as soon as they can. A lawyer that is well versed in the area of DUIs will be able to help navigate someone facing these charges through the process of approaching their case.

Field Sobriety Tests

The arrest and investigation process of a drug and alcohol DUI are going to look very similar if not identical. In Dale City, officers do not have a separate protocol or tests that they administer at the scene of a drug DUI to determine whether or not an individual is under the influence of an illegal drug.

If an officer suspects an individual of a DUI, they will take the following steps:

• Pull the driver over.
• Ask some standard questions.
• Observe his or her behavior, responses, timing, and motor skills

If the officer still suspects the individual of being under the influence of drugs, they will be asked to step out of the car and take a field sobriety test.

Additionally, a preliminary breath test will be conducted whether or not an officer believes an individual is under the influence of drugs in contrast to alcohol in an effort to follow the standard procedure for a DUI stop.

Results of Preliminary Tests

Based on the results of a field sobriety test and preliminary breath test an officer in Dale City will make the decision to either make a DUI arrest or let them go. If someone is arrested and charged with a DUI they are going to be taken in for processing. If the results of the preliminary breath test are below the illegal limit, it is very likely that the arresting officer will request a DUI search warrant from the station’s magistrate.

An officer will obtain a search warrant so that they may have legal permission to conduct a blood test. Once a sample of blood has been taken for analysis a person will then be booked.

The Aftermath Of A DUI Charge

Once someone who has been arrested on a Dale City DUI charge has been booked, they will then be released on his or her own recognizance or on a low bond or bail.  The deciding factor on an individuals release will depend on his or her criminal record and the facts of their case.

If a person with a DUI charge is not released, then he or she will be held until his or her attorney files a bond motion in that person’s case. A person will be advised or arraigned on the charges of his or her case, usually at a court date set for the very same week. It is faster if a person is being held; his or her Dale City DUI attorney will have the ability to go ahead and file a bond motion. His or her court date will then be set depending on that person’s jurisdiction.

In Dale City, a person’s first court date will still be considered a trial date even though it is not likely to go forward on that court date. This is especially true if the case involves a blood sample. It is going to be set out for a much longer period of time so that the sample can be analyzed.