Long Beach DUI Lawyer

Long Beach DUI Attorney

Driving under the influence is a serious crime that comes with severe consequences, including fines, jail time, and loss of driving privileges. However, it’s not just the threat of criminal penalties that comes with a DUI. Any conviction can damage your personal and professional reputation as well. If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence, you need an experienced Long Beach DUI lawyer from Miller Law Offices to fight these accusations and protect your freedom.

What to Do If You’re Stopped for Driving Under the Influence

If you’re stopped for suspected driving under the influence, it’s important that you know what to do and what rights you have before and after arrest. If you’re pulled over for a DUI, this is what you should do:

• Find a safe place to pull over and remain calm.
• Do not answer any questions.
• Politely refuse field sobriety tests and vehicle searches.
• Request to speak to an attorney.

While you are not required to take field sobriety tests, you must submit to a breathalyzer or chemical testing if you are arrested. Refusal to take the chemical test will result in an immediate 90-day license suspension if this is your first refusal and you’ve never been convicted of a DUI. Past refusals or convictions result in a suspension of up to one year.

Mississippi Laws on Driving Under the Influence

Like many other states, Mississippi law sets the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for adults 21 and over at 0.08%. However, the legal BAC drops to 0.04% for drivers of commercial vehicles and 0.02% for persons under 21. While the law does not require drivers to submit to field sobriety tests, the state’s implied consent laws mean you cannot refuse chemical tests.

DUI Penalties

Driving under the influence is a serious offense in Mississippi. Over 150 people die every year in Mississippi due to alcohol-impaired drivers, so DUI convictions come with severe consequences:

• First offense. The punishment for your first DUI includes a fine of $250 to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 48 hours, and completion of an alcohol safety education program. In some cases, after fulfilling all court requirements, you may be eligible to seek expungement to help clear your record.
• Second offense. For a second offense within five years, penalties include a fine of $600 to $1,500, imprisonment of five days to six months, and community service of 10 days to six months.
• Third offense. The penalties for a third offense within five years include a fine of $2,000 to $5,000, one to five years in prison, and the suspension of driving privileges.
• Fourth and subsequent offenses. For any further offense, regardless of the time since the last conviction, the penalties include a fine of $3,000 to $10,000, two to 10 years in prison, and loss of driving privileges without an ignition-interlock device for 10 years.

If you’re a commercial driver, your CDL may be suspended, even if it is your first DUI conviction. It’s wise to consult an attorney about how a conviction can affect your driving privileges.

Kyle Miller

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Why Choose Miller Law Offices?

Miller Law Offices has been defending DUI cases for years. Early in Kyle Miller’s legal career, he was elected county prosecutor for Jackson County. This experience means he knows how prosecutors build cases and argue them in court, allowing him to construct compelling defense strategies. His dedication to the law doesn’t end in the courtroom. He’s also a member of the National College for DUI Defense, where he helps raise awareness of DUI-related issues.

FAQs

How Do You Get a DUI Dismissed in Mississippi?

Getting a DUI fully dismissed is not easy. In one of the most recent years for data collection, the conviction rate for DUIs was 89.8%. This doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but it is difficult. To get a DUI dismissed, you’ll need compelling evidence, typically targeting the officer’s reasoning for stopping you, the reliability of testing, and any infringement of your rights. Alternatively, you can try to negotiate a plea deal that comes with reduced penalties in exchange for pleading guilty.

How Likely Is Jail Time for the First DUI in Mississippi?

Jail time for a first DUI is a real possibility in Long Beach, but it is certainly not a guarantee. While the law says a first-time conviction may lead to 48 hours in jail, a judge can waive jail time in exchange for alcohol safety programs, victim impact panels, and probation. Ultimately, judges have some discretion in sentencing, and your attorney can fight for a more favorable outcome for you.

What Is the Most Common Sentence for a First DUI?

The most common sentence for a first DUI is any combination of fines, jail time, license suspension, and mandatory attendance of alcohol safety programs. Mississippi DUI laws set minimum and maximum penalties for fines and jail time, and judges have discretion when sentencing. That way, the punishment fits not just the crime but also the convicted.

Is Your License Suspended Immediately After a DUI in Mississippi?

While your license is not technically immediately suspended after a DUI, officers may seize it at the time of your arrest. If you fail a chemical test, the police will take your license and issue a temporary permit. If you fail to act within 30 days, your license will be suspended. If you refuse the test, your license is automatically suspended for 90 days. These suspensions are independent of any punishments that may come with a conviction in your DUI case.

Hire a DUI Lawyer From Miller Law Offices

Whether you were stopped while driving out of town on U.S. 90 or coming home via Pineville Road, the state takes driving under the influence very seriously. Convictions come with more than just fines and prison time. Your personal reputation can be affected, and you may even feel the impact on your career. Don’t leave the outcome of your case up to chance. Hire a DUI lawyer from Miller Law Offices.

Our Long Beach DUI attorney has years of experience, and our team can fight for you. Contact us today to discuss your case and learn more about how we can help you.

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