The Emotional and Personal Considerations Involved in Facing a DUI

By Jeffrey Randa

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Drunk Driving , DUI , DUI 1st offense , DUI 2nd offense

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Published on Aug 13, 2023

Facing a DUI Charge is Stressful

A DUI charge (in Michigan, the actual term is “OWI,” short for “Operating While Intoxicated“) can cause a lot of anxiety. While getting top-notch legal representation is important, so, too, is getting a break from the emotional toll from a pending drunk driving charge. As Michigan DUI lawyers, my team and I believe doing that is a critical part of our jobs.

Within the many DUI articles about on this blog, we have covered every step of the legal process, and hiring a Michigan DUI lawyer. In the drunk driving sections of our firm’s website, we examine and breakdown the legal considerations involved in facing a DUI. In this section, we’ll look at DUI from a more personal point of view, focusing on the emotional and practical implications of a DUI, rather than the technical, legal stuff.

The First Police Contact

You no doubt remember the first wave of terror strike when the police lights were in your rear-view mirror. You knew you were in trouble. It seems amazing how the police can seemingly “smell” someone driving who under the influence of alcohol.

Whatever else, the police are good at their jobs and, in most DUI cases, they are right in their suspicions. With the officer at your vehicle’s door and your heart beating like a drum, you try your best to not come across as intoxicated. Within a few seconds, the police officer will have already looked at the condition of the your eyes, and sniffed out the scent of alcohol.

The realization that things are only going to get worse begins to hit home when you are asked to step out of the vehicle. Your mind was racing while you tried to think of a way out of the situation. As you soon discovered, once you were asked to step out of the car, you weren’t going be getting back into it.

The Arrest

The arrest itself can be rather traumatic. When the handcuffs go on and you get placed in the back of the police car, the second wave of terror hits. People who have spent their entire life on the fight side of the law suddenly feel degraded and embarrassed.

Feelings of anger often arise, as well, even if it’s just anger at themselves. Sometimes, a person will ask for a break, or ask if they can just leave the car and get a ride home. The answer, of course, is alwasy “no, followed by a ride to the police station.

While at the station, a whole new set of feelings begin to emerge. Remember the sense of panic and fear and the sense of dread you felt earlier? At this point, you accept that you’re not going to be released immediately, and wonder just how long you’ll be there.

Sitting in Jail

What comes next is a turning point for many people. Once you began thinking clearly enough to stop blaming anyone other than yourself, you most likely began to feel a sense of humiliation. Just waiting for what seems like forever to be released and then having to explain everything to the person who is going to pick you up can be overwhelming.

Finally Out!

Your release from jail didn’t arrive too soon! While it’s great to get out, you next have to figure how to get your vehicle out of impound. Often, because many DUI’s happen on the weekend, you can’t even get your car out until Monday. As if the arrest and night in jail wasn’t enough…

In some cases your vehicle is set to be forfeited (don’t worry, you can get it back; this is just another way to get more money from you) and therefore you can’t even get it back until you pay the fee (some say “ransom”), plus, in all cases, the towing and storage fees.

The Emotional Toll

When we speak about emotions, it is with the full awareness that a DUI is a difficult emotional event and requires a compassionate, emotional and understanding person to speak on your behalf. My team and I handle all our cases with a heart full of passion and drive and we work hard for your best interests.

Finding the Right Michigan DUI Lawyer

After more than 30 years of handling DUI cases, our firm knows that clients tend to hire an attorney based upon whether they can connect with him or her. People can sense when a lawyer genuinely has compassion for someone who is stressed out over facing a DUI.

After being arrested, people want answers to their questions, like:

• What’s going to happen to me?
• What’s going to be the outcome of my case?
• What about my license?
• What about my car?

All of these are normal questions and deserve helpful answers.

Our firm is not some operation just selling a “bill of goods,” and making promises or who just tring to get the case over. It is important that we never lose sight of  what you’ve been through, and how that has affected you. My team and I understand how a DUI charge can affect your daily activities, from your job, to school, to caring for your family and the financial burden it places upon you.

We Genuinely Care

My team and I are always conscious of the consequences to your driving record and the sting of court costs and court obligations. This is why not every question can be answered at the onset of your case. It’s our obligation to do whatever is necessary to produce the best outcome possible and not just make promises that sound too good just to get you to hire us.

Handling a DUI case is a complicated process. There are many facets that must be carefully managed in order to be successful and obtain the best outcome. The time we spend with you is important for us to understand the kind of person you are so we can produce the best outcome for you.

We need to use all of your positive attributes to help our case. To do this properly, a DUI lawyer must get to personally know the client on that deeper level. If not, then how can he or she persuade the prosecutor and Judge to go easy?

It is a fact (sometimes not presented well enough) that you are as a person matters in your DUI case, This is why my team and I get to know every client on a personal level. We never try to hustle you in and out just looking to cash in at your expense.

Contact Us

If you’re facing a DUI and looking for a lawyer anywhere in the Greater-Detroit area (meaning Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, or the surround counties), make sure you call our office. We always provide a free, confidential and consultation, done over the phone – right when you call.

My team and I are very friendly people who will be glad to answer your questions and explain how we can help. We can be reached directly, M-F, at either 586-465-1980, or any other number on this website.

We can also be reached anytime using the contact form.