A serious defense in a first-time misdemeanor DUI or other alcohol-related case does not have to cost you a fortune!
Pierce Law Firm PC has conducted extensive research into the plea bargains being struck by the self-professed DUI "gurus", "teachers", "go-to guys" and "Super Lawyers" who are charging huge fees for first-offense misdemeanor DUI cases. On average those lawyers are getting their clients the same deals as any other competent lawyer who practices criminal defense in Oklahoma. No lawyer can legitimately claim that he doesn't ever eventually advise his clients to plead guilty to a DUI charge. Any honest lawyer will tell you that, more often than not, an actual DUI charge will lead to a guilty plea of some sort - NOT EVERY TIME, but more often than not. Yet, some attorneys hide this and attempt to frighten 1st time misdemeanor DUI defendants into paying more money than is necessary to avoid a conviction. Beware the "Super Lawyer"/dui that says he is the only qualified DUI lawyer, that to use any other lawyer is stupid and ill-advised, and that the other lawyers just don't know DUI defense.
FAST TIP: A lawyer with extensive trial history is your best negotiator.
Obviously, if you ever have to go to court, it is in your best interest to be represented by an experienced, reputable lawyer that you select and trust who will actually apply his valuable time and attention to your case. That certainly applies to 1st time misdemeanor DUI cases. An arrest for a 1st time misdemeanor DUI (Driving Under the Influence), DWI (Driving While Impaired), or APC (Actual Physical Control) could have serious consequences including fines, court costs, community service, and even jail time. However, most prosecutors do not seek jail time for 1st time misdemeanor DUI offenders. They focus instead on financial punishment and establish standard recommendations for plea bargains. Any experienced, conscientious trial lawyer ("guru" or not) will gather evidence from both sides and assess the strength of the case against you. If a conviction is likely or certain, the terms of the deal will fall within a standard range of reason within which every lawyer will encourage his client to settle.
You may ask: "Does Mr. Pierce have an Intoxilizer machine in his office?" Mr. Pierce's answer: "No I don't. I've successfully defended numerous murder cases and I don't have a DNA lab in my office either."
If an expert witness is needed to contest the science of the Intoxilizer, or the standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs), or anything else, then we hire the experts; but, in the vast majority of 1st time misdemeanor DUI cases, an expert witness is simply unnecessary, the same goes for a trial - typically unnecessary. The "Super Lawyers" may not tell you this before you pay their fees, and they may not tell you that on average they plea out the same ratio of 1st time misdemeanor DUIs as any other competent criminal lawyer - they just take more of your hard earned money to get the same deals. When you hire Terry L. Pierce, NO deal will be sought or struck until your case has been thoroughly examined to determine whether a dismissal, reduction to traffic offense, or a trial is a viable alternative to a guilty plea. Terry L. Pierce doesn't fear the courtroom or the prosecutors (you can see his case history for proof). Mr. Pierce has more than 30 years of successful criminal trial experience: weighing facts, reading people, comprehending science, and not making mountains out of mole-hills. In fact, Terry L. Pierce negotiates eventual dismissals (that means NO CONVICTION!) for most of his 1st time misdemeanor DUI clients. Terry L. Pierce gets you results without charging you a fortune.
See why you may want to politely REFUSE to perform a police officer's Standardized Field Sobriety Tests..
Terry L. Pierce will even talk to you AFTER you have paid your fee. While some lawyers claim to leave "no stone unturned", they may really mean "no client phone call returned". We can't tell you the number of times that clients switched to Pierce Law Firm PC on their second DUI because the lawyer that they hired for a fortune on their first DUI only got them the standard deal anyway and wouldn't return their phone calls after they got paid (probably too busy writing books or lecturing). Pierce Law Firm PC charges reasonable fees for DUIs and we give service after the sale.
THE IMPAIRED DRIVER ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM (IDAP) IS DEAD.
After November 1, 2022 "BOT IDAP" took its place.
Under BOT IDAP, driver licenses will be revoked for refusing to test, or for having a breath or blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more. The revocations will be for 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years depending on your history. Entering a guilty plea to the DUI/APC will also trigger the revocation if your D.L. wasn't already revoked for refusing or testing above .08.
A new state agency called Service Oklahoma will notify the arrestee of his/her revocation via an Order of Revocation/Disqualification mailed to the address on his/her D.L. The revocation will begin 55 days from the date of the Order.
Revocations can no longer be “sat out” by just not driving. In order to have D.L. reinstatement, the arrestee MUST complete the BOT IDAP program – this involves having an interlock device installed on your vehicle. However, you cannot enter the program prior to receiving the Order of Revocation/Disqualification in the mail. Once you receive the letter, there is no deadline for applying to the BOT IDAP program.
In most instances it is NOT advisable to obtain an interlock device on an arrestee's vehicle before receiving the Order of Revocation/Disqualification in the mail. The only advisable course of action prior to receiving the Order would be to seek an ADSAC evaluation and follow those recommendations – then wait for the mail.
If you have any questions about this process, call Pierce Law Firm, PC. We can explain it further.
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What your first-time misdemeanor DUI will likely cost you with lawyer fees:
Court costs (state court): $1000 (estimated total of 19-20 non-negotiable fees & assessments)
Fine & Victim Compensation: $100-$250 (estimate based on average in Cleveland County)
Drug/alchohol assessment: $160 (in state)
DUI School (10 hour): $150 (paid within 180 days of first class)
Drivers License Reinstatement: $315
This makes an estimated total cost to you of about $1,925.00 for the typical 1st time DUI experience, NOT including attorney fees or modified license fees. An interlock device is roughly $1000 for 12 months of installation. So, why pay huge lawyer fees on top of already having to throw an estimated $3000 out the window?! On your first misdemeanor DUI arrest, you don't need to be paying more than $1500.00 to a lawyer if your state district court case will be resolved without a trial. Pierce Law Firm PC charges REASONABLE, COMPETITIVE LEGAL FEES for a client charged with a 1st time misdemeanor DUI in an Oklahoma district court, where a trial is not necessary - and a trial usually IS NOT necessary for a 1st time misdemeanor DUI. Call Pierce Law Firm PC at (405) 579-3700 to speak with Terry L. Pierce about how little you may have to pay for a Serious Defense of your 1st time misdemeanor DUI. Alcohol-related drivers license revocation (in a nutshell).
FAST TIP: If you've had too much to drink, don't get into your car with the keys FOR ANY REASON - even to sleep, talk, listen to the radio ... or whatever. The charge is APC and it's just as serious as DUI.
FAST TIP: A conviction for possession of marijuana without a medical marijuana card and other drugs while using a motor vehicle can result in a revocation of your drivers license.
There are other drug and alcohol related crimes, such as public intoxication and minor in possession of alcohol, that, while they carry less potential jail time and/or fines, they can still seriously impact your current job, job prospects, college opportunities college funding, and college housing. Don't risk getting a conviction and criminal record by trying to represent yourself on these city court or state court charges. It costs less than you think to hire Pierce Law Firm PC to protect your future and your record. Another article on the marketing of Super Lawyers.
Pierce Law Firm PC, (405) 579-3700, handles Oklahoma DUI and criminal cases in the following district and county courts: Adair County, Alfalfa County, Atoka County, Beaver County, Beckham County, Blaine County, Bryan County, Caddo County, Canadian County, Carter County, Cherokee County, Choctaw County, Cimarron County, Cleveland County, Coal County, Comanche County, Cotton County, Craig County, Creek County, Custer County, Delaware County, Dewey County, Ellis County, Garfield County, Garvin County, Grady County, Grant County, Greer County, Harmon County, Harper County, Haskell County, Hughes County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Johnston County, Kay County, Kingfisher County, Kiowa County, Latimer County, Le Flore County, Lincoln County, Logan County, Love County, Major County, Marshall County, Mayes County, McClain County, McCurtain County, McIntosh County, Murray County, Muskogee County, Noble County, Nowata County, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma County, Okmulgee County, Osage County, Ottawa County, Pawnee County, Payne County, Pittsburg County, Pontotoc County, Pottawatomie County, Pushmataha County, Roger Mills County, Rogers County, Seminole County, Sequoyah County, Stephens County, Texas County, Tillman County, Tulsa County, Wagoner County, Washington County, Washita County, Woods County, Woodward County.
Pierce Law Firm PC, (405) -579-3700, handles criminal cases in the following municipal, city, and town courts: Norman, Blanchard, Oklahoma City, Valley Brook, Purcell, Noble, Luther, Del City, Midwest City, Mustang, and many others upon request.