Nick Diaz, a welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is facing several charges in connection with two DUI incidents. What alleged actions led to his DUI charges, and what are three lessons that can be learned from them?
Consequences of Resisting Arrest
At least one of Diaz’s charges involves resisting arrest.
During a DUI incident, resisting arrest can easily occur. Drivers who are actually intoxicated may become belligerent or uncooperative with police officers. And sometimes, even if they don’t intend to resist arrest, their actions may be construed as resistance; for example, they may fail to comply with orders or otherwise cooperate, or they may accidentally come into physical contact with a police officer due to poor bodily coordination.
It’s critical for your attorney to review exactly what happened and determine if the charge of resisting arrest is warranted or if the evidence for it is weak. It’s possible that the police overstepped their bounds and violated your constitutional rights.
Consequences of Failing to Participate in Legal Proceedings
Diaz has also been charged with “failure to appear after written promise.”
It’s important that you stay on top of all of your criminal and administrative legal hearings. Your attorney can help you keep track of your court appearances,
what papers or appeals you need to file, and what fines you need to pay. With an attorney’s help, you can also keep better track of the legal status of your driver’s license. Neglecting even a minor detail can land you in greater serious legal or financial trouble.
The Consequences of Driving with a Suspended License
This is another charge Diaz faces. Remember that you can have your driver’s license suspended or revoked after a DUI incident, even if you haven’t been found guilty by a criminal court; and in fact, you may lose your license privileges even if your case gets thrown out of court.
Your attorney can help you not only with the criminal side of your DUI charges, but also with the administrative penalties; this includes fighting the DMV over the status of your license.
If your license does get suspended or revoked, you need to make sure you don’t get behind the wheel of your car. Do your best to come up with carpooling or public transportation arrangements for the interim.
DUI incidents can land you with a variety of charges. Having an experienced DUI attorney on your side will improve your chances of a favorable outcome both for criminal and administrative penalties. Don’t hesitate to contact us for our legal advice and assistance.
Michael Mitchell is a Fresno attorney who practices in the areas of DUI, personal injury & criminal law and founder of the Mitchell Law Group. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, California Lawyers Association and the National College for DUI Defense. Visit his legal blog to learn more about your legal rights.
