Drinking And Driving Is Serious Business

It was once that you could get away with a first offense with just a smack on the wrist but with quite a few states implementing stricter no tolerance policies it is harder than ever before to get off the hook for a DUI.  Even the best and most seasoned attorneys are given very little wiggle room in the court system and without an attorney you may perhaps even turn out with some jail time. 
Certainly, the penalties for drinking under the influence do vary from place to place and therefore it is vital that you find out the laws where you will be tried and convicted because in some states the maximum penalty for a first offense drinking under the influence charge is probation or community service and sometimes a combination of both.  In other states, however, a DUI carries a stiffer penalty of jail time, license suspension, time spent in a rehabilitation setting and so forth.   In most states however, with the help of a DUI attorney a person can most likely avoid jail time for a first offense DUI but understand that the fines and court costs along with attorney's fees can be very costly.  If you're on a limited income you can usually end up getting a court appointed attorney to stand up for you in court. While this can save you a lot of money many of these attorney's have heavy case loads and usually cannot dedicate the time and energy necessary to represent you as effectively as possible. 
Finding a good DUI attorney will be important to the outcome of your case. Looking online and in the local yellow pages can help you locate some attorneys that specialize in dealing with this type of criminal law.  Once you locate several attorneys in your area that specialize in DUI cases you'll then want to be sure that you verify their record with the State Bar Association as well to be sure that they are in good standing and do not have any complaints pending against them. Once you have verified their status with the Bar Association then you can begin calling them.  Most attorneys will offer a free consultation either over the phone or in person depending on the office that you call.  
It's best to ensure that you contact a few different attorneys and find out what they are about before you pay a retainer.  Once you pay your DUI attorney a retainer you're pretty much committed to use so you best be sure that you select the best attorney for your needs and budget and someone that you feel comfortable with as well.