What to Do After a DUI Arrest While Visiting Las Vegas

Despite its reputation as a party town, Las Vegas has fairly strict DUI laws that the Las Vegas Metro Police Department and the Nevada Highway Patrol enforce rigorously. If you’re stopped for any traffic violation and the officer suspects intoxication, you may face additional questioning and testing.

Depending on the outcome of the test, the officer may arrest you for DUI. Even if you live out of state, the steps you take after your arrest could impact your future. Here’s what to do after being arrested for DUI.

Cooperate With the Police

You’ll likely experience powerful emotions when you see the flashing lights behind your car. Fear and anger aren’t unusual. As you interact with the police, do your best to remain calm and respectful. All police officers in Nevada must wear body cameras, and these cameras will record your behavior toward the investigating officer.

Cooperating benefits you in two ways. First, your actions and speech may help establish that you weren’t intoxicated.

For example, officers might report that you were aggressive, acted confused, or had slurred speech as grounds for suspecting intoxication. It’s often easier to rebut these allegations if your interactions with the officer were civil than if you were yelling or acting with physical aggression.

Second, your cooperation will help you avoid further charges. Since a first-offense DUI is a misdemeanor in Nevada, a lawyer may be able to persuade the judge to let you complete a treatment program instead of going to jail. By contrast, assaulting an officer, destroying police department property, and other aggressive acts can result in much harsher punishment.

At the same time, cooperation doesn’t mean you should waive all of your defenses. When the arrest occurs, assert your right to speak to a lawyer and stop answering questions.

Call a Lawyer

Following your arrest, you’ll be booked into the Las Vegas County Detention Center. (Clark County Detention Center / Las Vegas City Jail / Henderson City Jail / etc) After booking, officers will draw your blood for use in your case. Depending on your state of intoxication, you’ll either be held until you sober up or released if bail/bond is posted.

Contact an attorney at the first available opportunity. Having a local lawyer working for you can offer numerous advantages. For example, your lawyer will:

• Know Nevada’s DUI laws inside and out

• Have experience negotiating plea deals with local prosecutors

• Understand the court procedures used in Clark County

Additionally, a local attorney might be aware of any systemic or procedural issues that may help your case, from faulty breathalyzer equipment to patterns of improper stops by certain officers.

When you speak with a lawyer, have an open and honest discussion about what happened. They’ll be able to work best when they have the full story. Attorney-client confidentiality covers all clients, including those who live out of state.

Make All of Your Court Appearances

Even after you return home, you should continue to monitor your case closely. If you ignore important developments, you risk a bench warrant, arrest, and incarceration.

In some situations, a judge may allow you to appear remotely for pre-trial hearings. This option was unheard of before the pandemic. However, your lawyer can request that you appear remotely, and a judge will consider your request as long as you provide enough advance notice.

If you return to Nevada to appear at your hearings in person, be careful not to drive while intoxicated. The severity of the punishment for DUI in the state increases with repeat offenses.

Prepare Your Defense

Although DUI might seem like a difficult charge to fight, there are defenses available. Your lawyer will likely ask you to help gather evidence that may improve your chances of beating the charge or point to mitigating circumstances that will reduce your possible sentence.

One possible defense is that the officer didn’t have probable cause for the initial traffic stop. If you didn’t violate any traffic laws and the officer stopped you anyway, the arrest might have been unlawful.

Your attorney can use witness statements from your passengers to establish that you were driving safely when you were pulled over. The officer’s dash camera footage might also show that they lacked a valid reason for stopping you.

Another possible defense is that you were not intoxicated. Receipts might prove that you did not consume any alcohol or cannabis before driving that night. Instead, your lawyer might be able to blame any traffic violations on fatigue or unfamiliarity with local roads.

Discuss Your DUI Case With the DUI Doctor

DUI charges aren’t the souvenir most visitors want from their trip to Las Vegas. Fortunately, a qualified Las Vegas DUI attorney may be able to help you obtain a fair plea deal or acquittal. Contact the DUI Doctor today to discuss your charges and the defenses we can raise in your case.