7 Things You Can Do Right Now
to Help Your Utah DUI Case

Write a complete, detailed narrative of everything that happened — from before you consumed alcohol or any substance, through the stop, the field tests, and up until you got out of jail. Your accurate memory is vital to your defense. DUI cases can take months to go to trial. The sooner you capture the details, the more reliable your account will be. Don't filter or edit — write it all down.

Return to the location where the stop occurred and document it thoroughly. Take photos of the slope of the ground, the road surface, the lighting, the intersection, and where you were asked to perform field sobriety tests. Uneven pavement, poor lighting, or sloped ground can significantly affect how you performed on those tests — and that matters in court.

Keep clean copies of your citation, chemical test results, impound documentation, insurance documentation, and any other paperwork related to your arrest. Keep them somewhere safe and be ready to hand them to your attorney. These documents contain details that a skilled DUI lawyer will scrutinize closely.

A DUI charge is enhanceable. Getting charged with a second DUI while you have a pending case is catastrophic — it dramatically increases the penalties you face and severely damages your defense. Do not get behind the wheel after consuming any substance that could impair you, including prescription medications. The risk is simply not worth it.

If you are convicted, this class will be required anyway. Taking it early demonstrates accountability to the judge and can positively influence plea negotiations with the prosecutor. It may support a reduced charge or even a dismissal in some circumstances. Beyond the legal benefit, the class may help you reflect on the events and ensure this never happens again.

The sooner you retain a qualified DUI defense attorney, the better. Video and audio evidence can be destroyed the longer you wait, and critical opportunities to preserve evidence may be lost. Most urgently: you have only 10 days from the date of arrest to request a Driver License Division hearing — if you miss that window, your license will be automatically suspended or revoked without any opportunity to fight it.

Prosecutors, court staff, and law enforcement actively look at social media. Photos or comments about the night of your arrest — or any party since — can and will be used against you. It can be deeply damaging to stand before a judge expressing remorse, only to have the prosecutor pull up a photo that contradicts everything you've said. Consider suspending your accounts or making them fully private until your case is resolved. Be smart.