If you have entered the United States without documentation, or even if you carry a visa or a green card, you cannot afford to be convicted for driving under the influence. Depending on the particulars of your case and conviction, you could be deported. If you are arrested and accused of DUI in Las Vegas or anywhere in Nevada, fight the charge. Discuss your case and your rights at once with an experienced Las Vegas DUI defense attorney. Make the call immediately after any arrest for DUI in the state of Nevada.

If you are a lawful permanent resident (a “green card” holder), a Nevada DUI first conviction with no injuries probably will not – in most cases – impact your immigration status. However, your case may differ, and it really does depend largely on the circumstances, so it’s important to have a good lawyer’s advice. You could be categorized as “inadmissible” if your conviction is tied to substance abuse, and if your DUI was related to a crime that’s a ground for deportability (such as murder, arson, rape, or drug sales), your conviction will probably lead to removal proceedings. If you are an immigrant carrying a visa with an expiration date, you probably will not be allowed to depart the United States until your criminal case is resolved. If you are an undocumented immigrant, while a first-offense DUI may not lead automatically to deportation – although it might – it absolutely will create a criminal record for you in the United States and impair your ability to obtain a green card. If you are in the U.S. without documentation, any DUI conviction could keep you from ever obtaining a green card. Drinking and driving is never a good idea. Don’t do it.

Whether or not you are a U.S. citizen, a conviction for DUI in Nevada is dealt with harshly. Jail, fines, probation, a driver’s license suspension, and other penalties may be imposed. If you’re convicted of a felony DUI, a long prison sentence is a genuine possibility. However, you should know that knowledgeable, experienced DUI lawyers routinely prevail for their clients in the Las Vegas area and throughout Nevada. If you are an immigrant in Nevada, a good DUI attorney can work hard to help you avoid a conviction that could lead to deportation. If you’re charged with DUI in or near Las Vegas, take your case promptly to an experienced Las Vegas DUI defense attorney.

Avoiding DUI

Be careful when you’re driving, because if you make any driving mistakes while the police are watching, you could conceivably be accused of driving under the influence. Almost anyone who is charged with DUI – when there’s no accident – is charged because a police officer’s attention was drawn to the vehicle by an abnormal driving pattern. The police will normally stop you any time they observe a moving violation.

If you are stopped for a moving violation and the stop leads to a DUI arrest, the arresting officer’s impression of your driving pattern will go into the police report that the prosecutor receives. Weaving in and out of lanes, speeding, recklessness, and similar driving behavior can be considered evidence of intoxication, but a good DUI defense attorney knows that a bad “driving pattern” is by itself no evidence at all. Inexperienced and negligent driving are just as likely as intoxication to produce a dangerous driving pattern.

Most traffic violations are committed by drivers who are sober. The statistics prove it. You may be guilty of distracted driving. You may just be a terrible driver. That doesn’t mean that you drink and drive, and it certainly doesn’t mean that you should be arrested and dragged before a judge. If you’re charged with DUI in the Las Vegas area, don’t conclude that being charged is just a prelude to being convicted. An experienced DUI defense attorney can dispel and discredit the notion that a “driving pattern” is evidence that you’re guilty. If your case goes to trial, the police have to admit that sober drivers can also drive in suspicious patterns. Protect yourself if you’re charged with DUI. Exercise your right to remain silent and call an experienced Las Vegas DUI lawyer immediately.

DUI is prosecuted very aggressively by the state of Nevada, and if you’re convicted here, you won’t be receiving any leniency. If you’re charged with DUI anywhere in the Las Vegas area, you’ll need to contact an experienced Las Vegas DUI defense attorney immediately. A much better idea, of course, is avoiding a DUI charge completely. Here are some recommendations for doing that:

  • Know precisely where your license, registration, and proof of insurance are located. Arresting officers often say that a DUI suspect “fumbled” for the license or registration, and then fumbling is offered as evidence of intoxication.
  • If a police officer signals you to stop, stop safely and immediately. Place your hands on top of the steering wheel.
  • Remain polite and compliant; being a bit humble can’t hurt either. After you’ve produced your license, registration, and proof of insurance, answer no questions; don’t try to explain anything. You are not required to answer questions; you have the right to remain silent. Simply say, “I would prefer not to answer any questions without an attorney present.”
  • Unlike the law in some states, implied consent in Nevada means that simply by driving, you consent to taking a preliminary breath test, even if you have not been arrested. It’s best to comply and submit to the test. A good DUI defense lawyer can dispute the results later.
  • Finally, if you intend to enjoy a drink or two, designate a driver you trust or take a taxi. If you don’t drive, you can’t be accused of DUI.

In short, don’t drink and drive, don’t drive carelessly, and don’t answer questions from the police if you’re stopped. If you do end up charged with DUI in the Las Vegas area, it’s imperative to obtain the legal advice and representation of an experienced Las Vegas DUI defense attorney immediately.