DUI Attorney in Utah

Is DWI the same thing as DUI in Utah?

Utah charges it as DUI. “DWI” is the term other states use. If you search for a DWI lawyer in Utah you will land on DUI pages, because the charging document you receive here will say driving under the influence. If you were arrested in another state and are dealing with a Utah consequence, or the reverse, call us and we will tell you which state’s rules control what happens next.

What is the difference between DUI and impaired driving in Utah?

They are separate offenses, and the second one is often what a DUI becomes when a case is negotiated. They carry different consequences and are treated differently by the Driver License Division. Whether that route is realistic depends entirely on the facts of your stop, so it is worth a conversation before you assume either way.

Does a DUI arrest affect my driver license separately from the court case?

Yes. The license side and the court side move on separate tracks. The Driver License Division handles one; the court handles the other. What happens in one does not automatically decide the other, and the license side has its own short window to act in. That window is the single most common thing people miss, so call us as soon as you are released.

Do I have to take a field sobriety test?

Roadside tests and chemical tests are treated very differently under Utah law. Utah’s implied-consent rules attach a consequence to refusing a chemical test that does not attach in the same way to the roadside exercises. What you did, what you said, and what the officer wrote down all matter to how the case gets defended. Tell us exactly what happened and we will tell you where it leaves you.

Can a DUI be dismissed or reduced?

It depends on what the stop, the testing, and the reports actually show — and no honest lawyer will promise you an outcome. What we can promise is that the reason for the stop, the administration of the tests, the handling of any sample, and the paperwork all get examined properly. That review is where the answer to this question comes from. Bring us the citation and the reports and we will give you a straight read.

Is a DUI a misdemeanor or a felony in Utah?

Most are misdemeanors, but a DUI can be charged as a felony in certain circumstances. Prior convictions within the statutory look-back period, serious injury to another person, or the presence of a passenger under the legal age are the usual reasons a case moves up. If you are unsure which one you are facing, the charging document will say, and we can read it with you.

What happens at my first court appearance?

The first appearance is an arraignment, not a trial. The charge is read, you enter a plea, and the court sets the schedule for what comes next. Nothing about the evidence is decided that day. It is, however, the point at which having someone speak for you starts to matter, so get in touch before it rather than after.

Do I really need a lawyer for a first DUI?

You can represent yourself, but a first DUI is not a small case. It runs in two places at once, it leaves a record that follows you into employment and licensing, and the consequences of handling the license side incorrectly are not reversible later. At minimum, have the conversation before you decide to go it alone.

What should I bring to the consultation?

Bring every piece of paper you were handed. The citation, the bail or release paperwork, anything from the Driver License Division, and any report you have already been given. If you have dashcam or bodycam footage, or you know a passenger who saw the stop, mention that too. The more of the record we see at the start, the more useful the first hour is.

General information about Utah law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts.