Know Your Rights - Miranda Rights When it Comes to a DUI Arrest

We all know these famous words from the moviesthemselves. This allows you to refrain from making
and from television shows - "You have the right toany self-incriminating statements. To exercise your
remain silent. Anything you say can and will be usedMiranda Rights in a Virginia DUI, you can simply remain
against you in a court of law. You have the right to ansilent, or notify the arresting officer that you choose to
attorney..." These words are repeated time and againplead the Fifth.
when ever a police officer makes an arrest.If, however, an arresting officer does not read you
And if you have ever been charged with a Virginia DUI,your Miranda Rights, then any statements or
then you should have heard these same words fromconfessions that you make will be deemed
the officer who arrested you. This is because it isinadmissible in court. And any evidence that was
required by law for an arresting officer to notify you ofobtained as a result of your statement will be
these rights. They are known as your Miranda Rights.dismissed from your case. If an arresting officer in
What exactly are Miranda Rights?your Virginia DUI did not read you your Miranda Rights,
Because of a verdict in the case Miranda vs. Arizonathen you should contact a Virginia DUI attorney, who
in 1966, anyone who is taken into police custody mustwill investigate your case.
be told these four things before being questioned:What can a Virginia DUI attorney do?
• You have the right to remain silent;If your Miranda Rights were violated in a DUI, then an
• Anything you say can, and will be used against youattorney may have your testimony deemed
in a court of law;inadmissible during your trial. Any confessions which
• You have the right to an attorney;you were compelled to make may also be dismissed.
• If you cannot afford an attorney, one will beWith enough proof to show that your rights have been
appointed for you;violated, a judge may throw out your entire case.
These Miranda Rights are based on the FifthThe first step in fighting for your Miranda Rights is to
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states thatcontact a Virginia DUI attorney.
no one shall be compelled to act as a witness against