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 It is NEVER a good idea to represent yourself. Lawyers are experts in navigating the criminal justice system. It is like hiring a mechanic to fix your car or seeing a doctor when you are ill - lawyers have a special skill set they use to minimize the jeopardy you face if you are charged with an offence.

 The police will either release you with a Promise to Appear with your court date OR you will be held and taken before a Justice of the Peace to discuss whether you should be released from jail. IF YOU ARE BEING HELD TO SEE A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER IMMEDIATELY. 

 All of the above applies, along with an indefinite driving suspension. Your driver’s license remains suspended until your charges are concluded. You should contact a lawyer as soon as possible, as they often have the ability to speed up the process of getting a trial date so that you can deal with your charges as quickly as possible and get your driver’s license back without undue delay. 

 NEVER consent to a search of your vehicle. The police DO NOT have an automatic right to search your vehicle. Make it clear that you are NOT consenting to any search, and call a lawyer immediately. 

 Remain absolutely silent, and call a lawyer as soon as possible. Lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—it is never too late in the day to call for advice. Other than your name and birthdate, you are NOT OBLIGATED TO TELL THE POLICE ANYTHING. Do not tell them even what may seem to be unimportant details. SAY NOTHING until you have spoken to a lawyer. 

 In almost all cases, once you hire a lawyer you do not have to attend your court appearances unless required for trial. One of the reasons you hire a lawyer is to take care of your court appearances so you do not have to miss work or travel for court unnecessarily. 

Most criminal defence lawyers also handle traffic tickets. You have the right to have a trial in relation to your tickets, and can often have your lawyer negotiate a reduction in the ticket and/or the demerits. You should contact a lawyer to discuss this further before simply paying the ticket, as the demerits can have serious implications, including increases to your insurance. 

Lawyers are not as expensive as you may think. Minor charges can be dealt with in a relatively inexpensive way. The best way to determine the cost of a lawyer for your matter is to call for a consultation. Trach Law offers free consultations either over the phone or in person. 

 Anything you tell police that could help you is inadmissible in court. Therefore, even if you think you are telling the police things that will convince them of your innocence, these statements can be used against you later in court. If the police have decided to charge you, there is nothing you can say that will change their minds, and it is possible for you to inadvertently tell them something to substantiate a charge they would not have otherwise laid. ASSERT YOUR RIGHT TO SILENCE until you have had an opportunity to talk to a lawyer.