An Arrest For DUI Is a Scary and Serious Experience, No Matter What Language You Speak
Being arrested for and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Utah can be a scary and unfamiliar experience for anyone. Still, a DUI, if you are Spanish-speaking, can be even more stressful and confusing. If you do not speak or understand English, and if the officer who pulled you over doesn’t speak or understand Spanish, you may not know what is happening, why they are arresting you, or what your rights are. At every step in the process—your trip to the police station, your arraignment, your court appearances, your effort to make bail and be released from custody—the inability to communicate with police and prosecutors can be overwhelming. When charged with DUI, if you are Spanish-speaking, it will be harder for you to defend yourself against these serious criminal charges. Making matters worse, the consequences of a DUI arrest are immediate: your license will be automatically suspended, and you will be unable to legally drive until that suspension is lifted, which is far from guaranteed. The most crucial step you must take after a DUI if you are Spanish-speaking is to reach out to an expert Salt Lake City DUI defense attorney who is fluent in your language. While you can request a court-provided interpreter to translate what happens in court, these individuals cannot offer you legal advice, nor are they there to protect you. When facing a DUI, if you are Spanish-speaking, only your defense attorney can protect your future. Only a Spanish-speaking attorney can provide you with the representation, guidance, and aggressive defense you need to beat the charges. 
What Happens After Police Pull You Over For Suspicion of DUI In Utah?
Traffic Stop
Most DUI ordeals in Utah begin with a traffic stop. An officer pulls over a driver because their driving behavior has given the officer a reasonable suspicion that they may be driving under the influence. The officer on scene may conduct a field sobriety test, or they might observe signs of possible intoxication, like the smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath.
Arrest and Booking
Suppose the officer reasonably believes that you are impaired. In that case, they will arrest you on suspicion of DUI and take you to a local police station or a detention facility for booking.
Chemical Testing
Utah, like many other states, has an “implied consent” law, which means that every driver who uses Utah’s roads and highways has given their consent for chemical testing for the presence of alcohol or drugs in their bloodstream. Not submitting to a chemical test during a DUI arrest can result in immediate consequences, such as your driver’s license suspension. If the chemical test results indicate that your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above the legal limit of 0.05%, you may face DUI charges.
Initial Court Appearance and Charges
After the arrest, you will likely have an initial appearance in court. Salt Lake County prosecutors will present the charges during this hearing, informing you of your rights. As noted below, you can request an interpreter to translate the proceedings into Spanish. During this step of the legal proceedings, you will enter a plea to the charges, such as “guilty,” “not guilty,” or “no contest.” The plea process may be confusing when facing a DUI if you are Spanish-speaking. Hiring a Spanish-speaking attorney will help you navigate these legal actions.
Related: When is a DUI a Felony in Utah?
License Suspension
In Utah, a DUI arrest triggers an administrative license suspension through the Driver License Division (DLD). The length of the license suspension period can vary based on factors such as prior DUI convictions and your cooperation with chemical testing.
Trial
If you are facing a DUI if you are Spanish-speaking, the legal system can be confusing. Contact a Salt Lake City Spanish-speaking defense attorney to explain this process. Ultimately, suppose you (and hopefully, your Spanish-speaking attorney) do not plead guilty or reach a plea agreement with prosecutors. In that case, your case will proceed to a trial where prosecutors seek your conviction. You have the right to an interpreter during the trial. If you are found guilty after trial, you face additional limitations on driving privileges, hefty fines, and jail time.
Related: The 5 Most Successful DUI Defenses
Translators Are Available – But They Are Of Limited Help To DUI Defendants
In Utah, all criminal defendants are entitled to the assistance of a court-appointed interpreter who can translate proceedings from English into the defendant’s native language and vice-versa. However, the help an interpreter can provide is limited. As described by the Utah State Courts:
- “A court interpreter is a person who interprets orally from English to another language and vice versa in a court hearing. Interpreters also translate written documents.”
- “Court interpreters do not interpret or translate outside of legal proceedings. If you need an interpreter outside of the legal proceedings, you may hire one.”
- “The interpreter’s job is to give a complete and accurate interpretation or translation, without changing, omitting, or adding anything to what is said or written.”
- “It is not the interpreter’s job to give advice or counsel or to provide services other than interpreting from one language to another.”
As outlined above, interpreters are only available during court proceedings. You are not entitled to an interpreter at a traffic stop or the police station after your arrest. Unless you have contacted and retained a Spanish-speaking defense attorney who can start assisting you immediately after your arrest, you may not have any idea what is happening until the first time you appear before a judge. By then, it may be too late.
Facing a Utah DUI If You Are Spanish Speaking? Contact a Utah DUI Defense Attorney Fluent in Your Language and the Law Today.
If you’ve been arrested for DUI, if you are Spanish-speaking, you face immediate challenges and severe long-term consequences. Being charged with a DUI is not a time to go it alone. Do not put your future in just anybody’s hands. Spanish-speaking Salt Lake City and Utah County DUI defense attorney Josh Deere has a long record of successful results in DUI and DWI cases. The team at Intermountain Criminal Defense works diligently to ensure the best possible outcome in every case. Contact Intermountain Criminal Defense today to arrange for your free initial consultation.
