‘Tis the season for holiday gatherings and parties. While it can be fun to have drinks with colleagues and loved ones, it’s important to have a plan and avoid drinking and driving. If you do find yourself in a tough situation and need assistance after an arrest, DUI Heroes is focused on helping people with DUI and DUI-related charges in Washington state. “We provide really top-notch, cutting-edge defense, looking at every possible way to help people get through that mistake and get back to their lives,” said Jonathan Dichter, founding attorney of DUI Heroes. Many people are familiar with the legal consequences of a DUI but may not be aware of the non-legal consequences, including in the workplace. Some nurses and healthcare professionals face licensing issues. Other professionals, like engineers, may face consequences in the workplace, and some people may have language built into their job contracts that they have to disclose arrests within a certain timeframe. “The first piece of advice I always give everybody is as soon as possible after having contact with law enforcement for a DUI or anything related, contact an attorney and make sure it’s somebody who practices DUI law,” Dichter said. Dichter suggests contacting an attorney who specifically practices DUI law within 24 to 48 hours after your arrest. You can then discuss all legal and non-legal aspects of your situation and next steps. Another consequence of a DUI may be the inability to attend children’s school functions. Dichter heard from a mom who wasn’t allowed to chaperone her daughter’s field trip because of a prior DUI charge. “Had this particular individual had somebody who was a little bit more familiar with DUIs at the time, there could have potentially been a different resolution that might have avoided that,” he said. “But now this poor mom, years after the incident, has this heartbroken little girl, and there’s nothing she can do about it.” It’s important to understand the process and what’s to come as soon as possible after your arrest. Everyone who calls DUI Heroes gets a copy of the DUI Survival Guide written by Dichter. It’s authored in non-legalese to demystify the process. Something to remember this holiday season is that Uber is a lot cheaper, in many ways, than getting a DUI. “The reality is, if you’ve been drinking, you’re at a holiday party, just get a ride home,” Dichter said. “That’s easier.” Mistakes do happen, though, and if they do, DUI Heroes is available to help. To learn more, visit the DUI Heroes website. Sponsored by DUI Heroes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KING 5's New Day Northwest is Western Washington's only local daytime talk show. Watch it weekdays at 11 a.m. PST on KING 5 TV and streaming live on http://www.king5.com. #newdaynw 🢒 Follow New Day Northwest! 🢐 FACEBOOK 🢒 https://www.facebook.com/newdaynw TWITTER 🢒 https://twitter.com/newdaynw INSTAGRAM 🢒 https://www.instagram.com/newdaynw