The time you spend in jail is time wasted, because you cannot do anything productive to defend yourself from the inside of a jail cell. As soon as you are able to do so, post bond and get out of jail. The police will have gathered whatever evidence they feel is compelling for your trial; you need to be free to start working on your defense.

What is Bail?

Bail is the security – typically in the form of a cash or security bond – that promises that the arrested person, if given their freedom from jail, will return at the appropriate times for the hearings and court proceedings. A bond is a contract between the defendant or his friends or family who bail him out of jail and the court, signifying your willingness to comply with appearing in court.

Once You've Posted Bail

One of the first things you should do as soon as possible after you are released from jail is to write down everything about what happened. Include every step from the minute you were confronted by the police. You should also, if you have not done so, retain a good attorney who is well-versed in handling DWI defense.

Be sure to tell your attorney everything about the day leading up to arrest, the time you spent in custody, and everything that happened to you.  Be completely honest, even if you feel that something you said or did makes your case more difficult.  Your attorney cannot be effective if they do not know the entire story.

After posting bail, meeting with your attorney, and doing everything you can to ensure that you will have an adequate defense; the best thing you can do is resume your life. Go back to work; resume your daily activities. Move forward with your life.

This post contains excerpts from The DWI Book, the definitive guide to protecting your rights in the face of New Hampshire's tough DWI/DUI laws.