Being arrested does not mean you have been convicted. You are not a criminal. Even though a DWI conviction can drastically affect your life, your ability to drive, and perhaps your job, being arrested should not have any kind of material affect on your life, and you and your attorney should work hard to minimize any potential affect.

If you believe your employer may find out, or if you had to miss work because of the arrest, you should work with your attorney to determine the best way to handle the situation with your employer.  Other than this, it is best if you do not discuss the situation with anyone.

It is absolutely imperative that between your arrest and your trial, you do not get in trouble with the law at all. The worst thing you could do is get a second DWI charge while your trial is still pending for the first.

It is also critical that you continue your life. Keep working – not only will you need to have an income to afford a decent attorney, but it also establishes that you are a contributing member of society and not someone who should be locked up in jail. You will need to make arrangements to attend your court hearings and meet with your attorney. Stay flexible and stay as calm as possible given the circumstances.

If you believe you may have a problem with alcohol abuse, you should take steps to improve yourself now. Join Alcoholics Anonymous and attend regular meetings. Be sure you keep track of your attendance and have your sponsor sign your attendance record each time you attend. If you lose your case in court, showing the steps you are taking to improve the situation will help you with both plea-bargaining and sentencing.

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.