TCB.LawEmail Taylor
— DUI defense

Mississippi DUI 1st offense — flat $1,500.

Half the market rate. Same defense. Honest about when you need a dedicated trial lawyer instead.

The direct answer

If you've been arrested for a 1st-offense DUI in Mississippi, the statute is Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-30. The flat fee for representation from arraignment through plea negotiation is $1,500. If your case has a real triable issue — a bad stop, a malfunctioning Intoxilyzer, a chain-of-custody problem — I'll tell you, and we'll talk about whether to take it to trial or whether you need a different lawyer for that fight.

What happens in the first 72 hours

The stop, the field sobriety tests, the Intoxilyzer 8000, the arrest, the booking, and the bond. Implied-consent under Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-5 means refusing the breath test triggers a 90-day administrative license suspension that's separate from the criminal case. The criminal arraignment usually happens within 30 days in justice or municipal court.

What I do

Pull the discovery — the stop report, the Intoxilyzer maintenance and calibration records, the dash cam, the body cam, the booking video. Look for procedural defects in the stop, the SFSTs, the implied-consent warning, and the testing equipment. Negotiate with the city or county prosecutor. Get you the best plea available given the facts — or tell you to fight it.

When you need a trial specialist instead

Felony DUI. DUI causing death or serious bodily injury. 3rd offense. Any DUI with a co-defendant in a serious-injury accident. These need someone whose practice is built around trial work. I'll refer.

— Price summary

What this costs at TCB Law.

DUI 1st offense
$1,500
no trial
DUI 1st w/ trial
Quoted
after discovery
License hearing
$500
MDPS admin
— FAQ

Questions I get a lot.

Is $1,500 really the all-in fee?+
For a Mississippi DUI 1st offense with no trial — yes. That's arraignment through plea negotiation. Court costs and fines are separate and set by the court, not by me.
What if I want to take it to trial?+
I'll tell you honestly whether you have a triable case. If you do and you want a jury trial, I'll either handle it (additional flat fee, quoted) or refer you to a DUI trial specialist. Most 1st-offense cases plead. Some shouldn't.
What about a 2nd or 3rd offense?+
Different ballgame. Mississippi DUI 2nd and 3rd offenses carry mandatory minimums and can become felonies. I'll consult on these but I'll usually refer to a dedicated criminal defense practice.
What about the administrative license suspension?+
Under Mississippi's implied-consent statute (Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-23), the administrative license suspension is a separate proceeding from the criminal case. You have a narrow window to request a hearing. The MDPS license hearing is $500 if handled separately from the criminal defense.
Do I need to show up to every court date?+
Yes, unless a judge explicitly excuses you in writing. Missing a court date in a DUI case can result in a bench warrant and an additional charge. I'll confirm every appearance in advance and tell you what to expect.
— Next step

Twenty minutes. Bring the citation.

The clock on the administrative license suspension runs faster than the criminal case. Don't wait.

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