DUI Defense · Traffic Stop
What to Do During a DUI Traffic Stop in Utah
What you must provide, what you don't have to say, and how the roadside investigation works from the moment you pull over.
Salt Lake City Criminal & Civil Attorney
Straightforward, efficient legal representation for criminal and civil matters. Jim Tily handles your legal problem directly — with courtroom experience, personal attention, and phone calls returned the same day.
Record Clearing
$500 Flat Fee
Expungement for qualifying misdemeanors
Learn more →What you do in your very first encounter with law enforcement can shape the rest of your case. Officers are trained to gather evidence. They may act friendly. They are not your friend in that moment — they are building a case.
Are you receiving legal papers, letters, or contact from management or an attorney threatening your housing? Whether you are a tenant or an owner, you have rights — but these cases move fast, and delay can cost you your home.
Jim Tily handles eviction defense and housing disputes throughout the Salt Lake area. Same-day service is available when the situation requires it. The eviction attorney on the other side knows the law. He is paid to remove you. The single best thing you can do is get your own attorney on the phone immediately.
Call Now — (801) 641-0883Criminal Defense · Utah
Select your situation. Every charge is different — but delay costs you options.
DUI / Impaired Driving
Arrested for DUI or impaired driving?
License suspension, implied consent, breath tests, field sobriety, court dates — what happens next and what your options are.
More information →Drug Possession / Distribution
Charged with a drug offense in Utah?
Possession, distribution, paraphernalia, controlled substance charges — what the law says and how these cases are defended.
More information →Domestic Violence / Protective Order
Charged with domestic violence or served with a protective order?
A DV arrest can trigger three simultaneous proceedings — criminal, civil protective order, and DCFS. Federal firearms consequences apply immediately.
More information →Police Want to Talk to Me
Officers are asking questions or ant a statement?
You are not required to answer questions beyond identifying yourself in most circumstances. What to say, what not to say, and why it matters.
More information →Felony Charge
Facing a felony in Utah?
Felonies range from third-degree to first-degree. Prison time, loss of voting rights, firearms, and employment consequences all depend on how the case is handled from the start.
More information →Misdemeanor Charge
Charged with a misdemeanor?
Misdemeanors are not minor to you. A conviction means jail time, fines, probation, and a record that appears on background checks for housing, jobs, and licenses.
More information →Sex Crime Accusation
Accused of a sex offense in Utah?
Sex crime accusations move fast and carry consequences that extend far beyond the criminal case itself — registry, housing, employment, and family law all affected.
More information →Assault or Battery
Charged with assault in Utah?
Assault charges range from Class B misdemeanor to first-degree felony depending on circumstances, weapon use, and victim status. The details of the arrest matter enormously.
More information →Theft / Shoplifting / Burglary
Arrested for theft or burglary in Utah?
Many first-offense theft and shoplifting cases qualify for diversion — which can result in dismissal and no criminal record. Do not plead guilty before speaking with an attorney.
More information →Not sure what applies? Call for a free consultation.
(801) 641-0883 — Free ConsultationAbout Jim Tily
Jim Tily is a Salt Lake City attorney with a background spanning federal and state litigation, labor and employment law, criminal defense, and civil matters. He practices independently and handles every case personally.
Raised along Philadelphia's Main Line, Jim graduated from Pennsylvania State University and earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. While in law school, he worked in the legal department of the Communications Workers of America, a national labor union in Washington, D.C. He started in the law library and, when Westlaw replaced print subscriptions, moved into legal work: arbitration and mediation, labor and employment litigation in federal court, class action wage and race discrimination cases, sexual harassment, ADA and FMLA matters, unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, collective bargaining enforcement, and litigation arising from the 1980 AT&T breakup ordered by Judge Harold Greene.
After Georgetown, Jim joined Anderson & Karrenberg in Salt Lake City, where he focused on pre-trial motion practice in federal and state courts. He worked on significant commercial disputes including matters for Novell, Inc., and participated in the Stenovich shareholder class action — a breach-of-fiduciary-duty case arising from First Security Corporation's merger with Wells Fargo. His civil work included employment discrimination, real property disputes, construction litigation, personal injury, discovery and depositions, demand letters, judgment collection, and business litigation.
Jim served as a public defender in Washington County (St. George), Utah, representing indigent adults and juveniles in state court across the full range of felony and misdemeanor charges, including felony jury trials. After a period in Oregon coaching competitive tennis, he returned to Salt Lake City and now runs his own practice.
His current practice covers criminal defense — felonies, DUIs, misdemeanors, sex crimes, domestic violence, and protective orders — in state courts throughout Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah (Provo), and Juab counties, as well as civil litigation including defamation, breach of contract, landlord-tenant disputes, divorce (including flat fee uncontested divorces), child custody, DCFS/APS/CPS proceedings, victim rights representation, civil stalking injunctions, post-judgment relief, and pre-trial motion practice and discovery in federal court. Jim has extensive actual courtroom experience and has appeared before nearly every judge in Salt Lake County and surrounding counties. He gives personal attention to every case — telephone calls and emails are returned the same day.
What We Handle
Whether you're facing criminal charges or dealing with a civil dispute, Jim Tily provides experienced, focused representation in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah — straightforward and efficient.
A DUI arrest doesn't mean a conviction. Jim challenges traffic stops, breathalyzer accuracy, field sobriety tests, and procedural errors to protect your license and your record.
From simple possession to distribution charges, Jim builds defense strategies that scrutinize the evidence — including the legality of searches and seizures — to pursue the best possible outcome.
From serious felonies to misdemeanor charges, Jim provides committed defense that high-stakes cases demand. Every charge is taken seriously because every charge matters.
Accusations of sex crimes carry devastating consequences even before a verdict. Jim provides discreet, vigorous defense — protecting your rights, your reputation, and your future at every stage.
Jim handles uncontested divorces for a flat fee of $500 plus the $325 court filing fee — all paperwork drafted and filed. For contested divorces, custody disputes, and other family law matters, Jim provides direct, practical representation with clear guidance at every step.
From breach of contract to defamation to post-judgment motions, Jim handles civil litigation with the same direct approach he brings to criminal defense — straightforward advice, practical solutions, and actual courtroom experience.
A criminal record follows you everywhere — jobs, housing, loans, background checks. Utah law allows many offenses to be expunged. Jim handles the entire process: eligibility analysis, BCI applications, petitions, and court hearings.
Expungement & Record Clearing
A criminal record follows you into every job application, rental search, and licensing proceeding. Utah law allows many offenses to be expunged and sealed from public view so you can legally say the arrest or conviction never happened. Jim handles the entire process: eligibility review, BCI Certificate of Eligibility, petition drafting, and court hearings.
Misdemeanor Expungement
$500
Flat fee for a single qualifying misdemeanor conviction. BCI and court filing fees are additional.
Felony Expungement
From $1,000
Fee depends on complexity. Free consultation to review your record and determine the exact fee.
How I think about the work
A good mechanic does the work right the first time, tells you what is wrong, tells you what it will cost before they start, calls you back, charges fairly. You go back because the work is good. That is how I think about being a lawyer.
I tell you what the case is worth, what it will cost, and what the realistic outcomes are. Before the work begins.
I do the legal work myself, not a junior, not an assistant. The person you hire is the person doing your case.
Calls and emails are returned the same day. Court deadlines are calendared the moment they exist.
You know where your case stands and what comes next. No waiting for updates.
Legal Insights
From the Blog · 15 Articles
What you must provide, what you don't have to say, and how the roadside investigation works from the moment you pull over.
HGN, Walk-and-Turn, One-Leg Stand — what each test measures, how unreliable they are, and the real tradeoff in refusing.
The moments after a DUI stop can determine the strength of your defense — including a 10-day window most people don't know about.
From handcuffs to release — what the booking process looks like, implied consent, chemical tests, and your first steps after.
You have 10 days from arrest to request a Driver License Division hearing. Miss it and your license is automatically suspended.
What happens at each stage of a Utah DUI criminal case — from arraignment through discovery, plea negotiations, trial, and sentencing.
Every type of DUI charge in Utah — standard DUI, impaired driving, metabolite DUI, felony DUI, and automobile homicide — with penalty chart.
A DV arrest can trigger a criminal case, a civil protective order, and a DCFS or APS investigation simultaneously. Here's how each works.
What stalking means under Utah law, how a civil stalking injunction works, and what happens to someone who violates it.
Even simple possession is usually a felony in Utah. Knowing your Fourth Amendment rights can make or break your case.
When police are talking to you, they are gathering evidence against you. Here's what to say — and what never to say.
Affordable doesn't mean inadequate. Here's what to look for, what to ask, and how attorney fees actually work.
You have 21 days to respond. Here's what that means, what goes in your Answer, and what happens if you do nothing.
An eviction notice can feel impossible. Know who's suing you, what your defenses are, and how much time you actually have.
A criminal record affects jobs, housing, and more. Learn about Utah's Clean Slate law, petition-based expungement, eligibility, and the step-by-step process.
Get in Touch
Don't wait. The sooner you have an attorney, the better your options. Consultations are free and confidential — call or send a message and Jim will get back to you promptly.