You are now at the website of The Florida D.U.I. Lawyer!

You are driving home late one night from a party. You feel fine. Then you notice the police cruiser in your rear view mirror. You still feel fine. Then you notice the overhead lights come on. You safely pull your car to the side of the road. A big, beefy cop approaches you and asks for your driver's license. You are nervous and it takes you a minute to find the license. The cop then asks "how many beers have you had boy?" You realize that you have a problem.

In the State of Florida, a first D.U.I. conviction is punishable by up to six months in the county jail, 12 months of reporting probation (you pay for the privilege of reporting), D.U.I. school (you pay for this, also), you must attend the Victim Impact Panel (you guessed it, you have to pay), 50 hours of community service, up to a $500.00 fine, and vehicle immobilization for ten days (and you pay!) If this is a second or subsequent D.U.I., the penalties are enhanced.

The prosecutors will prosecute you to the fullest extent that the law allows. They are not there to assist you. They want to secure the conviction and the documentation from the arresting officer is all they care about. The cop arrested you to begin with,so what do you think he wrote in his report.

Florida also has an administrative suspension. If you are arrested for DUI and you blew over .08 or you refused (call and I will tell you the advantages of this) to give a sample of breath, you driver's license was administratively suspended. You then have ten days to file a request for a formal hearing.

The formal hearing has no impact upon the criminal prosecution. However, the formal hearing presents an opportunity to subpoena the officer and cross examine him. However, there are situations where the officer should not be subpoenaed. A driver probably should not represent himself or herself at this hearing.

If arrested for D.U.I. you should immediately contact this office for representation. Telephone calls are returned 7 days a week! My e-mail is DUITIM@floridaduilawyer.com. To read more on D.U.I. in Palm Beach County please visit my blog at http://floridaduidefense.blogspot.com.