Florida DUI Lawyer

Why Hire a Florida DUI Attorney

If you or a loved one has been arrested for driving under the influence ("DUI") in the state of Florida, you face very grave penalties such as jail time and/or severe financial fines and expenses that can total as much as $8,000 in the first few years following a Florida DUI conviction.  Pleading guilty to Driving While Intoxicated means that you forgo your chances of beating your DUI charge altogether.  Do not expect leniency for pleading guilty to a DUI charge.  The best way to obtain a positive result is to develop a strong defense that may result in the dismissal of your charges altogether. 

All DUI charges are serious criminal offenses that carry harsh penalties, fines, and may negatively impact your life for many years.  The fact that you or a loved one was arrested, subject to a chemical test and/or performed a field sobriety test does not mean that prosecutor will be able to obtain a conviction.

The Consequences of a Florida DUI Conviction

The penalties and costs associated with a Florida DUI conviction are life changing, inconvenient and expensive.  These penalties may include one or more of the following punishments regardless of whether or not you have been arrested for DUI or this is your 1st offense. 

Possible penalties for a Florida DUI conviction include:

1. Possibility of jail time
2. Hefty fines
3. Court costs
4. Community service hours
5. Lengthy probation
6. DUI school
7. Substance abuse evaluations with follow up counseling sessions
8. Vehicle impoundment
9. Installation of an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. 
10. Negative impact on your career as well as future educational and employment opportunities

Every DUI Charge Results in Two Cases Filed Against You

After you have been arrested by law enforcement on a charge of DUI, there are two cases that will be filed against you. The first case that will be filed against you is an administrative hearing.  This hearing will determine whether or not you will get a temporary license until your criminal court hearing.  

The second case involves that will be filed against you is the criminal case.  The criminal case will determine whether or not you are guilty of DUI and the punishment if you are found “guilty” of DUI.

Protecting Your Ability to Drive

In the State of Florida, when you are arrested for drunk while intoxicated, you have 10 days to request a formal review hearing to contest the administrative suspension of your driver’s license.  An experienced Florida DUI lawyer will represent you in the formal review hearing and help you obtain a temporary driving permit pending the outcome of your criminal case. 

This formal review hearing is an important stage in your case because your attorney has the right to cross-examine key prosecution witnesses such as the arresting police officer, the breath test machine technician, and anyone involved with the calibration and testing of the breath test machine.  Another advantage of having an attorney represent you at your formal review hearing is that your lawyer may subpoena legal documents that will be used in your pending criminal trial.

The Criminal DUI Process

When you retain a Florida DUI lawyer, your legal counsel may be able save you the emotional stress and inconvenience of having to appear in many of the pretrial court hearings.

Free Consultation With a Florida DUI Lawyer In Your Area:

Hiring a Florida DUI attorney to aggressively defend you can help you obtain the best possible result in your case.  Call our toll-free, Florida DUI Helpline at 1 (800) 687-2252 or search our Florida DUI Lawyer directory for a law firm near you (by appointment only).  All phone calls are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you need immediate assistance, please call our 24/7 Florida DUI helpline at (800) 687-2252 to speak with an attorney.  All phone calls are answered 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.