Charged with Florida DUI (Driving Under Influence)? Hire a Florida DUI Lawyer

If you have been charged with a DUI (Driving Under Influence of Alcoholic Beverages, Drugs, Chemical substances or Controlled Substances) in the state of Florida, you need to consider these charges very seriously since DUI is a serious offense in this state as it is in many other states in the US. Such a criminal record can affect your future career and employment, your freedom and leave a permanent mark in your future. Therefore, in such an incident the first thing you need to do is to act wisely and immediately consider hiring an able Florida DUI lawyer who is experienced enough in DUI charges and who can help you understand the DUI charges.

Common Queries About Florida DUI Cases

Florida DUI penalties:Many people charged with DUI in Florida and looking for Florida DUI lawyers are often confused and filled with different kinds of questions. Basically they wish to know about the type of penalty they are faced with. Although, your DUI attorney will provide you with details and specifics about your particular case but generally in the state of Florida, DUI will generally mean jail time but the degree of the sentence will depend on your particular case and its facts, the circumstances of your plea etc. The First Offense in DUI can consist of:

• jail time up to 6 months
• fine between $500 and $1000
• mandatory one year probation ranging from 50 hours community service and substance abuse counseling to DUI school etc.

The DUI Second Offense which outside 5 years of the First Offense will consist of:

• -up to 9 months, a fine between $1000 and $2000
• ignition interlock of 1 year
• license suspension ranging from 180 days to one year
• mandatory one year probation ranging from 50 hours of community services and substance abuse counseling to DUI school etc.

If your second offense has been committed within 5 years of the first offense then you are faced with a penalty of:

• fine ranging from $1000 and $2000
• jail time ranging from 10 days to 1 year
• mandatory ignition interlock of 1 year
• license suspension of minimum of one year and maximum of 5 years
• mandatory one year probation ranging from 50 hours of community service or substance abuse counseling to DUI school etc.

For a DUI Third Offense Outside of 10 years, the offender will be faced with:

• a fine ranging from $2000 to $5000
• jail time up to 12 months
• mandatory one year license suspension
• mandatory 2 year ignition interlock requirement
• mandatory one year probation ranging from 50 hours of community service or substance abuse counseling to DUI school etc.

A DUI Third Offense committed within 10 years of the second offense, you will be charged with:

• a fine of $2000 to $5000
• Jail confinement from 30 days to 5 years maximum
• 10 years mandatory license suspension
• Mandatory 2 years ignition interlock
• And a one year mandatory probation ranging from 50 hours of community service or substance abuse counseling to DUI school etc.

A fourth DUI offense will be considered as a 3rd degree felony in the state of Florida subject to penalties of a fine of up to $5000 and 5 years in prison.

Florida's Ignition Interlock Program: According to this program, some of the DUI offenders will be required to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicles. Note, that not all DU offenders will face this penalty; only some of the offenders with certain particulars in their case for instance, having a a child in your vehicle at the time of arrest can result in ignition interlock device requirement and these devices are designed to prevent tampering and such tampering can result in further penalties.

Florida License Suspension: In the case of a DUI arrest, your driver's license will be suspended and you will normally be given a citation for temporary use as a driving license for 10 days after your arrest. Most Florida DUI lawyers would advise you strongly to request an administrative hearing within 10 days after your DUI arrest because of which you can become eligible for a temporary driving license for 45 days after your arrest. At this time, you should hire your Florida DUI lawyer who will be present on your hearing and can help your case by presenting arguments from the defendant's side and cross-examining the officer who made the arrest and extracting crucial facts from this hearing.

DUI Test Refusals: If you refuse to undertake a DUI test at the time of your arrest, then according to the laws of Florida; your driving license will be suspended from the date of your arrest to one year for the First offense and 18 months are any consecutive offenses.

If you have been caught while driving under influence or in any related case, then don't waste your time in hiring a professional DUI attorney because doing so can make a big difference in the consequences you would otherwise have to face.

To fully understand the penalties associated with a Florida DUI charge, it is strongly recommended that you consult with a Florida DUI lawyer that you are most comfortable with and who can knowledgeably represent you throughout your trial and court proceedings.  You can find a Florida drunk driving attorney by typing in the city of your arrest above or call our 24 hour DUI hotline

Additional Resources

• Florida Department of Motor Vehicles
• Florida State Bar Association