Does DUI Ruin Your Life in FL?

Does DUI Ruin Your Life in FL? In Florida, a conviction for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is serious, and although the initial fines and license suspension are a huge burden, the scar on your record might be even worse. A DUI conviction could lose you your job or prevent you from securing your dream job. A moment of stupidity could change the whole course of your life.

An experienced Florida DUI defense attorney can help you to obtain the best possible outcome for your case. They will take advantage of any weakness in the prosecutor’s evidence and negotiate a lesser punishment, or in the best-case scenario, have your case dismissed.

At The Ticket Lawyers, it is our goal to give you the best possible chances when facing a DUI charge, helping you to avoid the worse conviction consequences.

What is a DUI in Florida?

In Florida, a DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence and can include alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal drugs. It is defined as being in control of your vehicle while your normal faculties are impaired. For this to apply, you do not need to be driving the vehicle.

Alcohol is the most common culprit and is easily tested, if you are found to have a Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) exceeding 0.8 while in control of your vehicle, then this constitutes a Florida DUI.

Florida State Statute 316.193 lays out guidelines for DUI charges. A DUI charge can result in an arrest, fines, license suspension, community service, jail time, rehab, and a criminal record.

If aggravating factors are at play such as if a minor was in the car, you BAL was over 0.15, or you have been charged with a DUI before then the punishments can be more severe, such as a jail sentence, and permanent removal of your license. If you do get it back you may be required to have an ignition interlock device placed on your vehicle when you do get your license back. An ignition interlock will require you to do a breathalyzer every time you drive.

Is a DUI a Felony in Florida?

A DUI can be either a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida, depending on the circumstances. A DUI is more likely to carry the more serious conviction of a felony if it is a repeat offense, there were aggravating factors involved, or it resulted in an accident that caused serious property damage, injury or death.

An experienced lawyer, such as those found at The Ticket Lawyers, will fight your case and do everything in their power to lessen your charge.

Initial Consequences of a DUI in Florida

Ramifications for DUI charges vary widely, depending on whether it is a first offense, if it resulted in any damage or injury and how far over the limit you were.

At any stage, you can receive community service, probation and be ordered to go to an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program. Your car may also initially be impounded by police.

Beyond these punishments, here are the other consequences you can expect for a DUI in Florida:

First Time DUI

Jail – Whenever you are arrested for driving under the influence, you will probably spend at least one night in jail. If there are no aggravating factors at play, then it is unlikely that you will spend any more time in jail. If there were, then you could face up to six months in prison for a first offense.
Fine – You will receive a fine somewhere between $500 and $1000 for a first time DUI. If there were aggravating factors, then your fine will be increased to $1000 – $2000.
License – The court will revoke your driver’s license for six months to one year. You can apply for a hardship license that you can only use for work purposes.

A Second DUI Conviction

Jail – For a second offense, you could face 9 – 12 months of jail time, depending on the circumstances. If the second offense occurs within five years, then ten days in jail is mandatory.
Fine – You will receive a fine of $1000 to $2000 unless there were aggravating factors, in which case this figure could double.
License – Again, you could lose your license for six months to a year. However, if your second conviction occurs within five years of the first offense, then your license will be revoked for five years. You will be able to apply for a hardship license for work purposes after one year.

A Third DUI Conviction

Jail time – For a third DUI conviction, you are likely to face 12 months in prison, and if it occurred within ten days of the second, then 30 days in jail is mandatory.
Fine – This results in a fine between $2000 and $4000 unless there were aggravating factors, in which case the minimum fine is $4000.
License – It will be revoked for ten years, but you can apply for it to be reinstated after two.

Multiple DUI charges

Jail –Anything more than three offenses, and you will be considered a habitual offender, which could result in five years in prison.

DUI charges involving bodily injury or property damage

Jail – If driving under the influence causing property damage, then you could face a misdemeanor DUI, which can carry a one-year jail sentence. If you caused an injury, then your charge could be heightened to a felony DUI, with a possible jail sentence of five years.
Fine – If you are charged with a misdemeanor, then you could revive a fine of $1000. On the other hand, if your DUI conviction is classified as a felony, then you could face up to $5000. Furthermore, you may also be liable for any damages for the other party involved in the accident, including their medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.
License – A fourth conviction will result in a mandatory lifetime revocation.

DUI causing death

Jail – If Driving Under the Influence leads to a death then you could be charged with manslaughter or vehicular homicide. Both convictions are second-degree felonies, which could result in a 15-year jail sentence. This time could increase if you left the scene of the accident.
Fine – Fines for a DUI charge that caused a death, fines reach up to $10,000.
License – You will permanently lose your license unless you are charged with manslaughter (not vehicular homicide), and you have no previous convictions, then you may be able to seek reinstatement after five years.

Long Term Ramifications of DUI Charges

Although the initial consequences for a DUI in the State of Florida can be life-altering, it is the long term ramifications that can ruin someone’s life.

DUI charges stay on your criminal record for 75 years and can drastically affect your job, housing, and other aspects of your life.

How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record in Florida?

DUI charges in Florida will stay on your record for 75 years.

In Florida, DUI charges can generally never be sealed or expunged, which would mean that only law enforcement could find out about your charge. One way to have your record expunged is if your charge is lessened to a ‘wet reckless,’ this is something that a lawyer may be able to help you to fight for. Otherwise, it will stay on your record for the rest of your life, so if a criminal check is ever conducted for a job, housing, or even insurance, you will need to disclose it.

That is why it is so important to seek help from a skilled attorney quickly to see if there is any way your charge can be lessened.

DUI and Background Checks

Lots of things involve background checks. Most jobs will do a background check, and you could lose your job and then subsequently find it difficult to find work.
Professional associations also run criminal checks before stating a professional license. As a result, you may be forced to change your career esp[ecially if you work with the military, with children or in the medical profession.
Even volunteer roles often involved background checks, even if it is your own child school.
Anyone can look up your criminal history online for free, including friends, family, and neighbors.
If you are studying then it could also have serious ramifications, some colleges will suspend students from a course or from any financial aid following a DUI conviction.
Some home associations will evict you after a DUI, which means that you could even lose your home.
A DUI will also affect anyone who is trying to obtain citizenship or a visa and could prevent them from succeeding.

DUI Charges and Insurance

Following DUI charges in the State of Florida, your insurance can increase by five times what it was. Furthermore, you will be required to carry an FR-44, which is a document that proves you have sufficient coverage. You may have to carry this for five years after a conviction.

What Can a DUI Lawyer Do for Me?

The consequences of a DUI charge are serious and could affect you for the rest of your life. That is why it is so important to have the help of a DUI defense lawyer.

At The Law Place , we will do everything in our power to lower your charge and lessen your sentences. There may be issues with the prosecution that we can take advantage of. This could be the difference between jail time or not. Depending on the circumstances, we may be able to have your case reduced to a wet reckless charge, which will not have the same effect on your criminal record.

If you are facing a DUI in the State of Florida, even if it is your first time, you should do everything in your power to give yourself a fighting chance at a dismissal or a lower sentence.

Contact The Ticket Lawyers today and talk to an experienced defense attorney who will tell you how we can help.