If you or a loved one has been charged with driving under the influence, you can be understandably worried about what might happen. DUI cases are serious and can require the keen legal eye of a qualified criminal defense attorney to address the individual needs of your charges.
A DUI in FL carries consequences that can affect your job, your family, and your freedom. Jail time, fines in the thousands of dollars, suspension of your license and/or installation of an ignition interlock device, and court-mandated meetings can be leveled against you.
If you’re facing a DUI charge, you need to act quickly. A court case doesn’t wait for your defense, and if you can afford to hire an attorney, the case will proceed even if you haven’t hired one. DUI lawyers range in experience and have different prices for their representation. Carefully consider your options to find which FL DUI lawyer is best for you. Getting good representation isn’t free, but it will benefit you in ways you might not yet understand.
Contact The Ticket Lawyers today to discuss your legal options. We offer a free consultation with a qualified attorney who will go over the potential strategies for your DUI case and our fee structure. There won’t be any surprise costs associated with our legal defense.
Call The Ticket Lawyers today for a free consultation at 855-323-8488.
The Legal Information Institute defines a DUI as driving under the influence with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .08 or above. Drunk driving is a criminal offense that can result in fines, suspension of license, and jail time, depending on the severity of the charges. A DUI arrest is a serious offense and is strictly enforced in the State of Florida.
You may see the term DWI (driving while intoxicated) used interchangeably with DUI. A DUI/DWI are the same thing.
Various tests are used by police officers to measure impairment, including a breathalyzer test and coordination exams meant to determine if you are over the legal limit. If your BAC or BAL (breath alcohol level) measures more than .15, the consequences become more serious.
In order to adequately defend yourself in a DUI/DWI case, you should enlist the aid of a qualified and experienced DUI lawyer. Especially if this is your first DUI, you should do everything in your power to avoid a conviction. The Ticket Lawyers are here to help and will have your back from the arrest to the verdict.
If you plead not guilty to a DUI and unfortunately lose at trial, the consequences can be very serious. Your sentencing will depend on the severity of the charges against you and the type of DUI you are charged with. Misdemeanor and felonies result in different outcomes if you are found guilty.
Misdemeanor DUI trials usually take less time than felony trials. The consequences are still serious but less severe. According to the State of Florida, consequences for a misdemeanor DUI can include:
Felony DUI trials are more serious and can even end in prison time. There are mandatory minimum sentences for felony DUI’s. According to Florida Statute 316.193, punishments for a felony DUI may also include:
If you need to drive for your job or you apply for a hardship license after a suspension, you will most likely have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle. This will prevent you from starting your car without first blowing into the device, which measures BAL (breath alcohol content).
If you plead guilty, especially if it is your first offense, the court may take leniency on you. However, if this is your second or third DUI, pleading guilty has mandatory minimum sentencing that the court must abide by.
It is entirely worth it to hire a lawyer to help defend your DUI/DWI case. The legal advice a qualified lawyer can provide is extremely valuable when facing complex court processes and never-ending stacks of paperwork. Especially if it is your first DUI, you want to do everything in your power to avoid a potential conviction that will result in a near-permanent mark on your public record.
The cost of a DUI lawyer can vary depending on a number of factors. Experience, reputation, size of the law firm, and the types of DUI charges you face will determine the cost for your defense. Hiring an attorney should be done on the basis of the quality of legal aid they will offer you and the amount you can afford. If you want to find a lawyer on the cheap, you will find that your defense strategy will be lacking.
These costs are a rough guideline, however, every case is different and the cost could vary widely depending on the intricacies of your case. If your case involves multiple DUIs or injury to a third party, then prices could vary. Consult with The Ticket Lawyers to find out how much our legal representation will cost you. Hiring an attorney should be done knowing all available options to you, and we will help you find out what’s best for the individual needs of your case.
The Florida Bar Association states that all individuals seeking to take the Bar exam must first pass a background check. If you have a first time DUI on your record, most likely you will still be able to take the exam and become a lawyer. However, if your first offense resulted in a felony conviction, you may not be able to take the exam. Second and third DUI offense may also warrant exclusion from taking the Bar.
If you are already a lawyer, a felony conviction will most likely result in you being disbarred. A misdemeanor, first time DUI will not result in disbarment.
It is important, even if you are a lawyer or qualified DUI attorney yourself, to seek legal aid for your FL DUI charge. An attorney will help you with the logistics of the court process and will provide an impartial point of view on your defense.
Even if you have only been convicted of a first offense DUI, schools still may not be willing to hire you. However, this does not necessarily mean you absolutely cannot become a teacher. Hiring principals will take into account your total record and skills to make a measured assumption of your character. If you have a second or third DUI, it will make it much more unlikely to be hired as a teacher.
If you are already a teacher, your first DUI will unlikely affect your job. In most cases, a first time DUI only results in a misdemeanor charge. Parents may be less forgiving than your employers, and a DUI will inevitably affect your public perception.
If your first DUI resulted in serious injury or property damage, you might end up being charged with a felony. Felony charges are much more serious and may actually result in your firing. Second or third DUI’s may result in firing as well, but it depends on how your school wishes to approach the issue.
In Florida, a DUI arrest will be on your public record for up to 75 years. That most likely means your entire life. Potential employers and police will have access to these records and will judge you based on your arrest. This can affect your job prospects and consideration for any further criminal charges you may face.
If you are a minor at the time of your arrest, you may be able to get your DUI record expunged. However, Florida Statute 322.2616 states that the state employs a zero-tolerance policy when dealing with underage drinking and driving. Under-21-year-old individuals who test positive for a BAC of .02 will automatically have their license suspended for six months. If your BAC is .05, you will be forced to partake in a substance counseling course.
Consult with The Ticket Lawyers to find out the exact penalties for your DUI case. You don’t want to leave this sort of thing up to chance.
While The Ticket Lawyers always recommend enlisting the aid of an attorney, you do have the right to represent yourself in a court of law.
The LII defines pro se as a case where an individual chooses to represent themselves in a trial. Pro se cases are rare, but they do happen. Frequently this type of defense does not end well for the accused. Without an attorney, you are really on your own.
Pro se legal defense requires that you present your case to the court promptly. You are entitled to view the evidence against you. Examine this evidence thoroughly and look for any discrepancies in how it was collected and recorded. Compile your argument and arrive at court prepared and organized.
Unfortunately, judges often take pro se cases less seriously than those represented by a lawyer. There is a bias against those unprepared to argue a case in thick and uncommon legalese. It will help if you have some knowledge of legal terms when you present your case.
While it is entirely possible to beat your drunk driving charges alone, the chances are slim. An attorney isn’t alone when they defend your case. A law firm will have legal assistants, investigators, and other partners to help in the effort. It is a difficult task to examine evidence and prepare a legal defense strategy on your own.
Consult The Ticket Lawyers to find out our payment structure and how a qualified lawyer can help fight your DUI case. The consequences of drunk driving are severe, especially in Florida, and you risk your freedom by pursuing your case alone.
Having good legal advice can be your first line of defense against a DUI charge. An experienced attorney will have your back. While there are never any guarantees in a criminal trial, a good lawyer will examine all of the evidence against you and come up with your best possible legal defense strategy. With the help of an attorney, you have a much better chance of beating your DUI charge than pursuing your case solo.
A qualified criminal defense attorney will likely know more about the legal process of a DUI charge than the average person. Crime shows like CSI and Law and Order routinely provide false information about the process of a criminal charge, and many people rely on this sort of information to determine their own best course of action. They may think that they are experts in their own right and don’t need the help of an attorney to fight their case. However, the truth of the matter is that certified practitioners of the law have spent years learning what those hour-long episodes cannot possibly teach.
Without an attorney present, you are entirely at the mercy of police officers and the court. Many times evidence is mishandled or illegally acquired. You are more likely to obtain a thorough examination of all evidence against the investigative help of a defense attorney. Having an extra pair of eyes never hurts. When those eyes have years of experience fighting cases similar to yours, your chances to beat your charges go up exponentially.
Consult with a qualified DUI attorney at The Ticket Lawyers to increase your chances today.
It is entirely possible to beat a DUI with a public defender. However, if every single lawyer in the Public Defender’s Office were of exceptional quality and had all the time in the world to fight your case, then there would be no need for private defense attorneys. The problem with choosing a public option for your defense is that you do not know what type of lawyer you will receive. Will they be lazy, will they be experienced enough, will they have the time to examine your case thoroughly? Once you have been assigned a public defender, you will most likely not be able to request another one.
If you receive a good public defender, your case may be as safe in their hands as it is in ours. But if you get a dud, you’re stuck with them. In order to guarantee adequate legal protection, contact The Ticket Lawyers get a law firm that has the time and resources to fight your drunk driving case.
There are several ways to fight a drunk driving charge. Most often, this includes arguing the legitimacy of the evidence against you. Even if you blew above a .08, you still have a chance to contest your DUI charge.
You may be able to contest the following:
Without a qualified DUI attorney fighting your charges, finding and disputing these types of evidence can be an insurmountable task.
There are no centralized statistics for the entire state of Florida concerning DUI dismissals. However, most cities do collect this information. For example, in Orlando, nearly 40% of DUI cases are reduced to a reckless driving charge (a ticketed offense) or dismissed entirely. However, that number drops significantly when dealing with second or third DUI charges.
Each case is unique and requires specialized attention from a qualified DUI lawyer. From the traffic stop to the courtroom, The Ticket Lawyers will have your back.
If you or a loved one are facing a DUI charge, you could be extremely worried about the consequences you could face if you are convicted. Contact The Ticket Lawyers DUI attorneys today to find out your options. Our law firm offers a free consultation with a qualified criminal defense attorney who will go over your possible legal strategy and explain our fee structure. We have the experience necessary to defend your case. Our goal is to get your DUI charges dropped altogether.
Call The Ticket Lawyers today at 855-323-8488.
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