Florida Drunk Driving Defense
West Central Florida Driver Improvement Inc.:
DUI/SSS - First and multiple DUI offender courses and evaluation
services. Special Supervision Services (SSS) for multiple offenders
seeking hardship DL reinstatement in accordance with specific statutes.
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles:
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Attorney Offices by Municipality
- Alachua
- William Falik:
Losing your ability to drive is a devastating price to pay for receiving traffic citations. Don't ever plead guilty and pay the fine for a traffic offense without consulting an experienced attorney first.ÊA skilled traffic offense lawyer may be able to help you protect your driving privileges.
- Alamonte
- Apollo Beach
- Aventura
- Bartow
- Boca Raton
- Brandenton
- Cape Coral
- Michael Raheb:
If you are convicted of a DUI offense in Florida, you could end up with a permanent criminal record for the rest of your life. Your driverÕs license could be revoked, and you could be placed on probation. Substance abuse classes are mandatory. Even first-time DUI offenders face possible jail time. If the offense is second-time or more, jail time will probably be mandatory. For third DUI offenses, a felony conviction carrying up to five years in prison is possible.
A DUI conviction often results in higher auto insurance premiums, for years to come. And if youÕre not a U.S. citizen, being convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can result in deportation back to your country of origin.
Even refusing a breath test at the scene of your arrest could have you facing up to a year in jail.
- Chipley
- Kerry
Adkinson: DWI/DUI means "driving while intoxicated" or "driving while
under the influence" and refers to the crime of drunk driving. This
crime usually includes driving while abusing drugs and the operation of
other kinds of motorized vehicles, such as boats. Drunk driving is
defined by each state's criminal code.
- Clearwater
- Cocoa
- Coconut Grove
- Bolivar Porta:
f you refuse to take a breath, blood, or urine test after being
arrested for DUI/DWI in Florida, or if the results of your test were
.08% blood-alcohol or above, your license will be suspended 30 days
after the arrest unless you or your attorney takes appropriate action
to demand an administrative hearing within 10 business days after
arrest. Get more information about saving your driver's license now
before it's too late. If your arrest was in a state other than Florida,
your license also may be at risk. To learn more about protecting your
license if your arrest was not in Florida, visit our national map of
DUI/DWI attorneys to locate a drunk driving defense lawyer in your
state.
- Coral Gables
- Coral Springs
- Crestview
- Marty
Knopes: Being arrested and charged with a DUI can be embarrassing as
well as intimidating. The outcome of your case can have serious
ramifications for your future - driving privileges, insurance rates,
fines, and even the possibility of jail time. You need to hire a
qualified lawyer as soon as possible to make sure that your
Constitutional rights are defended and protected. From the date of
arrest, you only have 10 DAYS to contest the pre-conviction
administrative suspension.
- Daytona Beach
- Deland
- Destin
- Ward, Ketchersid & Lathem:
Choosing a lawyer can be a difficult process. By providing full-service legal representation, we strive to make this process easier for you.
- Scott Whitehead:
A person commits the offense of perjury when he or she, with the intent to deceive and with the knowledge of a statement's meaning, makes a false statement under oath or swears to the truth of a false statement that was previously made, which statement was required or authorized to be made under oath.
- Keith P. Vanover: If you have been charged with a DUI, the most important move you make is consulting a competent attorney.
- Fort Meyers
- Ft. Lauderdale Ft. Lauderdale Ft. Lauderdale Ft. Lauderdale Ft. Lauderdale
- Fort Pierce
- Fort Walton Beach
- Gainesville
- Grayton Beach
- Daniel Uhlfelder:
runk driving is taken very seriously in this popular and growing area,
and you should contact a drunk driving defense lawyer as soon as you
have been arrested. The statewide Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) limit is
.08, beyond which point you can be arrested and criminally charged.
First time offenders could have their license suspended for 6 months to
a year, in addition to facing fines, increased insurance premiums, and
the development of a criminal record. Habitual offenders may face
increased fines, the revocation of their license, and even jail time.
- Hiahleah
- Hollywood
- Inverness
- Charles Vaughn:
Traffic violations can have serious criminal consequences, particularly
when a driver is accused of driving under the influence. A conviction
on DUI/DWI charges may result in fines, the revocation or suspension of
your driver's license, and possible jail time. In addition, your
insurance company may increase your rates to an unmanageable level. In
defending against an impaired driving charge, you have many rights as a
criminal defendant, including the right to cross-examine the witnesses
against you, even if they are police officers.
- Jacksonville
- Jupiter
- Jeffrey Hap:
A DUI is not a simple traffic infraction (although your arrest may be
accompanied by a number of traffic violations), but a criminal offense
with serious consequences.
- Kendall
- Key West
- Kissimmee
- Lake City
- Groland,
Proctor & Fletcher: DWI/DUI means "driving while intoxicated" or
"driving while under the influence" and refers to the crime of drunk
driving. This crime usually includes driving while abusing drugs and
the operation of other kinds of motorized vehicles, such as boats.
Drunk driving is defined by each state's criminal code.
- Lakeland
- Lake Worth
- Merten
Law Office: Some jurisdictions require that the individual claiming
self-defense must retreat from the threat, if possible, prior to
responding with force. However, where an individual is responding to a
threat using non-deadly force, there is no such duty to retreat. Most
states do not require individuals to flee before acting in self-defense
where there is an imminent danger of death or severe bodily harm. In
addition, most states that require individuals to retreat before
responding to a threat with deadly force do not require the retreat if,
given the circumstances, the retreat cannot be accomplished safely.
- Largo
- Longwood
- Marathon
- Bill Heffernan:
Penalties for DUI in Florida are harsh. For the first offense, there is
a mandatory 8 hour stay in jail, and the driver's car is impounded. It
is extremely important to retain the services of an attorney
immediately after being arrested for DUI! There are two ongoing issues
with a DUI citation-the punishment delivered by the courts and your
driving privileges, determined by the Department of Safety. Once you
have been charged, there are time constraints that immediately begin to
run in regards to your driving privileges. Once you are charged, you
are stripped of your driver's license. A DUI attorney can get you a
temporary driving permit and a hearing as to probable cause for the
stop. If you do not obtain this hearing, your driving privileges expire
10 days after arrest when your temporary permit expires. If you request
a formal hearing, you can obtain a temporary license.
- Melbourne
- Miami Miami Miami Miami Miami Miami
- Miami Beach
- Miami Lakes
- Milton
- Naples
- New Smyrna Beach
- Moses & Rooth:
A DUI arrest can be confusing, frightening, and embarrassing. At our
DUI defense law firm, our attorneys know that you have a lot of
questions. We are ready and able to answer those questions when you
call.
- Niceville
- Ocala
- David Mengers:
DUI - If you are facing drunk driving or drug charges, you need an
experienced criminal defense lawyer making sure your constitutional
rights are protected.
- Okeechobee
- Rebecca Hamilton:
If you have been charged with a crime in south-central Florida, you need and deserve a strong defense.
- Orlando
- Palm Beach
- Palm Harbor
- Panama City & Beach
- Pensacola
- James
Owens: Upon arrest for a DUI, your driver license is automatically
suspended. You have a right to contest this suspension at a hearing
with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Pembroke Pine
- Barry Kaufman: The hiring of an attorney is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.p
Pinellas
- Tager Law Firm:
If you or a loved one has been arrested or charged with DUI, the most important call you can make will be to a criminal DUI defense attorney. Violating the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) laws in Florida can bring very severe penalties. There is nothing more important than having an aggressive and experienced Drunk Driving Attorney on your side.An aggressive and experienced DUI attorney may be able to get your DUI charges reduced and in some cases dismissed. If jail time is inevitable, an experienced DUI Lawyer may be able to get this jail time reduced or convince the court to allow a suitable alternative to jail time.
Plantation
Ponte Verdra
- Malcomb Anthony:
You can be arrested for DUI by driving while over the legal BAC in your
state or while impaired. But, you need not actually operate the car in
order to be arrested. You can still be found guilty if you had the
capability and power to dominate, direct, or regulate the vehicle,
regardless of whether you were exercising that capability or power at
the time of the arrest. In other words, simply sitting behind the wheel
with the keys in the ignition can lead to your arrest for DUI by being
in actual physical control of the car.
Port Orange
Greg Johnson: If I'm stopped by a police officer and he/she asks me if
I've been drinking, what should I say? You are not required to answer
potentially incriminating questions. There are basically three
acceptable alternatives, each with its own potential consequences. One
approach would be simply to ask, "Why are you stopping me, Officer?",
even if it is at a sobriety checkpoint. When the officer asks, "Have
you had anything to drink this evening?", simply say, "Officer, I do
not wish to be delayed. Please do not delay me. I want to drive home".
If the officer has no other basis to ask you out of the car, you will
be on your way. A polite, "I would like to speak with an attorney
before I answer any questions", is also an appropriate reply. If you
start with that answer, we suggest that you keep on giving that answer
until you have consulted with an attorney. A third reply - where
appropriate (that means "true") -- might be saying that you had one or
two beers. That would not be incriminating as they are not usually
sufficient to cause intoxication -- and it may explain the odor of
alcohol on the breath. However, it would be sufficient cause for the
officer to have you take a field sobriety test.
Port Richey
Port St. Lucie
Punta Gorda
Sanford
- Greene, Thomas:
The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.
Sarasota
St. Augustine
St. Petersburg
St. Pete's Beach
- McDermot Law Office:
If you had a reading of .08% or above or refused to submit to a breath
test, the officer can suspend your license right there at the scene.
This is a suspension by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles, which has nothing to do with possible suspensions by the
Court if you are convicted of DUI (DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE).
Spring Hill
Stuart
Sunrise
- Elena Perez:
You should contact an experienced attorney immediately if you are
arrested for or charged with a crime! Even good people can find
themselves involved in a criminal charge or investigation. You must
know what your rights are in order to fully protect yourself. Most
importantly, everyone charged with a crime has the right to a defense.
Tallahasse
Tampa
Tampa Bay
- Stamatakis and Thalji:
FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS: EVIDENCE?
These supposedly standardized ÒtestsÓ are typically conducted by police officers at the scene of the arrest. These ÒtestsÓ are really not tests at all and are designed for failure in almost every single instance. These ÒtestsÓ include:
1. THE WALK & TURN. The accused is asked to kepp his ands pinned to his side and take 9 steps on a straight line touching heel-to-toe after every step. At the conclusion of the 9th step you are told to leave your front foot on the ground and take a serious of small pivot steps turning your body 180 dgrees. Then you are asked to take 9 more heel-to-toe steps back to the beginning point of the exercise. The Officer gives this lengthy explanation only one time and walks behind you marking you off for every mistake, not matter how minor.
2) THE ONE LEG STAND. During this exercise you are asked to keep your arms oinned to your sides and lift one leg approximately 6 inches off the ground. While staring at that leg you are asked to count "1 Mississippi...2 Mississippi...3 Mississippi...." until you reach 30 Mississippi.
3) HORIZONATL GAZE NYSTAGMUS (HGN). Here the Officer shines a luight in your eyes and asks you to follow the pen while you keep your head still. The premise is that any involuntary movement detected in your eyes during this exercise is an indication of alcohol or a controlled substance in your body. Although this is the very first test administered by any competent Officer after a DUI stop. almost no Officers have the scientific expertise and credentials to qualify as an expert in court. Only expert witnesses can testify to these results. Typically this exercise is edited from any on-scene videos.
4) FINGER-TO-NOSE. While you stand with your feet together and hands pinned to your sides you are asked to raise your hand in front of your body with your finger pointing out and touch the 'pad' of your finger to the 'tip' of your nose. Be careful, in typical law enforcement fashipn the officer will try to trick you at the end by calling the exercise in this order: "LEFT...RIGHT...LEFT...RIGHT...RIGHT...LEFT."
5) THE ALPHABET TEST. Contrary to popular belief, you are not asked to recite the alphabet backwards. Instead you are asked to recite the alphabet while you stand with you feet together, your arms pinned to your side, your eyes closed, and your head leaning back. You are told not to sing or chant the al[habet and are marked of for sayinf "LMNOP."
6) COUNTING BACKWARDS. While in the same position used for the alphabet test you are asked to count backwards from 100-75. Be careful, this test proves tricky for most.
Please keep in mind that only the first 3 have been studied ÒscientificallyÓ (by the federal government, of course).
BOTTOM LINE. When asked to perform these tests respectfully decline. Their only purpose is to gather additional evidence against the driver. The police officer is going to arrest the driver regardless of whether they perform these tests or not.
WHAT IS EVIDENCE OF DUI?
1. Driving pattern (swerving, weaving, etc);
2. Police observations (bloodshot glassy eyes, slurred speech, odor of alcoholic beverage);
3. Performance of Field Sobriety Tests;
4. Blood Alcohol Content;
5. Statements to police;
6. Refusal Ð consciousness of guilt.
The police have essentially rturned # 1 & 2 on the above list into boilerplate language on each and every arrest affidavit written in the last 10 years. Evidence listed under # 3,4,5 is at the control of the driver. This is evidence that you may or may not voluntarily turn over to the police. Please do not turn this evidence over voluntarily if you can help it. Finally, #6 on the list, Refusal as consciousness of guilt is only compelling in the face of additional, corroborating evidence.
Tarpon Springs
- Sonny Im:
If you are facing legal challenges, you need experienced legal representation.
Taveras
- Graves & Spivey: With the effective assistance of counsel, you can:
- Impanel a sympathetic jury
- Challenge a police officer's testimony
- Move the court to suppress illegally obtained evidence against you
- File timely motions
- Ask proper questions
- Raise appropriate objections
- Confront the prosecution's witnesses
- Negotiate acceptable deals and pleas with the prosecution
- Move for a lighter sentence
Tavernier
- Hershoff & Lupino:
When charged with DUI, the driver's license is taken away. Within 10
days, an administrative review hearing can be scheduled for a temporary
license. The chances for a hardship license are affected by the
circumstances of the arrest - test refusal, test results, number of
offenses.
Titusville
- Kurt
Erlenbach: If you have been charged with any type of driving
violation-from the least serious to the most serious-you need expert
representation.
Venice
Vero Beach
Viera
- Tiffany Loris:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
West Palm Beach
Weston
Winter Park
Winter Springs
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