St. Petersburg DUI Attorney

Experienced Defense for Drunk Driving in Florida

If you're arrested for DUI, the stakes are higher than ever before. The penalties for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in Florida have increased significantly in the past few years due to revisions to Florida traffic laws.

If you are arrested and charged with DUI, there is no longer any doubt that the case will be aggressively prosecuted. If you are convicted, the penalties will be severe, so it's more important than ever to hire a DUI defense attorney.

DUI Penalties in Florida

The state of Florida has extremely strict DUI penalties. To successfully defend your rights it's imperative that you hire contact a St. Petersburg DUI lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options.

There are three major factors that can affect the sentence issued if convicted. These include:

• The driver's BAC level was above .08
• The driver's BAC level was above .15
• A minor was in the vehicle

Common Florida DUI Penalties

While there are several factors that can affect the severity of the penalties associated with a DUI conviction, common penalties include:

First Offense DUI

• Up to 6-months of jail time
• Up to 1-year of probation
• Up to $1,000 in fines
• Minimum 50-hours of community service
• License suspension for a minimum of 6-months
• Mandatory 10-day vehicle impoundment

Second Offense DUI

• Up to 9-months of jail time (minimum 10 days)
• Up to 1-year of probation
• Up to $2,000 in fines
• License suspension for up to 5-years
• Mandatory Ignition Interlock Device
• Mandatory 10-day vehicle impoundment
• Completion of DUI school

Third Offense DUI (within 10 years)

• Felony charges
• Up to 5-years of jail time (minimum 30 days)
• Up to 5-years of probation
• Up to $5,000 in fines
• License suspension for up to 10-years
• Mandatory Ignition Interlock Device
• Mandatory 90-day vehicle impoundment
• Completion of DUI school

Breathalyzer Tests in Florida Are Not Always Accurate

Breath and other field sobriety tests are unreliable in DUI cases. One important piece of evidence the prosecutor will use against you in a DUI charge is the Breath Test. If you submitted to one and know the results, be aware that the reading could have been inaccurate for a number of reasons.

Write down all the details you can remember about the night you were arrested for DUI. Even seemingly insignificant circumstances can play a major role in the outcome of your case.

Did the Police Have Cause to Pull You Over?

Even if failed a field sobriety test, the police have to prove that they had probable cause to pull you over in the first place. If you were driving carefully and under the speed limit but were still pulled over, there is a chance your case could be thrown out. The officer must have observed some behavior that led them to believe you were under the influence to pull you over for DUI. Additionally, they must have read you your Miranda Rights (“You have the right to remain silent, etc.) once they arrested you.