If a person is caught driving with a BAC level above or exceeding the legal limit, they will be arrested and charged with DUI. In the State of Florida, it is important to hire a legal representative that will fight for your rights. Florida has very strict laws and some of the toughest penalties; more than other states. The consequences for DUI has the potential to terminate your driving privileges, pay sums of money in fines, or even spend time in jail or prison.
Now that this is done, you MUST consult with a DUI defense attorney. If the aforementioned steps have been helpful and informative (and have hopefully saved you some money) imagine what else we can do for you here at Buda Law. At Buda Law, we will make sure that all dui lawyers tampa of the necessary steps are taken to help you get through this difficult time. At the initial free consultation, we listen to the facts of your DUI case, tell you how we can help, and answer any questions you may have. Another document you receive from the jail will be the impound paperwork for your vehicle. Most of the time, the impound lot will be from a rotating list that the arresting police agency uses.
Driving Under the Influence in Tampa
The statute provides two theories the prosecutor might use to prove you are guilty. After the exchange of discovery, the court schedules the case for a motion hearing, pre-trial conference, or trial. The court will require you to appear for these critical court dates.
Your worst day shouldn’t define the rest of your life.
Many individuals feel a strong sense of shame, regret, or embarrassment after being arrested for DUI. It’s essential to remember that a DUI arrest doesn’t equate to a conviction. By taking these steps and working with knowledgeable legal counsel, you can position yourself for the best possible outcome. In other words, a DUI or DWI basically means that your everyday driving and normal senses were impaired by taking drugs or alcohol. Driving under the influence, also known as a DUI, is a driver who is operating a motor vehicle while drunk behind the wheel. While blood and breath testing sound very scientific and trustworthy, this isn’t always true.
More frequently, they can lead to the reduction of the case from DUI to reckless driving. The next several court dates are technically called pretrial hearings. However, in Hillsborough County Florida these court dates are called disposition dates. If a person under age twenty-one refuses to provide a breath alcohol sample, the DHSMV will suspend their driver’s license for one year for a first refusal and 18 months for a second refusal.
Fortunately, you can get help from a DUI defense attorney to get those charges dropped or reduced and protect your future. And the first step to beating your drunk driving charge will be to build a solid defense. Sometimes, a DUI defense attorney will request the prosecutor to reduce the charge from DUI to reckless driving in Tampa. In other situations, a DUI defense attorney may recommend to the client that he or she go to trial. Other times, a DUI defense attorney may recommend that the client plead guilty or nolo contendere (no contest). In the majority of Tampa Florida DUI cases, the term blood alcohol level is not a factor because most persons arrested for DUI give breath samples rather than blood samples.
- Repeat offenders face longer suspensions and may need to install an ignition interlock device.
- Will Hanlon at Hanlon Law is a trusted criminal defense lawyer that aims to protect his client’s future in Tampa.
- Your attorney may also file additional motions to suppress or exclude that evidence.
- If you win, the DHSMV will forever remove the suspension from your driving record as if it never happened.
He crafts robust defenses, addressing issues like lack of intent and credibility of witnesses. Tampa Lawyer, Casey Ebsary’s board certification by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization & Education means he has met the highest standards of competence and experience in Florida criminal trial law. This rigorous certification ensures you’re getting top-tier representation.
If you have to rely on credit cards to pay your fines, the costs of an Ignition Interlock Device, school fees, and so on, the hefty credit card balances could affect your credit utilization ratio and FICO score. Additionally, if you fail to pay a court-ordered fine, it could go to collections. After an arrest for DUI at MacDill Airforce Base in Tampa, FL, your DUI case will be prosecuted in the federal court in the Middle District of Florida, United States District Court, Tampa Division. You must act quickly in these cases to preserve all avenues of attack.
Minors can also be charged with a DUI if their blood alcohol content (BAC) level is at 0.2, the equivalent of a single drink. Florida is recognized as a zero-tolerance state when it comes to underage drinking and driving. The stiff penalties for DUI are enough reason to get experienced DUI defense help as soon as possible. Even the DUI arrest alone can have major adverse consequences for drivers with a commercial license, and even more consequences if drivers who were operating a commercial vehicle at the time of the DUI arrest.