Knowing Your Rights Can Help You Fight Your Florida DUI Charge
Being convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) may not seem like a very serious offense but, when you take into account the initial punishments and the long term effects it can have on a person’s financial and personal future, this type of conviction is very serious. Should an individual be arrested, charged, and convicted of DUI in Florida, he or she will face very harsh consequences such as a 180-day license suspension, $500 or more in fines, and the possibility of 6 to 9 months in jail.
License Suspension for DUI in Florida
Having to deal with a license suspension is what affects an individual’s life the most. It can be difficult to continue on “as normal” when you are unable to drive yourself to work or school. First time offenders in Florida, whether they are arrested and charged in Miami, Orlando, or anywhere else in the state, face a license suspension between 180 days and one year. Since this will have a high impact on daily life, it is important to move as quickly to retain a lawyer and motion the court to rescind the suspension.
Fighting Your DUI Charges
What an individual may not know is that during many DUI arrests, the individual’s rights are violated in one way or another. It is usually the violation of these rights that makes it possible for the individual to have their case dismissed from court or, at the very least, have the charges reduced to something less serious. Neither of these outcomes can be accomplished without the help of a legal professional – that is what it is so important to have the case reviewed by someone like the professionals at DUIRights.com.
A DUI attorney will be able to tell the client what parts of the case work in their favor and which ones do not. Additionally, he or she will review the arrest to determine if the client’s rights were violated in any way. Some of the questions asked may include:
- Why did the arresting officer pull the vehicle over? What traffic laws were violated?
- Was a field sobriety test administered? How was the test administered?
- Were there any outside forces (weather, no daylight) that affected the results of the field sobriety test?
- Did the arresting officer recite Miranda Rights to the client? Were the rights explained properly?
The answers to these questions will give a clear picture of what rights may have been violated.
Protect your rights and learn how to get your Florida DUI charges dismissed. Get Started Now by filling out the Free DUI Arrest Evaluation form to get the answers you need.
Ways to Beat a Florida DUI
Florida DUI offenders face the exact same punishment whether the arrest was in Tampa Bay, Miami, Orlando or any other city in Florida. If this is your first arrest then you will receive a license suspension unless you request a hearing to rescind the Florida suspension. Here are some ways to challenge the Florida DUI:
• Challenge the arresting officers testimony concerning the reason for being pulled over
• Check for ticket errors made by the Florida officer on all documents
• Extreme heat conditions caused drowsiness which escalated officers judgment of intoxication
Florida DUI Defense Tactics
No matter how guilty you may think you were at the time of the arrest, we want you to know one important thing: There is ALWAYS an aggressive and effective defense that will help you fight for the best possible outcome. In our experience, many officers do not follow proper field sobriety test procedures. In fact, challenging probable cause and the way field sobriety tests, blood tests and breath tests were administered is often a successful strategy to reduce or drop the charges. Also, many people plead guilty prematurely based on a breath test with a result above the legal limit.
DUI Rights Attorneys in Florida
In 2016, more than 53,000 people were arrested for driving under the influence in Florida and more than 28,000 of them were convicted of the crime, according to the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Many avoided conviction by having a strong legal defense prepared by a reputable, experienced DUI lawyer. Learn why and how to find a DUI attorney if you find yourself on the wrong end of Florida DUI laws.
Reasons to Hire a Florida DUI Attorney
Drinking and driving is a huge problem in Florida, keeping attorneys very busy. Unfortunately, not all attorneys have experience with these cases, resulting in inadequate defense. In particular, public defenders tend to have limited knowledge of DUI laws and may have no experience trying cases in court. These lawyers are inexpensive but their clients often pay the price in other ways, including temporary loss of driving privileges, steep fines, and time in jail.
Settling for an attorney without a proven track record is a mistake when facing a DUI charge. Consequences of losing the case are high, so bypass the public defender and retain a private attorney who specializes in cases involving DUI. A good DUI lawyer will spot even the smallest mistake made during a DUI arrest and present experts to prove that DUI chemical testing has its flaws.
Court is a scary place, particularly for someone who has never been there. Experienced Florida DUI lawyers spend much time in court so they know their way around the system. They are familiar with Florida judges and prosecutors so they understand which evidence these individuals focus on during DUI hearings. These DUI attorneys head to court prepared to refute prosecutors’ claims and introduce reasonable doubt.
How to Find a Florida DUI Attorney
Florida is a big state, making it difficult to find a lawyer experienced in DUI matters. Instead of combing through the phone book or searching online, fill out our brief DUI arrest evaluation form so we can place you with a DUI Rights Attorney to handle your case. After discussing everything with the attorney, you will be able make well-informed decisions about how to proceed.
If pleading innocent, help the DUI lawyer create an airtight case by providing information and documents as requested. If a guilty plea is unavoidable, discuss ways to reduce consequences and inquire which penalties can be exchanged for others. Knowing that the strongest case will be made makes it easier to deal with the outcome.