Were you arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in the Jacksonville area? Get an experienced and aggressive DUI attorney on your side. At Problems? Pick Porter!™, our Jacksonville DUI lawyer and legal team can provide sound advice and guidance to protect you from the maximum penalties.
There is much at stake after one has been arrested for driving while intoxicated. A conviction can mean a suspended license, heavy fines, and even imprisonment. The outcome of your case rests heavily on the DUI lawyer that you choose to represent you. For this reason, we encourage you to give our dedicated criminal defense attorneys a call as soon as possible.
Our Jacksonville DUI lawyers can guide you through the criminal justice system and help you prepare for Florida’s DMV administrative hearings to protect your driver’s license. From start to finish, our attorneys will work toward a positive outcome that is always in your best interests.
Over the years, our DUI attorneys in Jacksonville, FL have developed skilled legal tactics that can serve to benefit your case. We also have three former DUI prosecutors on staff. As such, our lawyers are able to see a case from all angles and effectively fight back against your accusations.
Schedule a consultation by calling (904) 858-3211 to speak with a DUI lawyer in Jacksonville, FL.
Any Jacksonville DUI attorney at our firm can handle the following types of DUI cases. Click on each to learn more.
It is possible to drop a DUI charge in Florida, but success depends on the specifics of the case. A skilled DUI attorney in Jacksonville can challenge the evidence by questioning the legality of the traffic stop, the accuracy of breathalyzer or blood tests, the validity of field sobriety tests, or potential mistakes made by law enforcement officers. Additionally, if there are issues with the chain of custody or if medical conditions or medications are involved, these factors can be used to weaken the prosecution’s case.
Each case is unique, and a strong defense strategy can increase the likelihood of a favorable outcome. Possible defense strategies against DUI we may use include:
If you were arrested for DUI, do not lose hope. Our DUI lawyer can analyze every aspect of your case, including the arrest, the blood/chemical test results, and whether proper police procedures were followed. We pay attention to the little details that can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
The 10-day rule for DUI in Florida refers to the time frame within which a driver must act to prevent an automatic driver’s license suspension after a DUI arrest.
When you are arrested for DUI in Florida, the arresting officer will typically request that you submit to a breath, blood, or urine test. If you refuse the test or if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above the legal limit of 0.08%, your driver’s license will be suspended. However, under Florida law, you have 10 days from the date of your arrest to request an administrative hearing with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to challenge the suspension.
If you fail to request this hearing within 10 days, your driver’s license will be automatically suspended for a period of 6 months for a first offense or 1 year for a refusal to submit to a test. If you request the hearing within the 10-day window, the suspension will be postponed until the hearing is held and a decision is made.
A DUI in Florida is a serious offense with potentially severe consequences. The penalties for a DUI conviction can include hefty fines, license suspension, mandatory DUI education programs, community service, and even jail time, depending on the circumstances.
For a first offense, the penalties may involve fines up to $1,000, a license suspension of up to 6 months, and up to 6 months in jail. Subsequent offenses can lead to harsher penalties, including mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device. Additionally, a DUI conviction can have long-term consequences on your driving record, insurance rates, and employment prospects.
There is a lot at stake, and it is important that you call a DUI attorney in Jacksonville as soon as possible to learn more about your defense options.
Penalties that can result from a DUI conviction are detailed under Florida law. These crimes fall under Chapter 316, detailing State Uniform Traffic Control. In its most basic definition, driving under the influence is when an individual operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. There are, of course, numerous other factors that could drastically change the DUI charges and possible penalties.
Under Florida Law, it is illegal to drive when your BAC, or blood alcohol content, exceeds 0.08%. Your BAC levels are determined using various chemical tests, like a breathalyzer or blood test. Even if you are on the cusp of reaching 0.08%, you may still receive a DUI because of your impaired driving. An officer will perform a field sobriety test to determine if the amount of alcohol you have consumed affects your motor skills.
One DUI conviction on your criminal and driving record can be a major setback as you face high fines, DUI training courses, a suspended license, and possibly even jail time. In Florida, multiple DUI charges will bring even more serious penalties.
If you receive a DUI conviction beyond a third, it will automatically be considered a third-degree felony due to Florida State legislation. Not only will you be a convicted felon, damaging your reputation and wellbeing wherever you may go, but it is possible that you could face a permanent driver’s license revocation, depending on the circumstances of your arrest and driving history.
Florida is very clear on the stance that they take with underage drivers. Following a strict “Zero Tolerance” law, drivers under the legal drinking age are not permitted to have any discernible level of alcohol in their system. In fact, a driver who is younger than 21 can find themselves facing DUI charges for having blood alcohol content (BAC) as low as 0.02 percent.
The idea behind this law is to completely crack down on underage drinking; it is designed in such a way that you cannot even have one drink and drive. While good in intentions, it can result in innocent drivers facing disproportionate or unfair consequences. For this reason, it is extremely important that a seasoned Jacksonville DUI attorney is hired as soon as possible.
Penalties for DUI can be extremely harsh, but if you are under the age of 21, then your penalties may be far more severe. The damage can extend to your future and your opportunities. Only an experienced DUI lawyer should be trusted with your case. Problems? Pick Porter has assisted countless clients with under 21 DUI charges and successfully helped them overcome harsh penalties.
As a commercial driver, if you are found guilty of driving under the influence, then you will face penalties that are unique to the holders of commercial driver’s licenses.
DUI penalties for commercial drivers include disqualification from driving a commercial vehicle for one year, followed by a disqualification reinstatement fee before you are able to seek a reinstatement of your license. This, however, is just a foundation for penalties.
There is a common misconception that DUI charges only refer to drivers who are under the influence of alcohol – the truth, however, is that it also refers to driving under the influence of controlled substances.
While this cannot be tested through typical BAC tests, such as the breath test, it can often be defined as any point where the drugs affect the driver’s normal facilities. This could mean anything from difficulties making judgments, as well as difficulty with motor control or even hearing, talking or walking. It can also be found through other tests, such as the blood and urine tests.
Penalties for drugged driving are very similar to those for drunk driving. For a first time DUID offense, penalties could include:
Many individuals taking prescription medications can be—and frequently are—pulled over, investigated and then arrested. Officers will not care whether or not the medication you’re on at the time of your arrest was legally prescribed; all they will be concerned with is the affect the drugs have played on your ability to successfully operate a vehicle. Therefore, if you have been arrested for DUID then contact a DUI lawyer in Jacksonville right away.
Driving while license suspended (DWLS) is a separate criminal charge which can bring severe criminal penalties to the convicted. In the state of Florida, this crime is defined under Florida Statutes §322.34 (2012). Under this law, it is considered a criminal offense to drive on state roadways with a license that has been canceled, suspended or revoked. Should the defendant knowingly commit this crime, they will be facing a second degree misdemeanor for a first time conviction.
This will include penalties such as the following:
For a second conviction, it will be considered a first degree misdemeanor; this will carry penalties that include imprisonment that does not exceed one year along with a $1,000 fine. For a third or subsequent conviction, this will be considered a third degree felony and be penalized with a maximum five years of imprisonment and a monetary fine of $5,000. You need to secure a strong defense, and our DUI attorneys in Jacksonville are well-versed in these cases.
I got a DUI while visiting Florida. Can an out-of-state DUI charge follow me to my home state?
Yes. Even if you receive a DUI outside of your home state, you could still face a number of serious consequences such as expensive fines, a suspension of your driver’s license, and a criminal conviction on your record. This is because the states have created a few different pacts that allow penalties for certain convictions to transfer between states.
These interstate agreements, known as the Non-Resident Violators Compact (NRVC) and the Driver’s License Compact (DLC), allow the states to communicate with each other regarding a person’s driving history and prosecute crimes committed by out-of-state visitors.
For example, if you were arrested for DUI in Florida but failed to your charges, the state of Florida could alert your home state and have your driver’s license suspended until the DUI charge is handled. Any accusations you may incur in one state will likely follow you home, as long as your home state is one of the 44 NRVC member states. Even if your state is not a member, you could still face extradition back to Florida.
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With us on your side, we can effectively guide you through the complex legal system with a powerful defense strategy. At Problems? Pick Porter!™ we have extensive experience handling DUI cases and are knowledgeable about the latest strategies in DUI defense. With our aggressive representation, our Jacksonville DUI lawyer can start building a case to help you receive the best possible outcome. Contact our firm today for a free consultation.
Contact Problems? Pick Porter!™ to discuss your charges with a Jacksonville DUI attorney during a consultation. Call us at (904) 858-3211 to get started!
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