If you are facing charges for a DUI in Jacksonville, it is in your best interests to speak with a lawyer from our firm at your earliest convenience. The penalties for even a first-time DUI can have an extremely damaging effect on one’s life. It takes a skilled lawyer who has extensive experience defending DUI offenses to effectively protect your rights. In the United States, drunk driving is a serious crime with serious consequences. Although the specific penalties for a DUI conviction vary from state to state, one thing remains the same: DUI penalties are harsh, including Florida’s DUI penalties.

One of the penalties you could face after a DUI conviction is higher insurance rates. While a law will not mandate an insurance company to raise your insurance rates, insurance companies will do this on their own. The reason insurance companies do this is to protect themselves. Those who have had prior accidents on their record are seen as at a higher risk of being involved in an accident again. Insurance companies have to pay for your accidents, so if you are at a higher risk of accidents, then you will likely be charged more for insurance. If you do not hire a qualified attorney, you are far more likely to face harsh penalties such as:

First DUI Offense (Misdemeanor)

• Up to six months in jail (up to nine months in special circumstances);
• Fines ranging between $500 and $2000;
• Six-month driver’s license suspension;
• At least 50 hours of community service;
• Up to a year of probation;
• Mandatory counseling;
• Level One DUI School;
• Higher insurance rates;
• Victim Impact Panel;
• Minimum 10-day vehicle impoundment;
• Possible deportation for non-U.S. citizens; and
• Six-month ignition interlock device on your vehicle.

Second DUI Offense (Misdemeanor)

• Up to nine months in jail (twelve months in special circumstances);
• Fines ranging between $1000 and $2000;
• Up to a five-year driver’s license suspension;
• Up to a year of probation;
• Mandatory counseling;
• Level Two DUI School;
• Community service;
• Impoundment of vehicle;
• Two-year ignition interlock device installation;
• Higher insurance rates; and
• Possible deportation for non-U.S. citizens.

Probation

Your first DUI conviction is punishable by one year of probation. According to Florida Statutes § 948.001, probation refers to a form of community supervision. It involves specific contact with parole and probation officers and may include other terms as well. Different offenses may merit different types of probation. For instance, you may be sentenced to drug offender probation if convicted of a drug crime. Unlike normal probation, drug offender probation involves intense supervision and individualized treatment programs.