Driving under the influence (DUI) is one of the most common charges in the Sunshine State. However, just because judges and juries often handle DUI cases does not mean they will be lenient with you, especially if this is not your first time being charged with driving while impaired.
Whether or not you have ever faced criminal charges, working with a Ponte Vedra Beach DUI lawyer could be crucial to ensuring the best possible outcome for your DUI case. Fortunately, the support you need is available from the knowledgeable criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A., where we have years of experience making the right legal moves at the right time on behalf of people like you.
How State Law Defines and Prosecutes DUIs
Under state law, you can be charged with and convicted of a DUI under two circumstances: if a police officer tests your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and finds it to be 0.08 percent or higher while you are operating a motor vehicle, or if they determine you are significantly impaired based on observation or field sobriety test performance. Either way, upon being convicted of a DUI offense for the first time, you could face:
- $500–$1,000 in fines
- Up to six months in jail
- 10-day vehicle impoundment
- 180-day driver license suspension
Subsequent DUI convictions carry increasingly severe sanctions that can eventually include thousands of dollars in fines, up to five years in prison, and permanent license revocation. There are also enhanced penalties for DUI offenders convicted of causing traffic accidents resulting in injury, driving drunk with a minor in the vehicle, or unlawfully leaving the scene of a drunk driving car crash. A Ponte Vedra Beach DUI defense attorney could explain these in more detail.
What Defenses Could Be Effective Against a DUI Charge?
Because DUI charges virtually always stem from arrests at the scene of an alleged offense, certain common defense strategies like mistaken identity are rarely effective in drunk driving cases. However, a seasoned defense lawyer may be able to establish that police did not have probable cause to pull you over in the first place, failed to follow proper procedures while interviewing or arresting you, or allowed BAC test samples to be contaminated or incorrectly processed.
If the court upholds procedural errors like these, it could declare key evidence for the prosecution inadmissible at trial. However, this is just one possible approach, which might not be ideal for your situation. It is vital to discuss your options with a skilled Ponte Vedra Beach lawyer in the immediate aftermath of a DUI arrest.
Contact a Ponte Vedra Beach Attorney for Help With Your DUI Case
Being accused of driving drunk can have serious consequences, even for a first-time offense, and on subsequent convictions, they become even more severe.
Problems? Pick Porter!™ Do not try to handle this situation on your own. Call the Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A., today to discuss your legal options with a Ponte Vedra Beach DUI lawyer.