article from Driving Laws

Do you need a lawyer to represent you in a DUI case? Hiring an experienced  DUI Attorney always has its benefits — familiarity with the court system, knowledge of plea bargain details, and the ability to navigate complex administration procedures. It’s especially important if you are a repeat offender.

Should You Plead Guilty?

If this is your first DUI, you may choose to simply plead guilty. That might be a wise choice if there were some certainty that you would be convicted — for example if your BAC is higher than .11 and the arresting officer testifies that you were driving erratically. But before you plead guilty, you should learn about the DUI/DWI laws penalties and fines in your state in order to make an informed decision. Even if you are convinced you should plead guilty, it is always possible that a DUI attorney may offer advice or counsel that could affect the severity of your sentence. Also keep in mind that if your BAC was between .08 and .11 (and there may be some question as to whether the reading was accurate) conviction is less of a certainty and a DUI attorney may be able to better plea bargain your case

Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.

There are major consequences to being arrested for DUI in the State of Florida. It is a serious crime. The State of Florida makes a determination of punishment guidelines based upon the result of a breathalyzer test.

A breathalyzer is a breath test device that is used to estimate the blood alcohol content of a person.  If you are convicted of a first offense DUI and your breathalyzer result is under .15, you could face up to 6 months in jail, be fined from $500.00 to $1,000.00, and lose your drivers license for anywhere from 180 days to one year. If your breathalyzer was .15 or over or there was a minor in the vehicle, in addition to the loss of your drivers license, you could face up to up to 9 months in jail and be fined anywhere from $1,000.00 to $2,000.00. If you are convicted of a second or third DUI charge, the fines will be even higher. For example, the fines can range from $1,000.00 to above $5,000.00 and you could lose your drivers license for up to 10 years. These are only a few distinctions in regards to the required statutory punishments as they relate to DUIs involving a breathalyzer result.

The State of Florida will also request a urine sample if a breathalyzer result shows negative for alcohol content.  A urine sample is used to show whether a driver is under the influence of a controlled substance or chemical substance.  Many driver’s fail to understand that the prescription drugs they may be taking can influence them “to the extent that their normal faculties are impaired” warranting  a legal charge of DUI. There are also some instances where blood may be taken without request from the driver suspected of DUI.

If you are arrested for DUI, you should immediately contact an attorney.  A Driver has only ten days from the time the DUI citation is issued in which to request a hearing with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle in order to preserve their driver’s license.  If not, the driver’s license will automatically be suspended for a period of time.

Also, there are certain procedures a police officer must meet in determining whether or not to arrest a person for DUI. Your attorney will ensure the police followed those procedures. If the police did not follow those procedures during the stop, it is likely that you may be exonerated of the charges or have the case reduced to a lesser crime.

Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.