If you have been charged with DUI, time is of the essence. The DUI charge includes a cancellation of your driving privilege when your license is surrendered to law enforcement at the time of your arrest. Your DUI citation acts as a temporary driving permit for only 10 days following your arrest. If you or your attorney does not request a DMV administrative hearing within 10 calendar days following your arrest (including weekends), you forfeit your ability to challenge any license suspension. Be aware that a charge of Driving Under the Influence can have serious consequences - including the loss of your driving privilege, employment problems, increased insurance premiums, heavy fines and even jail time. The goal of our highly experienced criminal defense lawyers is to preserve your rights and prevent you from losing your freedom and your license to drive.

Our DUI lawyers represent individuals who have been arrested for DUI anywhere in the Tampa Bay area. From our principal offices in Clearwater, New Port Richey and Bradenton we are conveniently located for clients in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota Counties. For immediate attorney involvement in your DUI case and to preserve your rights, call 800-LAW-5655 right away to speak with a DUI Defense Lawyer for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Overview of the Crime of Drunk Driving

Each US state has its own set of drunk-driving laws, but there are certain concepts and features common to most states' drunk-driving jurisprudence. Basically, as we all know, it is illegal and a crime for a person to operate a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and/or drugs to a degree that impairs his or her safe driving ability and judgment. Both criminal and civil penalties for drunk driving can be harsh and often include:

• Loss or suspension of license
• Large fines
• Substance-abuse treatment
• Jail or prison time
• Community service
• Restitution
• Criminal record
• Restrictive probationary license programs, including ignition interlock devices and Cinderella licenses

In addition, the social stigma and effect on your career may have lifelong negative consequences.

Read More

The Role of Probation in Drunk-Driving Sentencing

Probation is by far the most common sentence for people convicted of drunk driving, especially for first-time offenders. Probation is a criminal sentence served in the community, rather than in jail or prison. Most states limit terms of probation to a maximum of five years. If you are facing a drunk-driving charge, an experienced lawyer can assist you with your defense and, if necessary, advocate for a fair sentence.

Read More

The Prosecutor's Role in a Drunk-Driving Case

Prosecution refers to the government's role in the criminal-justice system. When criminal activity is suspected, it is up to the government to investigate, arrest, charge and bring the alleged offender to trial. A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government and who is responsible for developing and presenting the government's case against a criminal defendant. Prosecutors may be called county attorneys, city attorneys, district attorneys or states' attorneys. Some jurisdictions may even have experienced police officers act as prosecutors in drunk-driving cases. The prosecutor is the opponent or "adversary" of the criminal defendant and his or her attorney; the two sides go head-to-head against each other in court.

Read More

Reliability of Breath-Test Results in a Drunk-Driving Case

In every state in the US, a driver with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher is presumed to be legally intoxicated for drunk-driving purposes. Each state has also enacted an implied-consent law. Implied-consent laws provide that every licensed driver within the state is considered to have given his or her consent to chemical testing to determine his or her BAC whenever a law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion of intoxication. In most states, refusal to submit to such a test results in license suspension or revocation.

Read More

The Impact of a Drunk-Driving Conviction on Your Auto Insurance

An alcohol-related car accident and subsequent drunk-driving conviction can bring many negative consequences into your life, possibly including jail or prison time, a criminal record, car repair or replacement, restitution, guilt and grief over harm to others, higher insurance premiums, a civil lawsuit, fines, court and administrative fees, community service, alcohol education, substance-abuse treatment, social stigma, restrictions on or revocation of your drivers license, attorneys fees, restrictive probation and others. If you are arrested for or charged with drunk driving, a criminal-defense lawyer can advise you about your legal rights and help you fight the charges.

Read More