Royal Palm Beach DUI Lawyer

Dealing with a DUI can feel overwhelming if you are not fully confident that you have an experienced Royal Palm Beach DUI lawyer by your side. A top attorney will ensure that your rights are respected and given due process as you navigate the aftermath of such charges. Given the stiff penalties you may face for this offense, you must have a legal representative on which you can rely. This is especially pertinent if the case against you is not necessarily airtight, as this provides your lawyer with an opening to get the charges dropped entirely. Even in the most challenging DUI cases, it is possible to avoid the worst-case scenario with a proven defense strategy. 

What Constitutes a DUI Offense in Florida?

In Florida, if you are found to be operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an addictive or influential substance, you may be charged with a DUI. To do so, you must have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08%, though it is only 0.02% for those under age 21. The amount of alcohol or drugs in your body is typically determined by a chemical test of your breath, blood or urine to arrive at this number. 

Field sobriety tests are also commonly employed by law enforcement officers to determine the extent to which you are in control of your faculties. Failing to consent to this test may incur an automatic one-year license suspension due to Florida’s implied consent laws. 

Florida DUI Penalties

Penalties for a Florida DUI depend on the number of offenses you have committed, with punishments becoming more severe with each subsequent offense. 

First DUI Offense

A first-time DUI offense may garner you one year of probation, a 10-day vehicle impoundment and up to 50 hours of community service. If you were driving with a minor in the vehicle or had a BAC of .15% or higher, you may be given up to nine months in jail and/or be fined up to $2,000. 

Second DUI Offense

A second DUI defense within five years of the first may garner you a minimum of 10 days in jail, five-year license revocation and a 30-day vehicle impoundment. If the second offense includes a minor in the vehicle or a BAC of .15% or higher, a judge may order you to spend up to 12 months in jail, and you could be fined up to $4,000. 

Third DUI Offense

A third DUI offense that occurs within ten years of prior DUI offenses becomes a felony. Penalties at this point may range from 30 days to five years in jail and a 90-day vehicle impoundment. It may also include a 10-year driver’s license suspension. Driving with a minor in the vehicle or having a BAC of .15% or higher may incur a fine of at least $4,000. 

What to Expect From a DUI Defense Strategy

When dealing with a DUI charge, there are a few approaches an attorney might take to ensure an optimal outcome. The first is a challenge to your administrative suspension with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to help you to obtain a temporary driving permit. A DUI arrest with a BAC of 0.08% or higher results in an automatic suspension, so this is essential to ensure that you can get around while your case proceeds.

Then, a lawyer will gather all pertinent evidence to prepare to defend your case at trial, if necessary. He will keep you apprised of your options every step of the way and will work to ensure that you garner an ideal case outcome. 

Consult a Reputable Royal Palm Beach DUI Lawyer

Contacting an experienced Royal Palm Beach DUI lawyer is the first step you should take after being charged with DUI in Florida. This ensures that you don’t do or say anything that might mitigate your chances for an ideal outcome. Criminal Defense Attorney Brian Gabriel has spent more than 30 years helping those charged with DUI in Florida successfully combat their charges. He will handle your case using all the knowledge and skill developed over the span of his career. 

Call The Law Office of Gabriel & Gabriel at (561) 622-5575 today to schedule a free consultation, or complete our online contact form to learn more.