Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Attorney - Specializing in DUI and DWI Offenses in Tampa Florida

DEFENDING DUI CHARGES
DUI charges are punished more severely than in the past. If you have a charge of Driving Under the Influence, immediately contact The Demosthenous Law Firm to learn what options are available to you. How you decide to handle your DUI charge will impact the rest of your life. A conviction can last forever.
It cannot be stressed how imperative it is that you contact me immediately. Following an arrest for a DUI, you have only TEN DAYS in which to request an Administrative Hearing to attempt to invalidate the revocation of your Driver’s License.

CONSEQUENCES OF DUI CONVICTIONS
It’s permanent. If you plead guilty to a DUI charge, you will lose your license, be forced to do community service, experience increased insurance rates, vehicle immobilization, fines, and possible jail time. If it is your third DUI you’re potentially looking at five years of prison. Your employer may decide to fire you. Obviously, nobody should get behind the wheel of an automobile or boat when they’re drunk. However, remember that you deserve the best possible criminal defense available. That is why you should call or schedule an appointment for your free consultation. I will do everything within the law to protect your rights and preserve your freedom. There are many defenses to the charge of DUI, and I will employ all that apply to your case.

If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, valid defenses exist to the allegation of your DUI:

Did you have a medical condition for which you take medication?
Did you have an injury that prevented you from walking normally?
Did you refuse to provide a breath test?
Did you refuse to perform field sobriety exercises?
Did you refuse to make any admissions to the police officer?
Were you involved in a car accident? Did you hit the windshield?
Did the police fail to properly advise you of your responsibilities concerning breath tests and field sobriety exercises?
Do you wear glasses or contact lenses?
Did the police fail to advise you of your rights?
Did you have an injury, illness, or cold that hindered you from adequately performing the field sobriety exercises? Did you inform the police officer of these?
Did the police officer force you to attempt the field sobriety exercises on wet, poorly lit, uneven, or cluttered land?
Did the police officer fail to give you precise instructions on how to perform the field sobriety exercises?
Did the police officer fail to demonstrate how to perform the field sobriety exercises?
Did the police officer force you to perform the field sobriety exercises near passing cars?
Did the headlights on the police officer’s patrol car blind you while you attempted the field sobriety exercises?
Were there any witnesses who can say you were not impaired?
Were you impaired by anything other than alcohol or illegal drugs? If so, did you refuse to make an admission and provide a urine test?

As you can see, there are many defenses to an allegation of Driving Under the Influence. It is important to know your rights. Be sure to contact The Demosthenous Law Firm BEFORE you go to court.

DUI PENALTIES
The following information describes the penalties that can be imposed when an individual pleas guilty or is convicted of a DUI. Keep in mind, however, that the following information is not meant to be comprehensive or depict all areas of the crime of Driving Under the Influence here in Florida. Please see Florida Statutes, section 316.193 for complete details.

For a more thorough explanation of possible repercussions of a guilty plea, call The Demosthenous Law Firm today.

First Offense

Fine: $250.00 - $500.00 (.20% breath/blood reading or higher requires: $500.00 - $1,000.00)
License suspension: 6 months - 1 year
Probation: 6 months - 1 year
Incarceration: 0 - 6 months (.20% breath/blood reading or higher requires: 0 - 9 months)
Impoundment/immobilization of vehicle: at least 10 days
Ignition device: (.20% breath/blood reading or higher requires: 0-6 months)

Second Offense within 5 years of the First DUI

Fine: $500.00 - $1,000.00 (.20% or higher: $1,000.00 - $2000.00)
License suspension: 5 years
Probation: 1 year
Incarceration: 10 days - 9 months (.20% or higher: 10 days - 1 year)
Impoundment: at least 30 days
Ignition device: at least 1 year (.20% or higher: at least 2 years)

Second DUI beyond 5 years of First DUI

Fine: $500.00 - $1,000.00 (.20% breath/blood reading or higher requires: $1,000.00 - $2,000.00)
License Suspension: 6 months - 1 year
Probation: 1 year
Incarceration: 0 - 9 months (.20 breath/blood reading or higher requires: 0 - 12 months)
Ignition device: at least 1 year (.20% breath/blood reading or higher requires: at least 2 years)

Third Conviction within 10 years (Felony)

Fine: $1000.00 - $5,000.00 (.20% breath/blood reading or higher requires: $2,000.00 - $5,000.00)
License Suspension: 1 year
Probation: 0 to 5 years
Incarceration: 30 days - 5 years
Impoundment: 90 days
Ignition device: at least 2 years

Third Conviction beyond 10 years (Misdemeanor)

Fine: $1,000.00 - $2,500.00 (.20% breath/blood reading or higher requires: $2,000.00 - $5,000.00)
License Suspension: 6 months -1 year
Probation: 1 year
Incarceration: 0 - 1 year
Ignition device: at least 2 years

Fourth Conviction (Misdemeanor)

Fine: $1,000.00 - $2,500.00 (.20% breath/blood reading or higher requires: $2,000.00 - $5,000.00)
License Suspension: Permanent or Lifetime Revocation
Probation: 1 year
Incarceration: 0 - 1 year

Fourth Conviction (Felony)

Fine: $1,000.00 - $5,000.00 (.20% breath/blood reading or higher requires: $1,000.00 - $5,000.00)
License Suspension: Permanent
Probation: 0- 5 years
Incarceration: 0 - 5 years

Second Refusal (Misdemeanor)

Fine: $500.00 - $1,000.00
License Suspension: 18 months
Probation: Up to 1 year
Incarceration: Up to 1 year