If you or someone you care about is facing DUI/DWI charges in Florida, you probably have many questions. At The Fighter Law Firm, P.A., I have answers, and I will fight for your best interests following a drunk driving arrest.
As a former prosecutor, I am familiar with all of the tools that police officers use to collect evidence against someone suspected of drunk driving, such as Breathalyzer and field sobriety exercises. I also know that these methods are not foolproof and that mistakes happen all of the time.
Contact me, attorney Thomas Feiter,
online or call my law firm in Orlando at 407-574-7576 for a free consultation if you are dealing with a misdemeanor or felony DUI.
Answers to Your DUI Questions:
I offer the following answers to frequently asked questions about DUI in Florida:
Q. Will I lose my driver's license?
A. Not necessarily. Your DUI ticket acts as your driver's license for 10 days following your arrest. After that, your license is suspended. During those 10 days, you must request a formal review hearing in order to pursue a hardship license allowing you to travel to work, school and other important places. If you do not request a hearing within 10 days, you will lose your right to one. Therefore, it is critical to hire a defense attorney as soon as possible if you have been charged with DUI in Florida.
Q. How long will my license be suspended for?
A. The duration of your suspension will depend on whether or not you provided breath when requested by law enforcement. If you blew into the machine, your suspension will be 30 days hardtime. After that 30 day period, you may apply for a hardship license. If you refused to blow, your suspension will be for 90 days. After that 90 day period, you may apply for a hardship license. Keep in mind that County Court judges are very strict if they catch you driving on a DUI suspended license. Therefore, if you are caught driving with a DUI suspended you will likely do some time in the county jail.
Q. How will a DUI affect my insurance?
A. If convicted of DUI in Florida, you must get a special insurance called SR22 insurance in order to continue driving. It can cost thousands of dollars more per year than regular auto insurance rates.
Q. Can I have a DUI conviction erased from my record?
A. No. If you are convicted of DUI in Florida, you can never have the conviction expunged from your record or sealed. This another reason why it is extremely important to hire a knowledgeable lawyer as soon as possible to work to lower your charges or even have them dismissed.
Q. What if this is not my first DUI?
A. Repeat DUIs are serious matters in Florida. A second DUI conviction within five years of the first results in a mandatory 10-day jail sentence. For many people, this can mean losing their job, their home, and more.
Q. Do I need an attorney?
A. That is completely up to you. Many first-time DUIs can be resolved with a diversion-type program depending on what county you were arrested in. It is true that you may get the same result with or without an attorney. Keep in mind, however, that a DUI plea will not be cheap - even if you do the diversion program. An attorney can sit down and explain the entire process to you. He or she can save you the time and trouble of having to go to each court date, ensure that you don't miss any court dates where your presence is required, and help you take appropriate steps to make sure your case is resolved the best way possible. Furthermore, bad arrests occur all the time. You may read your police report and think everything looks in order. The trained eyes of an experienced attorney, however, may find an error in many places. Sometimes it is those errors that can lead to a complete dismissal of your charges. Examples are bad police stops, unlawful detentions, unlawful arrests, breathalyzer maintenance errors, breathalyzer administration errors.
Winter Park Drunk Driving Defense Attorneys
Offering Free Consultations
To begin building a strong DUI defense, hire an Orlando DUI/DWI attorneys at the earliest possible stage. Call The Fighter Law Firm, P.A. at 407-574-7576 or e-mail me, and I will respond shortly.
