DUI convictions are serious and unfortunately all too common. Police are aggressively arresting and the State of Florida is very active in prosecuting people accused of this crime in their efforts to crack down on drunk driving. Driving under the influence (DUI) is the operation of a motor vehicle while impaired due to a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher or the effects of a chemical substance or controlled substance.

A conviction for driving under the influence may possibly result in life damaging consequences such as fines, driver’s license suspension or revocation, community service, probation, imprisonment, and the impoundment or immobilization of one’s vehicle. In addition, all of these punishments can become drastically more severe if the incident was a repeated offense or resulted in property damage, personal injury, serious bodily injury, or manslaughter. With over thirty years of experience in criminal law, Charles G. White has represented and helped numerous people charged with DUI throughout the state of Florida.

To determine the punishment for a DUI conviction, the number of convictions and blood alcohol level must be taken into consideration because as either increase, so does the State’s punishment of you.

If you are convicted of a DUI, even for the first time, you will have to:

Surrender your money to pay a fine of at least $500 but not more than $1,000 for a first conviction and a blood alcohol level under .15, but if your blood alcohol level is over .15 than the fine can be as high as $2000;

Surrender your time to attend a DUI driving school AND complete at least 50 hours of community service or pay additional fines of $10 for each hour of community service;

Surrender your driver’s license as it will be revoked for a MINIMUM of 180 days and not reinstated until you have completed DUI school;

Surrender your vehicle to impoundment of immobilization for 10 days, unless it is successfully brought before the court that your family has no other transportation;

AND

Possibly surrender your freedom as probation and/or imprisonment could also be realistic but this most certainly can vary on a case-by-case basis.
It is critically important to hire a criminal defense lawyer immediately after your arrest for DUI. The arresting officer will confiscate your drivers license. The ticket he writes for DUI will serve as a temporary license for 10 days. If you do nothing after the 10 days, your drivers license will be automatically administratively suspended. If you are caught driving without a drivers license because of a DUI, you will be facing jail time. Most prosecutors will insist on at least 30 days. The offense of Driving Without a Valid License when the drivers license has been seized pursuant to a DUI is very easy to prove.

You have the right, before the 10 days expire, to apply to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, Drivers License Division for an Administrative Hearing to challenge the administrative suspension. If you apply on time, the Division of Motor Vehicles will schedule a hearing and send you a temporary license good for 30 days. At the hearing, you will have the right to subpoena witnesses and present legal argument why your administrative suspension should be overturned. You need an attorney who knows the defenses that can be invoked to get your license returned or to obtain a work permit. This administrative suspension is separate from the suspension that would be ordered by the Criminal Court Judge if you are convicted of DUI. A skilled and experienced attorney can use the opportunity to question witnesses to build the foundation for a successful defense of the DUI charges.

Charles G. White believes that an aggressive defense is the best guarantor of the best result and as such, he will leave no stone unturned in evaluating every aspect of your case. The best outcome in these cases is reliant upon two primary things: 1) KNOWLEDGE of what you are up against; and 2) EFFORT in the examination and attack of every detail of your arrest and all circumstances involved in the arrest.

Charles G. White will fight for you with his extensive experience in challenging breath test results, field sobriety tests, police statements, police conduct during the arrest, and every/all other constitutional issues which can be raised in your defense. Charles G. White will take every step necessary in order to prepare the best possible defense for every situation including the hiring of expert witnesses such as accident reconstruction experts or toxicologists.

The prosecution begins working against you as soon as you are arrested, even the playing field by having Mr. White start working for you at the same time. If you or a loved one has been arrested for DUI in Florida, contact the law offices of Charles G. White for effective assistance from a Florida drunk driving defense attorney with over 30 years of experience in helping people in similar unfortunate situations. Contact Charles G. White as soon as possible and schedule your free consultation!