1st Offense DUI Attorney in West Palm Beach, FL Focused on Minimizing Penalties in Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and Throughout South Florida
Did the police stop and arrest you for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in South Florida. Police and prosecutors treat intoxicated driving seriously and vigorously pursue convictions against suspected drunk or drugged drivers. Even a first time conviction can lead to severe penalties. Don’t let one mistake have long-lasting consequences for your reputation and future. Contact BD Law today for an initial case evaluation with an experienced 1st offense DUI attorney in West Palm Beach to discuss your options for pursuing a favorable resolution to your DUI charges.
First DUI Offenses Under Florida Law
Under Florida Statutes 316.193, a person commits a DUI offense when they drive or exercise actual physical control over a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, inhalants, or controlled substances that impair driving ability or while having a BAC of 0.08 percent or more.
Penalties for a First-Time DUI Conviction
Florida imposes significant penalties even for a first-time DUI conviction to help deter motorists from intoxicated driving. First, penalties for a first-time conviction will result in the imposition of fines of $500 to $1,000, which may increase to $1,000 to $2,000 when a driver has a BAC of 0.15 or more or has a minor passenger in their vehicle. A court can also impose jail time for a first DUI conviction, with a maximum sentence of six months (or nine months if a driver has a BAC of 0.15 or more or has a minor passenger in their vehicle).
Other penalties for a first-time DUI conviction include:
- Ten-day vehicle impoundment (unless the defendant’s vehicle is their family’s sole mode of transportation)
- Complete DUI school
- Mandatory ignition interlock device requirement for up to six months for defendants who had a BAC of 0.15 or more
- Driver’s license suspension of 180 days to one year (or three years if the defendant causes an accident resulting in injuries)
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Defenses to DUI Charges
Even when the police stop and arrest you for driving under the influence, you may have factual and legal defenses available to you to contest your charges and pursue a favorable outcome to your case. Common defenses used in DUI cases include:
- Unlawful traffic stop: A defendant may seek to exclude all of the prosecution’s evidence in a DUI case by showing that police initiated the traffic stop leading to their arrest without reasonable suspicion or probable cause of a traffic violation or crime.
- Unreliable sobriety test results: Defendants may contest a DUI charge by challenging the reliability of field sobriety tests or chemical testing results. Field sobriety testing may suffer from issues such as the testing officer’s lack of training or subjective interpretation of a suspect’s performance, environmental factors that can hamper performance, or a person’s underlying medical issues or physical disabilities/impairments. Chemical testing may suffer from failures to follow testing protocols, lack of calibration of testing equipment, or breaks in the chain of custody of blood samples.
- Insufficiency of evidence of driving: A person can only commit DUI by driving or exercising actual physical control over a motor vehicle. As a result, a defendant may fight a DUI charge by showing that there is a lack of evidence to prove that they drove or otherwise had physical control over a vehicle while intoxicated.
What Can a West Palm Beach First Offense DUI Lawyer to Do Help You
When you get arrested for DUI for the first time, you don’t have to face the criminal justice system alone. A dedicated DUI defense lawyer from BD Law can guide you through the legal process and fight for your rights and interests by:
- Investigating your charges to recover evidence that may support your defense
- Evaluating your legal options for contesting the prosecution’s case, including identifying possible defense strategies
- Explaining your charges and answering your questions to give you the information you need to make the best decisions for your interests at each step
- Challenging the state’s case, including by moving to exclude evidence or dismiss your charges where possible, and presenting a vigorous defense at trial when you choose to fight your charges
Contact a Knowledgeable West Palm Beach First Offense DUI Lawyer from BD Law Today
When you get arrested for DUI for the first time, hiring experienced legal counsel can help relieve the anxiety and stress of facing the criminal justice system. Contact BD Law today for a confidential consultation with dedicated DUI defense attorney Brandon Dinetz to learn how our firm can help you seek a favorable resolution. With extensive experience as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, he has the knowledge and insight to craft and present a compelling defense against your DUI charges.