What to Expect if You Have Been Convicted of DUI in Florida

You probably remember that night well. Maybe you were out with some friends and co-workers and had a few drinks. On your way home, a police officer may have pulled you over and accused you of drunk driving. The next thing you know, you are facing a Florida DUI charge, and your entire future feels uncertain. Numerous questions are now going through your mind. Will you go to jail? Will you be fired from your job? Will you be forced to pay a fine?

A Florida DUI conviction will stay on your criminal record forever, and the penalties are steep. The repercussions of a DUI charge in Jacksonville depend on the specifics of your case. For example, a first conviction in Florida carries minimum mandatory penalties. The punishment gets steeper for each subsequent conviction. Other factors that could affect your case are the results of the breath test (or the refusal to take the test) and whether there was an accident.

Below are some additional details regarding the punishments associated with a DUI conviction:

First DUI Offense

When you are convicted of a first DUI, you are looking at up to six months in jail. If your blood alcohol level was .15 or more, or if there was a minor in the vehicle at the time you were pulled over, the jail sentence could be up to nine months. Your license may be suspended from 180 days to 18 months. In addition, you will have to pay a $500 fine plus court costs, you'll have to complete DUI school, and you'll have to complete 50 hours of community service. Your car will be impounded for 10 days.

Second DUI Offense

If your second DUI conviction occurs within five years of your first, you will have to serve least 10 days in jail. The fine will be at least $1,000 (plus court costs), and you will have to attend DUI school. You license will be revoked for 5 years if the second DUI conviction is within five years of the first.

You do not have to face the legal system alone. A DUI charge CAN be defended! Jacksonville DUI Lawyer Ruth Ann Hepler has spent the last 18 years defending criminal cases and can help you with your DUI defense. Don't rely on a lawyer who has little experience defending DUI cases. You have too much to lose.

Contact us today at (904) 384-8808 or (866) 624-4213 for more information regarding your options following a Florida DUI charge.