Miami DUI Attorney

Driving is a privilege in Florida, not a right. In order to be granted a driver’s license, a person must first take a test and prove that they are knowledgeable and responsible enough to operate a motor vehicle.

Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is considered proof that a person no longer deserves to have the privilege of driving. That is why the penalties for DUI can be very harsh.

First DUI Offense Penalties

• Fine of $500 – $1,000
• Jail sentence of up to 6 months or probation for up to a year
• Mandatory 50 hours of community service or an additional $10 fine for each hour of community service required
• Vehicle impoundment for 10 days
• License revocation for a minimum of 6 months

DUI with Minor First Offense Penalties

• Fine of $1,000 – $2,000
• Up to 9 months

Second DUI Offense Penalties

• Fine of $1,000 – $2,000
• Jail sentence of up to 9 months
• Minimum sentence of 10 days if convicted within 5 years of a first offense
• Vehicle impoundment for 30 days
• License revocation for a minimum of 6 months
  • 5-year revocation if convicted within 5 years of a first offense

DUI with Minor Second Offense Penalties

• Fine of $2,000 – $4,000
• Up to 12 months (if it’s been 5 years since last conviction)

Third DUI Offense Penalties

• Fine of $1,000 – $2,500
• Fine of $2,000 – $5,000 if convicted within 10 years of a first offense
• Jail sentence of up to 12 months
• Minimum sentence of 30 days if convicted within 10 years of a first offense
• Vehicle impoundment for 90 days if convicted within 10 years of a first offense
• License revocation for 5 years
  • 10-year revocation if convicted within 10 years of a first offense

DUI with Minor Third Offense Penalties

• Minimum fine of $4,000

Fourth DUI Offense Penalties

• Minimum fine of $1,000
• Jail sentence of up to 5 years
• Mandatory permanent license revocation (not eligible for hardship license)

Fight For Freedom From Your DUI Penalties In Miami

Speak with Beckham Solis, Attorneys at Law, today and learn how we can help you avoid the penalties of a DUI conviction. Whether this is your first DUI defense case or you have been convicted before, our attorneys can help. We have taken hundreds of cases to trial and can fight aggressively for a reduction of your charges or the dismissal of your case.

Our firm is also highly recognized for its excellence – we have an A+ rating with the BBB, have an attorney who is AV rated* through Martindale-Hubbell, and are members of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

If you believe there was no probable cause to pull you over before your DUI arrest, it is possible to file a motion to suppress, which could result in a dismissal of your case. However, even in these instances, it can be difficult to secure a dismissal: essentially, these cases become the accused’s word against the arresting police officer’s.

What can help support a motion to suppress? Witnesses to your driving can help establish what your driving behavior was like. These can include both passengers or other drivers or pedestrians who may have seen you driving. In rarer cases, security or traffic footage may be used to dispute behavior the officer claims to have seen you conduct before the arrest occurred.

Upon a second DUI, an individual could face a fine of $1,000 to $2,000, a jail sentence of up to nine months, vehicle impoundment for 30 days, and license revocation for up to six months.

If charged with a third DUI, the fine increases to $1,000 to $2,500, the jail sentence can be up to 12 months, and the license suspension can be up to five years.

A fourth DUI will result in a minimum fine of $1,000, a jail sentence of up to five years, and a mandatory license revocation for life. These penalties increase even more if the conviction occurs within 10 years of the person’s first DUI. It is important to know that if this happens, the charge will change from a misdemeanor to a felony. This will result in a 15-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine.

If you are charged with a DUI under 21 in Florida, you could be facing frightening and serious consequences. It is illegal for a person under 21 to purchase and consume alcohol, much less get behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence. The state of Florida has a zero tolerance policy for those under 21 who are believed to have been operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Drivers under suspicion of DUI must submit to breath and blood tests. As a part of the zero tolerance policy for underage drivers, the maximum blood alcohol content (BAC) is .02%, far lower than the .08% for drivers at 21 or older. Essentially, you could be arrested by consuming just one ounce of alcohol.

If you are found guilty of underage DUI, the penalties imposed will have a heavy impact on your future. In Florida, the punishments for under 21 drivers on a first offense will include:

You may have a viable defense case, based upon wrongly administered breath or blood tests, police errors or rights violations, faulty testing units or other factors. In the event that you are charged with an under 21 DUI, it is important that you retain legal representation right away. As an underage driver, it could not be more important that you have a skilled lawyer on your side.