DUI, DWI Offenses

Obviously, driving while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants is not a good idea and in no way does the law firm of Amy R. Ritchey condone or encourage it. However, it idoes not take very much alcohol to be over the legal limit and you may very well be over the limit and not feel impaired. Residents of Florida should be aware that the state’s drunk driving laws are some of the toughest in the country, making DUII (Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants) an extremely serious offense. If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence, you’ll want to have an experienced Treasure Coast DUI lawyer on your side to ensure you make the best possible decisions throughout your case.

A conviction for DUII, also known as DUI or DWI, can have numerous consequences, including:

Jail time
Large fines between $500 and $1,000 for first DUI and increasing minimum fines for subsequent DUI convictions
Community service,
Alcohol education classes
Loss of license or driving privileges
Installation of an interlock device on your vehicle - mandatory for second and subsequent DUIs

Losing your driving privileges can create major obstacles in your everyday life. After a DUI arrest, you are at risk of losing your license both through the criminal court system as well as through the Department of Motor Vehicles ("DMV"). A DMV hearing is used to determine whether you will keep or lose your license, regardless of whether or not you are convicted. Long term consequences of a DUI conviction can include difficulty obtaining employment, maintaining professional licenses, and qualifying for financial aid for schools. In addition, those offenders that are professional motor vehicle operators may lose their commercial driver’s license and be completely out of work.

In order for a person to be convicted for DUI in the state of Florida, the state must prove that the person was driving or in actual physical control of the vehicle and that the person was under the influence of alcoholic beverages or a chemical or controlled substance when affected to the extent that the person’s normal faculties were impaired; or the person has a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

WARNING: If you fail or refuse the test, your license will be confiscated and the DMV will automatically suspend your driving privileges anywhere from three months to a year or more. YOU ONLY HAVE TEN DAYS TO REQUEST A HEARING TO CONTEST YOUR LICENSE SUSPENSION.

Because of these sorts of time constraints, it is crucial that you contact an experienced DUI lawyer as soon as possible after a DUI arrest. Hiring legal help quickly allows the lawyer to gather witness statements while the circumstances are still fresh in the witness's minds. Witness testimonies can be very helpful to any case, and having a more accurate and detailed account of the situation is often extremely beneficial. We analyze all available testimony, police reports, road-side testing results, video taken, conduct witness and law enforcement interviews, and ensure that we have gathered all necessary evidence to best represent your case.