West Palm Beach DUI Attorney
Florida DUI Laws & Overview
DUI charges will be brought against anyone found driving or operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or more. In the state of Florida, it is illegal to drive with a BAC that reaches or exceeds .08%. As soon as a police officer discovers that your BAC is .08% or higher, he or she will arrest you on DUI charges and take you back to the police station, where you will remain until you are released on bail or your own recognizance. As soon as you are released from custody, you absolutely must contact an experienced West Palm Beach DUI lawyer. The DUI process from here on out can be complex, and you want to make sure you have a skilled DUI defender protecting your rights and fighting your charges throughout the remainder of your case.
DUI Process
A DUI arrest will generate two separate legal processes: the criminal case and the hearing with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Many people are unaware there is a hearing to attend in addition to the criminal trial. If you have been charged with DUI, it’s very important to schedule this hearing with the DMV. The hearing is your chance to fight to save your driver’s license, which will be suspended the moment you are arrested. If you are successful at the hearing, your license will be returned. However, you only have 10 days from the date of your arrest to schedule this hearing. If you do not schedule your hearing within 10 days, you will lose your right to a hearing and your license will automatically be suspended.
In addition to the hearing, you will also be required to appear in criminal court. Your first appearance for your criminal case will be at an arraignment, where you will enter your plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. If you plea not guilty the judge will set a date for trial. At the trial, your defense attorney will argue your case against the state prosecutor who is trying to prove you are guilty. If you the jury finds you guilty, you will be charged with DUI. Upon conviction, the judge will sentence you to a number of penalties, such as driver’s license suspension, fines, community service, DUI classes, and possible time in jail. If the jury finds you not guilty, your charges will be dropped and you will be free go.
Contact a West Palm Beach DUI Lawyer
Do not underestimate the toll a DUI conviction will take on your life. DUI may not seem like a major offense, but you can easily find yourself without a license and possibly in jail. At Musca Law, our West Palm Beach DUI attorneys are fully committed to defending your rights and providing you with the superb representation you need at both the DMV hearing and in criminal court. With over 100 years of combined experience, our firm has the resources, knowledge, and skill to tackle any DUI case. We can prepare a strong defense on your behalf, explain your rights, and answer any questions you may have. We know you are probably frightened, overwhelmed, and worried your life will be ruined by your DUI charges. We will work tirelessly to make sure you are not found guilty, so that you will be free to go back to your life as if none of this ever happened.
Please call 1-800-MUSCA-LAW to speak with one of our talented West Palm Beach DUI attorneys today!