DUI Lawyer in Orange County, FL
Getting pulled over for a DUI is not pleasant. Having a reputable DUI lawyer in Orlando, FL, is key. Most often, your first DUI, if close to the legal limit, will result in a Wet Reckless plea bargain (if one is available, and if your lawyer does what he or she needs to do). There are things that you should know. First and foremost, the implied consent law in Florida requires you to submit to an alcohol test. If you refuse, there are consequences to your license which a lot of people do not know. If your alcohol level is at or above the legal limit, there are several types of DUIs that you can be charged with. These depend on the circumstances and if you injured anyone or destroyed property. Also, different penalties will depend on how many DUI offenses you have already had. Contact a DUI attorney in Orlando, FL, if you have questions about DUIs.
Here is an idea of the penalties you could be facing in Florida for a DUI:
First Offense
Penalties for a first DUI are 180 days to a one-year revocation. If the offense involves serious injury to another, there is at least a three-year revocation. With a first DUI, you can apply for a hardship license before the end of the revocation period. As a result of your conviction for a first DUI, you will have to attend DUI School. To reinstate your driver’s license, you are required to pass an examination and pay the administrative fees and revocation reinstatement fees. You will also need proof of Bodily Injury Coverage through your auto insurance carrier in the amount of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 property damage liability on the arrest date; otherwise, proof of liability coverage and a reinstatement fee of up to $500 for subsequent violations will be required.
Second Offense
Penalties for a second DUI are a little harsher. A second offense not within five years from a prior conviction will result in up to a one-year revocation, and you will be unable to apply for a hardship license. The full revocation period must be served before requesting driver license reinstatement. Penalties for a second DUI within five years will result in a five-year revocation. You can apply for a hardship license after serving one year from effective date of revocation. DUI School and treatment, if referred, must be completed, and you must have a favorable recommendation from the Special Supervision Services Program to be eligible for a hardship license.
Third Offense
Penalties are even worse. If your third conviction is within ten years or more of the second conviction, it will result in a 180-day to one-year revocation, unless the last two of the convictions fall within five years, in which case a five-year revocation will apply. You are not eligible for a hardship license, and you must wait out the revocation period. A third offense within ten years of a second conviction will result in a ten-year revocation. You must serve two years of this revocation period before being eligible to apply for a hardship license.
Fourth & Subsequent Offenses
The penalties for these are even more stringent. You must serve five years of this revocation period before being eligible to apply for a hardship license.
DUI Manslaughter
Your license will be permanently revoked, and you must wait five years before you are eligible to apply for a hardship license.
Contact a DUI lawyer in Orlando, FL, to learn more about the above legal process. Our attorneys offer services for clients throughout Central Florida.