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Gainesville DUI Lawyers

• Galigani Robertson: Penalties for a Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (DUI) conviction are extremely serious and may significantly effect your life, your finances, car insurance rates, relationships and your ability to work. Severe punishment demands a serious defense. Florida's DUI laws are strictly enforced. The public's perception of drunk driving has shifted dramatically. What was once viewed as a minor indiscretion is now seen as a serious crime with lifelong consequences. The advice of a qualified attorney is critical. You deserve an attorney experienced in the complex intricacies of DUI defenses (unreliable breath test machines, police mistakes and assumptions, and how medical conditions, fatigue, and prescription medications affect balance and coordination). ... carefully scrutinize every fact in an effort to vigorously defend your rights. University students beware! Your school may assess penalties in addition to what the government is pushing for.
• Salter, David: Have you been arrested or are being investigated for a crime? Then you need a qualified attorney to represent your case.
• Hertz & Associates: A defendant may attack eyewitness testimony during trial. There are numerous issues and problems that arise when dealing with eyewitness identification testimony. One of the largest issues involves the reliability of the eyewitness. The defendant may attack the eyewitness identification testimony by cross-examination, by way of a jury instruction, or by way of closing argument to the jury.
• Silverman & Voorhis: In a criminal case, the clock starts ticking the moment you are arrested or formally charged.Ê Criminal cases can move through the judicial system very quickly, so it is important to secure legal representation as soon as possible.
• Hutson & Brockway: Below is a brief rundown of the minimum penalties for first offense driving under the influence in Florida (as of 2002):

  1st offense (under .20 blood or breath alcohol level)

  Adjudication of guilt (which is a conviction);
  $250 fine plus court costs;
  
  12 months of supervised probation (reporting to a probation officer once a month);
  
  50 hours of community service (5 of which must be served on the Victim Impact Panel);
  
  6-month driver's license suspension (running from the date of conviction, not arrest);
  
  Attend and complete DUI school (a 12-hour course for the level 1 program); and,
  
  10-day vehicle impoundment or immobilization.

• Jeffrey Meldon:

  Being convicted of DUI can result in:
  
  1. Loss of liberty
  2. Loss of driving privileges
  3. Fines and court costs
  4. A criminal record

  Other penalties may include years of higher insurance rates, many hours of enforced community service and a tarnished reputation. Many DUI cases can be successfully defended, thereby preserving your driving privileges and avoiding jail time.

  Anyone can be accused of drunk driving. Frequently, an investigation for DWI begins when a police officer stops a motorist to issue a traffic ticket.

  Frequently, it can be shown that a police officer's decision to arrest you was improper or unlawful. Evidence favorable to you may be presented to show that your condition at the time of your arrest was caused by factors other than alcohol. These factors may include having been in an accident, fatigue, your physical condition, or use of medications. Most importantly, you may deny that you were impaired by alcohol and we can document what you had to drink and that you have witnesses to prove your sobriety.

• Barbaretti & Quirk:

  Penalties for 1^st Offenders

  DUI:  First Offender Minimum Penalties

  1. Mandatory conviction for DUI (misdemeanor offense).
     
     
  2. One year supervised probation.
     1. Meet with probation officer once a month
     2. Pay monthly supervision fee (about $50.00 per month).
        
        
  3. $250 fine plus court costs (about $700.00 total).
     1. If your BT results are >.20 the minimum fine is $500.00.
     2. If a person under 18 is in the vehicle at the time of the offense the minimum fine is $500.00.
        
        
  4. 50 hours of community service.
     
     
  5. Attend Alcohol Safety Education Course (DUI School).
     1. Cost of DUI School: $200.00
     2. At least 12 hours of class time.
     3. Possible additional counseling for twelve weeks (one hour/week + $20.00 weekly fee).
        
        
  6. Attend Victim Impact Panel.
     
     
  7. Six months suspension of driver’s license from date of conviction.
• Wershow, Schneider & Arroyo: The law firm you choose will make a difference in the outcome of your case.
• Karin Moore: The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.
• Kinsell & Salter: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DUI) - Florida law makes it illegal to drive when your blood alcohol level or breath alcohol level is .08 or above. First time offenses include a minimum fine of $250, 50 hours of community service, and possibly up to 6 months in jail. The punishment for DUI is severe, and is not to be taken lightly. DUI defense is our specialty. Our goal is to skillfully evaluate each case for police error, breath testing and other types of evidence which weakens the strength of the Prosecutor's case against you.
• Davis & Hutson: The penalties for such crimes are notoriously stiff; even first offenders receive no special consideration from the prosecutors, and the court is limited in terms of what type of sentence it can give in these cases.
• Stephen Berstein: If you are charged with drunk driving, the lawyer you choose will make a difference in the outcome of your case. Your best defense is to hire an experienced attorney.
• Melton & Barbarette: Frequently, it can be shown that a police officer's decision to arrest you was improper or unlawful. Evidence favorable to you may be presented to show that your condition at the time of your arrest was caused by factors other than alcohol. These factors may include having been in an accident, fatigue, your physical condition, or use of medications. Most importantly, you may deny that you were impaired by alcohol and we can document what you had to drink and that you have witnesses to prove your sobriety.