Driving Under the Influence Offenses
Areas of Practice > DUI Offenses
Florida law prohibits drivers from operating vehicles if their normal faculties are impaired by drugs and/or alcohol.
An individual will be charged with driving under the influence if they are pulled over and the officer determines through field sobriety exercises and blood, breath, or urine testing, that the individual is impaired. Florida law follows the implied consent law. This means that by driving a vehicle, you have automatically consented to the submission of a chemical test when pulled over.
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Limits in Florida vary for different types of drivers, as follows:
- Drivers age 21 or older: BAC limit of .08%
- Drivers under the age of 21 (Under 21): BAC limit of .02%
- Drivers with commercial licenses (Commercial DUI): BAC limit of .04%
Conviction for driving under the influence will result in severe penalties. The severity of the consequences will depend upon numerous factors such as prior DUI convictions, your BAC at the time of arrest, and any aggravating factors that were involved in the incident. DUI penalties include but are not limited to:
- Fines of a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $5,000
- Imprisonment for a maximum of 5 years
- Vehicle impoundment for a minimum of 10 days to a maximum of 90 days
- Loss of License for a minimum of 180 days to a maximum of permanent revocation
There are ramifications for being arrested for DUI beyond the criminal justice system. Once you are arrested for DUI, you have 10 days in which to schedule a hearing with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). This hearing is your only opportunity to fight the automatic suspension of your driver's license. Therefore, time is of the essence. If you, or someone you know, is charged with Driving Under the Influence, it is extremely important to get the help from experienced attorneys such as Anthony Bruno & Peter Schoenthal.
Accused of a DUI Offense?
You need a reliable defense lawyer who will stand up for your rights and protect your freedom. At Bruno & Schoenthal, we have the knowledge and experience to fight for you.
Our Approach
At Bruno & Schoenthal, we believe that representing clients begins and ends with total preparation.
We also believe that trial is often your best course of action. By preparing a case for trial from the beginning, you leave no stone unturned. When you approach a case this way you often find facts or defenses that can lead to your charges being dismissed or allow you to have a stronger position when negotiating with the government. If you or your attorney is unprepared, there’s no way you can expect a positive outcome in court. That’s why when we approach a case, our first step is to begin fully preparing for trial so you get a complete representation. Unlike other firms who assign a single lawyer to each client, we work together on every single case and we believe in a client-centered approach. This means you will get the benefit of our combined experience and problem solving skills.
By working together, we can develop strategies and initiatives that will help us be successful in court.
Please provide us with your details and we'll be in touch as quickly as possible.