If you find yourself arrested or charged with a DUI – Driving while Under the Influence – you may face serious monetary, driving and criminal penalties. The most important thing you can do after being arrested and charged with a DUI is to seek legal counsel. Retaining a skilled and qualified attorney can make the process significantly less confusing. It is essential to have someone fighting for you that is knowledgeable about the state DUI laws and proper police procedure. There are instances where charges are dropped because of breathalyzer malfunctions and other police errors.
Secondly, it is important to listen to your attorney with regards to court dates, proper insurance and filing for a hardship license. Missing court is frowned upon and may negatively impact your case results. The state of Florida will require you to submit a SR-22 form, which is either filed by you or your insurance company and validates that you have proper insurance. Being found guilty of a DUI will cause insurance companies to evaluate you as a risky driver and this may result in a spike in insurance rates, being required to purchase “high risk” insurance or being dropped from your insurance carrier.
If this is your first DUI and no party involved was seriously injured you face license revocation of 180 days to one year effective from the conviction date and if a serious injury occurred at least a three-year revocation. Before the revocation period ends you may apply for a hardship license that allows you to drive to work, church and other places essential to maintaining your livelihood.
DUI charges should not be taken lightly as they carry a heavy impact on your personal, financial and professional life. The first step in any scenario should be to retain a reliable and knowledgeable attorney with experience who will fight for you. At Platt Hopwood you will find just that; we have a team of attorneys ready to stand in your corner and fight for you.
