Many people consume alcohol in Florida for various reasons and for the most part it is perfectly fine to do it. This is true even if people have consumed too much to drink. However, when people are intoxicated some of the decisions that they make can have bad outcomes. This could be that they embarrassed themselves or said things they regret. Other times the decisions can be dangerous for both the person and people around them.
One of these potentially dangerous decisions is to get behind the wheel and drive. In addition to being dangerous it can also lead to significant consequences for the person who is driving under the influence.
Even a first time DUI can have serious punishments. The driver could be fined between $500 – $1,000 if the BAC is between .08 and .15. If the BAC is above .15, the fine could be between $1,000 – $2,000. In addition to the fines, the driver could be sentenced up to six months in jail or up to nine months if the BAC is above .15. The person could also have their driver’s license revoked for a minimum of six months.
As one can see these consequences could cause major problems for people. However, there are potential defenses to a DUI. These potential defenses generally start with the initial stop of the vehicle. Police must follow certain rules in order to pull people over and if they do not follow these rules, the stop could be determined to be an illegal stop. All evidence gathered after an illegal stop could be suppressed, making a conviction unlikely.
There are many people in Florida who drink and drive and many people who are charged with a DUI. A conviction can result in serious consequences, but everyone is innocent until proven guilty and simply being charged with a DUI does not automatically mean the person will be convicted. Experienced attorneys understand the DUI laws and potential defenses to them and could be a useful resource.