DUI Penalties in Florida

Miami DUI Lawyer

To have the greatest opportunity of avoiding the many penalties for a Florida DUI conviction, it is important to involve a Miami DUI lawyer as soon as possible. You do have the right to legal counsel, and your choice to exercise this right immediately may have a considerable impact on your case. Your attorney will not only defend you from criminal penalties such as fines and imprisonment; he or she will also have the task of protecting you from driver's license suspension at your DMV hearing.

Penalties for First and Second DUI Convictions

The penalties for a DUI conviction in Miami, Florida can be extreme, depending on the particular nature of the offense as well as the defendant's prior criminal record, if any. A defendant may face the following penalties:

Imprisonment
Fines
Driver's License Suspension
Community Service
Probation
Drug or Alcohol Treatment/Rehabilitation

Whether a mandatory term of imprisonment is imposed as well as the amount of jail time, community service, fines, or length of driver's license suspension will vary mainly on whether this is the defendant's first, second or subsequent DUI. The driver's blood alcohol concentration as well as whether he or she was involved in an auto accident may also impact sentencing. Following are the maximum penalties which may be imposed upon a conviction for a first or second DUI in Florida:

First DUI Offense:

Driver's License Revocation - 1 year
Imprisonment - 6 months
Probation - 1 year
Community Service - 50 hours
Fine - $1,000
Vehicle Impoundment - 10 days

Second DUI Offense (within 5 years):

Driver's License Revocation - 5 years
Imprisonment - 9 months
Mandatory Minimum Imprisonment - 10 days
Fine - $2,000
Vehicle Impoundment - 30 days

Contact a DUI Defense Attorney in Miami

With over a decade of experience as a trial attorney as well as a background as a former Miami-Dade prosecutor, Miami DUI defense attorney Michael Mirer can offer you aggressive, personalized representation in the face of your drunk driving charges - helping you to avoid maximum penalties and possibly a conviction altogether. Contact a Miami DUI lawyer from the Law Office of Michael Mirer, P.A. today to discuss your defense options.