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DUIHave you been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI)? Do not wait another minute to get the exceptional defense that you need to avoid a conviction or an overly harsh sentence.
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Common DUI Questions
The police just arrested my friend for DUI. How do I get him / her out of jail?
Call an attorney or a bondsman. The amount of the bond will depend on the severity of the alleged crime. For lesser crimes or for individuals with no prior record, the court may not require a bond and may release the individual on pre-trial services. Otherwise, you will need someone to post 10% of the total bondable amount set by the court. For a standard DUI, the bond amount is $1500.
I've just gotten out of jail for DUI. What do I do next?
Once you are out of jail, you will have two separate "cases" to deal with:
What penalties am I facing regarding my driver's license? What penalties am I facing in the criminal court?
In criminal court, you will be facing up to one year in jail for a DUI conviction. You could be facing more time depending on the charges and the nature of the facts in your case.
Depending on the case and whether or not you submitted to the breathalyzer, you will be facing at least a 90-day license suspension. There are several potential punishments for each individual case. For example, if you refuse the breathalyzer for a second time, your license could be suspended for 18 months without the possibility of a hardship license.
Does it matter if I hire a lawyer?
YES. A lawyer can begin to work on your defense immediately and can let the state attorney and DMV know that you are serious about defending your case. Memories fade over time, and critical witnesses can be lost, which is why it is important to have an attorney helping you from the beginning. Every person who is arrested has the choice to represent themselves without a lawyer; however, we have seen countless situations where, by merely hiring an attorney, things change for the better. Considering the various implications regarding your license and possible suspensions, it is crucial to hire a lawyer sooner rather than later.
How long will it take until my case is resolved?
It is our goal to resolve your case as soon as possible; however, a case will usually take at least a few months to be properly resolved depending on the complexity of the issues and the amount of work to be done.
Will I have to go to court?
We will do everything we can to keep you out of the courtroom as much as possible. For most DUI cases, we can appear in court for you and even resolve your case without your presence.
Will you be available to me?
Yes. You will find it is very unique that we give all our clients our personal cell phone numbers for 24 / 7 access. We are selective in who we choose to defend and we provide a high level of service and accessibility to our clients.
How will you try to win my case?
There are several ways to obtain a dismissal in a DUI case. The most important thing you can do is to hire a firm that is familiar with the various issues, cases, and legal precedents that will help your case. During our first meeting with you, we will provide an in-depth questionnaire for you to fill out in order to preserve some issues you might forget later.
Call an attorney or a bondsman. The amount of the bond will depend on the severity of the alleged crime. For lesser crimes or for individuals with no prior record, the court may not require a bond and may release the individual on pre-trial services. Otherwise, you will need someone to post 10% of the total bondable amount set by the court. For a standard DUI, the bond amount is $1500.
I've just gotten out of jail for DUI. What do I do next?
Once you are out of jail, you will have two separate "cases" to deal with:
- The suspension of your license by the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Your criminal case, handled by the Brevard County State Attorney's Office
What penalties am I facing regarding my driver's license? What penalties am I facing in the criminal court?
In criminal court, you will be facing up to one year in jail for a DUI conviction. You could be facing more time depending on the charges and the nature of the facts in your case.
Depending on the case and whether or not you submitted to the breathalyzer, you will be facing at least a 90-day license suspension. There are several potential punishments for each individual case. For example, if you refuse the breathalyzer for a second time, your license could be suspended for 18 months without the possibility of a hardship license.
Does it matter if I hire a lawyer?
YES. A lawyer can begin to work on your defense immediately and can let the state attorney and DMV know that you are serious about defending your case. Memories fade over time, and critical witnesses can be lost, which is why it is important to have an attorney helping you from the beginning. Every person who is arrested has the choice to represent themselves without a lawyer; however, we have seen countless situations where, by merely hiring an attorney, things change for the better. Considering the various implications regarding your license and possible suspensions, it is crucial to hire a lawyer sooner rather than later.
How long will it take until my case is resolved?
It is our goal to resolve your case as soon as possible; however, a case will usually take at least a few months to be properly resolved depending on the complexity of the issues and the amount of work to be done.
Will I have to go to court?
We will do everything we can to keep you out of the courtroom as much as possible. For most DUI cases, we can appear in court for you and even resolve your case without your presence.
Will you be available to me?
Yes. You will find it is very unique that we give all our clients our personal cell phone numbers for 24 / 7 access. We are selective in who we choose to defend and we provide a high level of service and accessibility to our clients.
How will you try to win my case?
There are several ways to obtain a dismissal in a DUI case. The most important thing you can do is to hire a firm that is familiar with the various issues, cases, and legal precedents that will help your case. During our first meeting with you, we will provide an in-depth questionnaire for you to fill out in order to preserve some issues you might forget later.
DUI Courses Offered by Florida Safety Council
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The Florida Safety Council offers two DHSMV approved DUI School courses. All of our DUI courses meet and exceed the state of Florida certification requirements for DUI Program operation and staffing (Administrative Rules 15A–10). The Florida Safety Council has been serving the Ninth and Eighteenth Judicial Circuits as a DUI Program Provider since 1973. The educational components of our classes are taught by Certified Level I and Level II DUI Instructors, who meet Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles requirements. The evaluation component is conducted by Certified Evaluators, who meet Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles requirements. Certificates of DUI Program completion are presented to each student upon successful completion of both the education component and the evaluation component of the DUI Course. The DUI Program issues reports to the Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, the court, and the Probation Department staff on all students successfully completing the DUI Level I or DUI Level II Classes. Successful completion of substance abuse treatment (if referred) and failure to complete status, are reported for the DUI Program attendance 90 days after enrollment per FS 322.291.
As the Courts and DHSMV have asked for programs to help with decreasing repeat DUI offenses, the Florida Safety Council has come forward working with the DHSMV on the Special Supervision Services and Ignition Interlock Programs. The Victim Awareness Program was developed and Copyrighted in the effort to help DUI offenders see the offense from the side of those who have lost a loved one or been injured themselves in a non-confrontational program. |
DUI Questionnaire
Click the file icon below to download the DMV DUI Questionnaire for free.
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