Facing a First-Time DUI—How the Charge Will Impact Your Life and What You Can Do to Improve Your Outcome

If you’ve been arrested for DUI for the first time, you’re probably pretty stressed out about it. The flashing lights, the sobriety tests, and the sound of handcuffs clicking can leave the best of us feeling frightened and uncertain. In Florida, even a first offense for DUI carries serious penalties. These penalties can impact your driver’s license, your finances, and your employment. The good news is: You can recover and minimize the damage or avoid a conviction altogether.

Understanding first-offense DUIs in Florida

Under Florida Statute §316.193, a person commits DUI if they drive or are in “actual physical control” of a vehicle while they’re impaired by alcohol or drugs. Even as a first-time charge, the law can impose difficult penalties. These include:

• Fines that range from $500 to $1,000 (or higher if your BAC exceeded .15 or there was a minor in the vehicle)
• Up to six months in jail
• License suspension for six months to a year
• Probation, community service, and mandatory DUI school
• The installation of an ignition interlock device

These penalties are serious. But they only tell part of the story. Your DUI can also raise your insurance premiums, jeopardize your employment, and stay on your record for years.

Collateral consequences

Beyond just fines and court dates, your DUI can also create ripples that impact your personal life. Many clients feel embarrassed or ashamed. They worry about explaining the arrest to their employer or family. Others face challenges commuting. Florida’s administrative and criminal systems operate separately. That means you could lose your license before your case is even resolved.

How your DUI attorney can help

Having a DUI attorney early in the process can make all the difference. A skilled lawyer will immediately address two major problems: (1) your criminal case, and (2) your license suspension.

Your attorney can request a formal review hearing with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) within 10 days of your arrest to protect your right to drive. As for the criminal side of your case, your lawyer will scrutinize every detail and every action that law enforcement took to file charges against you. We can identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. In some cases, we may be able to plead the matter down to a lesser charge (called a wet reckless). You might qualify for pre-trial diversion. This can result in dismissal of the charges after completing certain conditions.

Talk to an Orlando, FL, DUI Attorney Today 

FL DUI Group represents the interests of Orlando residents who are facing DUI charges. Call our Florida DUI defense lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin preparing your defense right away.