Florida Woman Facing DUI Charges After Food Run to McDonald’s
A Florida woman is facing DUI charges after a late-night food run to McDonald’s. Her vehicle was stopped after a police officer saw her fail to stop properly at a red light, according to the arrest report. The incident occurred at 2:20 in the morning in Clermont, Florida.
The driver allegedly rolled through a red light and was pulled over on that basis. An officer pulled the vehicle over but the suspect appeared not to be aware that she was being pulled over. The officer followed her for a short distance before she recognized the flashing lights. The officer asked for her driver’s license, but instead, she handed over her insurance card. The officer noted the smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle. During the traffic stop, the suspect was eating her hamburger.
The suspect admitted that she had come from the bar before heading to McDonald’s. She told police that she had two vodka sodas before leaving to go to Mcdonald’s to pick up some food. Police say that the suspect’s responses were delayed, her eyes were glassy, and her face was flushed. The officer then administered a sobriety test which the driver allegedly failed which led to her arrest. A breathalyzer test administered at the police station revealed that her BAC was more than double the legal limit.
Aggravated DUI charges
The suspect will face one count of aggravated DUI based on her breathalyzer test. While a simple DUI is charged for drivers whose BAC is between .08 and .15, the law can charge you with aggravated DUI if your BAC is higher than .15. In the case mentioned above, police say that the driver’s BAC was more than double the legal limit which would qualify her for enhanced charges.
Aggravated DUI charges come with enhanced penalties. A simple DUI arrest can land you in jail for 6 months. For an aggravated DUI, that number inflates to 9 months. The fines are harsher as well. A fine of between $500 and $1,000 is typical of a simple DUI arrest. However, for an aggravated DUI, the fines inflate to between $1,000 and $2,000. Depending on the circumstances, a defendant may be forced into drug and alcohol counseling. They can face a driver’s license suspension for up to 1 year. Their vehicle can be impounded.
It’s imperative to have an attorney help you with your case when you’re facing an aggravated DUI charge. In some cases, the breathalyzer tests have a margin of error. If your BAC is close to the level of an aggravated DUI charge, you may be able to fight the breathalyzer test on the basis that it overestimated your BAC. In some cases, the tests aren’t calibrated properly and give inflated results. A Florida DUI attorney can help.
Talk to a Florida DUI Lawyer Today
If you are facing a DUI charge in Orlando, you need to have an attorney help you with your case. FL DUI Group specializes in DUI charges and can help you fight the charges or get them reduced. Call our Florida DUI defense lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing defense strategy right away.
