Man Drives Into Dental Clinic And Then Runs Away
A Florida man has been arrested for DUI causing property damage, resisting arrest without violence, and fleeing the scene of an accident after he struck another vehicle and then swerved into an Ocala dental clinic. According to police, the man’s BAC was .14 which is nearly twice the legal limit.
When police arrived at the scene, the man began to flee on foot but was apprehended when bystanders pointed him out. He will face one count of DUI with property damage for the vehicle he struck and another for the dental clinic.
Analyzing the consequences
There are multiple levels of consequences to a situation like this. First, you have a “near miss” situation where the defendant could have easily killed someone after completely losing control of his car. So, despite the totality of the charges not adding up to much more than two years, the court will take the matter seriously.
When it comes to DUI, there are three levels of penalties. The first is the criminal penalty. DUI with property damage is considered a first-degree misdemeanor as opposed to simple DUI, which is a second-degree misdemeanor. So, you could face up to a year in prison for the charge, but in most cases, you end up on DUI probation.
The two other categories of penalties are where they get you. In most cases, you will end up on DUI probation which is quite intensive. You will be required to submit to mandatory alcohol and drug testing, and you won’t be allowed to frequent bars or other places where alcohol is served. In a case like this where there is extensive property damage, the defendant would be expected to pay the plaintiff to fix the damage. Since he drove into a building, it is unlikely that his insurance policy will cover the damages. This means that the money can be extracted directly from his estate. He will never be able to discharge a DUI-related debt in bankruptcy if he chooses to declare bankruptcy. So, this debt will hang over his head for a long time.
In terms of his license, it’s likely that it will be suspended for an extended period of time. In some cases, an individual can apply for a restricted license after a DUI suspension. The court will be very wary about extending this defendant that privilege. So, he’ll have to prove to the court that he can remain sober before he’s allowed to legally operate a car. This is not a life-shattering situation, but it will be life-altering into the near future.
Talk to an Orlando DUI Attorney Today
FL DUI Group represents the interests of those charged with DUI in Orlando. Call our Florida DUI defense lawyers today to schedule an appointment and we can begin preparing your defense immediately.
Source:
clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/01/24/man-faces-dui-charge-after-crashing-into-ocala-dentists-office-fleeing-scene-police-say/
