DUI Lawyer
Port charlotte
Lewis Law Firm, P.A.
DUI Lawyers in Port Charlotte, Florida
The D.U.I. attorney at Lewis Law Firm, P.A. in Port Charlotte, Florida can help you if you have been charged with a D.U.I. What can you do to protect your rights if you have been charged with a D.U.I. in Charlotte County, Florida? The D.U.I. lawyer at Lewis Law Firm, P.A. in Port Charlotte, Florida can review the circumstances of your charges and help you understand your rights and options.
Individuals can face D.U.I. charges if they are found to be driving or in control of a vehicle and have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above 0.08%. In Florida, a police officer can charge you with a D.U.I. if you were found sleeping in your vehicle or sitting in your vehicle with access to the car keys, and had a BAC above 0.08%. Furthermore, you could face D.U.I. charges if an officer believes you were under the influence of drugs, chemicals, or substances that could impair your driving. Basically, you can face D.U.I. charges for impaired driving of any kind.
The penalties of a D.U.I. can be serious, can affect your life, your reputation, and your ability to drive. The severity of the penalties of a D.U.I. will depend on how high your BAC was found to be and whether this is your first or subsequent D.U.I. Under Florida law (316.193) the penalties for a D.U.I. can include jail time, fines, license suspension, or the requirement to use an ignition interlock device. For example, a first-time DUI conviction can lead to up to six months in jail, fines as high as $1000, and license revocation.
Have you been charged with a D.U.I.? It is important to understand that you are innocent until proven guilty. Police officers have many options at the scene of a D.U.I. stop when it comes to investigating whether you may have been driving while under the influence. Florida’s implied consent law holds that any person who drives a motor vehicle has consented to take a breath or blood test to determine his or her BAC. You can refuse to take these tests, but your refusal can be used as evidence against you and you could face automatic suspension of your driver’s license for refusing to take these tests. If you have been charged with a D.U.I. in Port Charlotte, Florida, Lewis Law Firm, P.A. retains a driving under the influence lawyer that may be able to help you, by reviewing your case, building a strong defense, or helping you take the next steps to protect your reputation and rights.
Understanding D.U.I. Consequences
A person convicted of a D.U.I. can face serious consequences. The legal consequences can include mandatory fines, jail time, community service, use of an ignition interlock device in order to continue driving, license suspension, and substance abuse courses. However, these are just the immediate legal consequences. Individuals convicted of a D.U.I. can also face collateral consequences, which can include higher insurance fees, difficulty accessing certain federal or local aid programs (due to having a criminal background), and issues getting jobs or other licensure due to having a D.U.I. criminal background. Having a criminal background can lead to serious legal and collateral consequences. The driving under the influence lawyer at Lewis Law Firm, P.A. in Port Charlotte, Florida may be able to help build a strong defense, get your charges reduced, or even dropped. In some cases, a D.U.I. attorney may be able to help you with a plea deal, or help you find a diversion program to deal with the underlying causes of your drunk driving. You are not alone. Reach out to the D.U.I. attorney at Lewis Law Firm, P.A. in Port Charlotte, Florida today.
Felony D.U.I. Defense in Port Charlotte, Florida
A D.U.I. is typically a misdemeanor crime, but there are situations where individuals can face felony charges for a D.U.I. If this is a repeated offense, you could face felony charges. If another person was seriously injured or killed in an accident, you could also face felony D.U.I. charges. Individuals who flee the scene of an accident could face enhanced felony charges. If you are facing felony D.U.I. charges, the consequences can be very serious. The Port Charlotte, Florida D.U.I. lawyer at Lewis Law Firm, P.A. can help you if you are facing D.U.I. felony charges.
Protect Your Rights After a D.U.I. in Port Charlotte, Florida
If you have been stopped for a D.U.I. and are facing D.U.I. charges, it is important to protect your rights. Lewis Law Firm, P.A. retains a driving under the influence lawyer in Port Charlotte, Florida that can review the evidence police have gathered against you and fight your case in court. Protect your rights. Ask to speak to the attorney at Lewis Law Firm, P.A. if you are facing D.U.I. charges.