Under Florida Law, a conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances carries harsh, costly, and long-lasting penalties. A range of sanctions can include incarceration, fines, temporary or permanent revocation of driving privileges, usage of mandatory interlock devices, and more. A conviction will affect your career, personal, and professional relationships.
In Florida, it is illegal to drive with a .08% blood alcohol content or higher. Law enforcement uses their discretion to administer breathalyzer, blood alcohol, and field sobriety testing based on probable cause, such as observance of a driver violating the road rules. If involved in an accident while under the influence causing property damage or personal injury, a driver is likely to be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor crime. Causing serious bodily injury while driving under the influence carries a third-degree felony charge. Repeat offenders typically receive increasingly harsher penalties for subsequent convictions.
Manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges, including a fatality and leaving the scene of an accident or failure to render aid, are felony crimes with the possibility of 15-30 years’ imprisonment and up to $10,000 in fines. In Florida, a DUI conviction remains on your record for 75 years.
At Sparrow Law Office, P.A., we meticulously investigate every DUI charge to determine if our client was wrongfully accused. We can often challenge the arrest after examining the evidence by getting the charges mitigated, or a case dismissed. Perhaps the breathalyzer equipment was malfunctioning or not correctly calibrated. Field sobriety tests are based on subjective observations and can be disputed. Something other than alcohol consumption may have caused erratic behavior, such as a medical condition. Or perhaps the law enforcement officer failed to read Miranda rights to the accused upon their arrest.
Our office works collaboratively with scientific experts to challenge the integrity of the evidence. Examining blood and urine sample testing procedures can expose errors in obtaining results. For blood and urine results to be admissible in court, a chain of custody must be established. These and many more scenarios are factors that we explore in defense of our clients.
Driving under the influence defense is very technical. When charged with a crime, having knowledgeable criminal defense legal counsel is one of the most critical decisions you can make. Attorney Jimmie Sparrow is dedicated to providing compassionate legal guidance and ensuring the rights of those charged with DUI crimes are protected. With years of experience as a Prosecutor and Police Officer, he knows how to set up an appropriate defense strategy. The stakes are high, and at Sparrow Law Office, P.A., we believe that everyone deserves a second chance. Call as soon as you are arrested so that we can start investigating on your behalf immediately.
