Jacksonville Florida DUI Information

Reader’s Question:

How serious is it to be charged for DUI here in Jacksonville? I mean, do I need a lawyer for me to defend me in case I am charged with DUI?

Krystal

Jacksonville, FL

You will be in serious trouble should you be charged for driving under the influence or DUI in Jacksonville, Florida. Traffic laws are in place and the authorities as well as the Florida Department of Highway Security and Motor Vehicles (FDHSMV) have stringent implementation of the DUI laws.

In case you would be found guilty of DUI in Jacksonville, you will pay a fine of $250-$500 or be imprisoned for five to 30 years, depending on the seriousness of the offense and the damage that you may have done to other parties and/or properties. Other forms of punishment include suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, permanent criminal record, immobilization of your vehicle, community service and higher auto insurance payment.

If you get arrested for DUI, you need to get in touch with a DUI attorney the soonest time possible and ask for legal advice. You can make a special plea within 10 days so that your driver’s license will not be revoked for an indefinite period. It is really important that you have a representation of a DUI attorney who is an expert in the field of DUI. If you don’t know anyone who can help you find a DUI attorney, you can resort to the Internet. There are different directories of DUI lawyers that can be found online. You can easily find them since they are grouped according to city.

Reader’s Question:

Generally, how many cars can you place on a certain Florida DUI auto insurance policy?

Ken

Jacksonville FL

The number of cars permitted on a Florida auto insurance policy differ by car insurance company. Most Florida car insurance companies though take no more than 4 cars in a policy.

In addition, multiple policies may be provided. Some insurance companies will permit additional cars to be added to the policy by endorsement after the policy has been issued.

Because car insurance guidelines differ from one company to the other, I cant say for sure how many cars is allowed in one policy.

You can insure as many vehicles as you like as long as the insurer you are dealing with can handle it and it is not against their guidelines. Most insurance companies will setup a second Florida auto insurance policy if they cannot handle the amount of vehicles to just one policy.

Remember, the more car you insure the more expensive your car insurance rates will be. This is because more cars are being insured and thus premiums will be due on each car. The cost of premium on each vehicles will depend upon what coverages are put on each car.

Finally, before you go meet your Florida DUI attorney, you need to know what you’re going to say to her. You’ll need some guidance to take you through a probably tense meeting, especially if this is your first time ever meeting with a lawyer. Be prepared. It could be dangerous.

Just start thinking ahead of time what kinds of questions you want to ask your Florida DUI attorney. Here’s a possible list you could use.

• What is the percentage of the cases that you accept and handle which are related in a big way to Florida DUI law? You should specify Florida. If an attorney has handled a lot of DUI cases, but they were in another state, then it might not be helpful.
• What are the costs and how do you charge? Lawyers have different methods of charging. Some will charge you one set amount for the whole thing, others will charge you a set amount for the preparation, and then if you end up in court, another one, while still others charge by the hour.
• Is there anything else I’ll have to pay for? Sometimes lawyers may charge you for filing fees, among other things.
• Are you going to be my Florida DUI attorney, or will another attorney in your firm be assigned to my case? Remember, you don’t want to get all comfortable with the personality and experience of one attorney only to find out you’re being shoved off on a partner.

Although I advise getting a Jacksonville FL DUI attorney involved in pretty much every case, sometimes you have to make a decision and with money tight, want to save as much as you can. So are there any situations in which you don’t need a lawyer? Here are a few levels of need.

1. You might need a lawyer if this is your first conviction and you don’t have a good understanding of DUI law, the consequences for a conviction, and your options. It’s also possible that you will need a Jacksonville FL DUI attorney if your job is one which requires bonding, or if you have a job which could deny you a license to practice your profession based on your DUI conviction.

2. You should get a lawyer if this is the second time you have been caught for drunk driving, or if you were caught with your blood alcohol limit over .20. In these situations, the penalties are more stiff and it’s more difficult to get a plea bargain.

3. You absolutely need a Jacksonville FL DUI attorney if this is one in a string of many DUI offenses; if you were drunk driving and got into a car accident, especially if it was with another car, and even more especially if someone was hurt or killed as a result of the accident; if your job is as a driver and your ability to work depends on your use of your driver’s license.

Did you know what the Jacksonville DUI attorney price could be? Not just the price of the attorney, but the price for the entire process and the dollars that it will cost you over the years. There are so many ways that these big dollars will come at you, but here’s a short list:

• the Jacksonville DUI attorney price. This is how much it will cost you to hire an attorney. Some attorney’s will charge you a flat rate for all of their services, and usually they separate it into two sections of preparation and defense. Other lawyers charge by the hour.
• all of the fees and fines you will have to pay because of your DUI. This includes the fine that you will be hit with, which is usually from $500 to a few thousand dollars, as well as how much it will cost for you to reinstate your driver’s license. You may have to pay a certain amount to the DMV for several years.
• bail. If you get thrown in jail as a result of DUI, you have to pay this to get out.
• insurance. After a DUI, you have to file high risk SR22 insurance, which is almost twice as expensive as regular insurance, and you have to do this for three years. Your DUI will affect your insurance premium for five years.

In the end, this cost can come up to as much as $20,000.

Reader’s Question:

I know that there can be a lot of challenges against a DUI arrest that my son could use on his DUI case in Jacksonville, Florida. What can be done if there was no reason or basis enough for the officer to stop a vehicle in a DUI arrest?

Georgina

Jacksonville, FL

Most DUI cases have won by challenging the reason for the vehicle being stopped. The police officer who asked someone to pull over should put forth some explanation to justify why the vehicle was stopped. This explanation should include the fact that the person committed a traffic violation which simply means that the officer should prove that the stop was lawful.

In your son’s DUI case in Jacksonville, Florida, if the police officer could not demonstrate that a traffic infraction was committed by your son, the DUI defense lawyer should file a motion to suppress. If there was no reason or basis enough for the police officer to stop your son’s vehicle, then there is also no basis for the DUI arrest. Therefore, the stop was illegal because the officer didn’t have any lawful reason to justify the DUI stop. If the judge agrees, then there would be a big chance that the entire DUI case would be dismissed.

Reader’s Question:

Finding a good defense attorney seems to be so difficult after I have been charged with DUI here in Jacksonville, Florida. Could you please tell me how do I find a good DUI attorney?

Lisa

Jacksonville, FL

I understand that it can be difficult to find and retain a good DUI attorney in Jacksonville, Florida, especially if many attorneys are not experienced and fully capable of handling DUI cases. You have to make sure that you make the right inquiries so that it could help in finding the best DUI attorney. The very first thing that you would have to do is to make sure that the fees are thoroughly explained and in writing and find out if it already includes the administrative hearings held by the DMV. You also have to know if the fees include cost of expert witnesses and other requirements for the trial.

Then you would also have to make sure that the attorney is a DUI specialist which means that the attorney exclusively focuses on DUI defense. Find out also if the attorney has any record of complaints from the State Bar and if the attorney is Board-certified by the National College for DUI Defense. You might also want to ask if the attorney would have the blood samples reanalyzed by a lab. For this matter, the DUI attorney can call technical expert witnesses in police procedures and blood/breath analysis.

Reader’s Question:

If a person is charged with DUI in Jacksonville, Florida, is it gonna be automatic that the person will be sent to jail? What other instances that a person can be convicted for DUI?

Mina

Jacksonville, FL

Only under certain circumstances in DUI cases that a person is in danger of being sent to prison. For example, refusing to submit or give a sample of breath or blood could get a driver a jail term. But in any case, the driver should hire the services of a good DUI lawyer in Jacksonville, Florida because the DUI lawyer could point out the faults in the blood alcohol testing procedures and could protect you or at least reduce your punishment.

There are also other instances under which a person could be convicted for DUI. If a person is involved in a DUI case while driving at high speeds or could have been involved in an accident which involves children, the consequences would take that into account. Also, having a high blood alcohol reading would put a person in much greater risk of having a DUI conviction most especially if the prosecution can prove that the person’s ability to drive has been impaired because of the alcohol consumed or because of other substance. Whatever the case may be, it would be imperative that the driver act fast and hire the services of a good DUI lawyer.

Reader’s Question:

My cousin was charged with DUI here in Jacksonville, Florida and he worries too much about the money he’d likely have to spend at the course of his trial. How much does bail usually amounts to and how much would be the court costs and probation?

Eden

Jacksonville, FL

The cost of DUI varies greatly and it would not be the same for everyone, but honestly, it would cost a lot if someone would be convicted for DUI. The bail amount on your cousin’s DUI charge in Jacksonville, Florida would also greatly vary, depending on several factors. A handful of very lucky people get personal recognizance bonds, which cost nothing but the promise to appear in court. But most individuals should pay between $50 and $500 to be released. The court costs would be between $160 and $300 and that excludes any subpoena fees. Also, if a videotape was used, there would be $15 more that is assessed.

Probation fees would depend upon the length of probation. $25-$40 per month would be the statutory range for such fees, so if the probation would be for two years, it could cost as much as $960. The maximum monthly fee for probation is $60 per month so that means if the probation is for two years, the total cost would be $1,440. Regular conditions of probation also include the completion of a DUI education program and this usually costs $50-$125.

Reader’s Question:

I am so curious as to how they draw blood in a DUI investigation in Jacksonville, Florida. Does the blood have to come from the arteries or veins?

Elsa

Jacksonville, FL

The blood samples from people accused of DUI in Jacksonville, Florida are commonly withdrawn from the vein rather than from the artery. But the blood alcohol content (BAC) of blood taken from the veins could be quite different from the BAC of blood taken from the arteries in a subject at a given time. It is also the blood in the arteries that carry alcohol into the brain, resulting in intoxication; thus, analysis of blood samples taken from the veins can be misleading.

As a matter of fact, researchers have concluded that using a single blood sample taken from the veins to determine an earlier BAC produces a result that is equivalent to a wild guess. In a related article published in 1984, a lot of scientists have measured comparative BAC levels in the breath, venous blood and arterial blood of people who had consumed known quantities of alcohol. The scientists noticed that BAC of blood taken from the artery was higher than that of blood taken from the vein during the absorptive phase that is, while the alcohol was being absorbed by the body. Arguably, the blood samples taken from the veins had higher BAC levels than the blood samples taken from the arteries during the elimination phase of the blood-alcohol curve. Therefore, the blood sample take from the vein during the elimination phase would be analyzed as having a higher BAC than is in fact being carried to the brain.

Reader’s Question:

I am moving to Jacksonville, Florida and I was previously charged with DUI. Would it also reflect in my records here in Florida?

Timmy

Jacksonville, FL

If you are asking if your previous conviction would affect your driving career in Jacksonville, Florida, then the answer is yes. It has an enormous impact not only on your driver’s license but also in getting insurance premiums and rates. Laws pertaining to DWI and DUI in the United States determine your driving privilege within the state. Moving to a different state after a DUI/DWI arrest or conviction to avoid penalties is really not a good idea. There are certainly some factors that you need to consider. We have what we call Interstate driver’s license compact. This is an agreement that allows all 45 states in the US to share information about certain types of conviction such as DUI and DWI. Florida is one of the states which enforces this compact and is included on this agreement. In short, if you are convicted with DUI in Texas and got your license suspended, your license is suspended as well within all 44 states. One more agreement to consider is the Non resident violator compact. In this agreement, unpaid fines and penalties for traffic rules violation in another state can have your license revoked and or suspended in the state where you are driving.

I also understand that driving privilege is really important. I suggest you get a good lawyer that has better understanding on your state laws about DUI and DWI. Above all, a good car insurance package for people who had previous DUI/DWI record maybe of some help.

Reader’s Question:

My brother was charged with felony DUI here in Jacksonville, Florida and we were just wondering if there’s a way the charge can be reduced. How can his felony DUI be dropped to a misdemeanor?

Hayleigh

Jacksonville, FL

If your brother has a prior DUI, it is common for him to be automatically charged with a felony DUI. A felony DUI case is a serious business because it usually carries jail time if it won’t be dropped to a misdemeanor. The first thing your brother needs to do if he wants his felony DUI in Jacksonville, Florida to be dropped to a misdemeanor case is to call a lawyer who specializes in DUI cases in the state of Florida. Even if he doesn’t hire a lawyer, he can ask if it would be possible to get his charge dropped to a misdemeanor charge. He can try to get a clue from the lawyer how he would approach that effort in the jurisdiction of your charge.

Your brother can also talk with the prosecutor and ask if the DUI case could be reduced to a misdemeanor count. He could find a sympathetic prosecutor who would listen to what he has to say and reduce the charge instantly without having to do anything else. Also, remember that a felony or misdemeanor DUI may cause his car insurance to increase substantially so advise him that he can get a cheap but dependable car insurance from this website so should get an online rate quote now.

Reader’s Question:

My best friend got arrested for DUI in Jacksonville, Florida and temporarily released after paying the bail amount. What procedures take place on arraignments?

Patty

Jacksonville, FL

The first phase of courtroom proceedings is the arraignment. The arraignment in DUI cases represents the first and last time that the offender presents himself in court. DUI offenders usually plead guilty most especially if intoxication evidences are strong and there’s a minimal chance of plea bargain exists.

During an arraignment, the offender is summoned before the criminal court judge, who then reads the criminal charges against the person (who is now pertained to as “defendant”). The offender is asked if he has an attorney to defend his side, or if the court needs to provide a lawyer for the defendant. In his process, the offender is also being asked how does he/she pleads to the charges (which can be guilty, not guilty or no contest). A revisit for the bail may also be reviewed during arraignments. During this period as well that announcement for future proceedings in the case are finalized (these are preliminary hearings, pre-trial motions and the trial itself).

Being involved in a DUI case especially here in Jacksonville Florida is not an easy situation. The service of a DUI lawyer would be a great assistance for you. It has always been a great dilemma for driver’s being caught in such sticky situation. I also recommend getting a reliable and affordable auto insurance that would not let you go even in cases like these.

Reader’s Question:

My cousin was arrested for DUI last month in Jacksonville, Florida. What are the possible penalties she must face since this was her first time?

Tanya

Jacksonville, FL

Driving under the influence of alcohol is considered a criminal offense regardless which county your cousin may have committed it. There had been stringent road laws all around the United States, in which driving under the influence can lead to harsh punishment and higher penalty amount. Of course it depends on the severity and nature of the offense.

Jacksonville, Florida had one of the highest numbers of DUI arrests. State police as well as the MVA are trying to minimize DUI related cases by imposing harsher penalties and higher fines. First offenders may pay a fine of $250-$500 whereas second time offenders pays $500-$1000. Third offenders face a larger amount of penalty and jail time. For notorious or repeated offense, which actually depends on the seriousness of the offense, may lead the offender from a minimum of 6 months jail time up to a maximum of 30 years especially for drivers involved in vehicular accidents due to DUI.

Indeed, driving is actually not a privilege. It’s a big responsibility especially that you and your cousin live in a city where a large number of DUI cases had been recorded. The law had imposed harsher regulations just to minimize effect. I would suggest that, once your cousin is cleared out from this DUI case, start checking for low priced auto insurance that would keep you covered from road accidents.

Reader’s Question:

I’ve been having problems getting low cost car insurance because of my DUI here in Jacksonville. Will you please help me and give me some tips in getting lower DUI insurance rate?

Claire

Jacksonville, FL

Car owners found guilty for DUI need to purchase DUI insurance coverage from a car insurance company. DUI insurance, also called SR22 insurance, is a lot more costly as compared to traditional types of car insurance. The rising number of DUI cases is also another reason behind the increase of DUI insurance. Drivers who can’t afford high DUI insurance can still shop for low DUI insurance rate in the Internet. It also allows them to conveniently shop for a DUI insurance provider at a time that is convenient to them.

Because DUI insurance is offered to high risk drivers, car insurance companies giving DUI insurance have no option but to increase their rates. It is a common knowledge that insurance companies give higher rates to higher risk policy holders.

Another reason why it is very difficult to get cheap DUI insurance in Jacksonville is because of the increasing cases of DUI in the country. With more drivers being caught for DUI, car insurance companies are jacking up their prices in order to cover for their increased expenses.

Today’s drivers are fortunate that there are now several DUI insurance companies offering discounted DUI insurance and most of them can be found in the Internet. This makes it easier for drivers to shop for cheap DUI insurance rate.

Drivers who are in search of the best rates should remember to compare as many low DUI insurance quotes as possible. There are several websites that allow them to request and compare DUI insurance quotes conveniently. Drivers can then get to the best DUI insurance in the market with the help of these websites.

Reader’s Question:

My father is a senior citizen but his car insurance premium have increased and when we asked his insurers they said that he is also considered as a high risk driver here in Jacksonville. How could that happen, isn’t he should get lower premium since he has the discounts from being a senior citizen?

Dave

Jacksonville, FL

Being labelled as a high risk driver is not only because you drunk drive or you have had a lot of traffic violations in the past. High risk car insurance companies usually determine their clients by checking the drivers’ record, driving experiences, the address, the gender and the age. High risk car insurance companies in Jacksonville usually check this information because it can really determine whether you are a high risk driver or not.

It is true that Senior Citizen has the privilege of getting discounts especially the older the person gets, the lesser accident prone and tickets you get. But then, other high risk car insurance companies give higher rate for older people for they have poorer eyesight, poorer hearing and weaker reflexes. Other age that they consider labelling as high risk are the teens or newly licensed drivers, they usually act reckless on the road since they don’t have much experience yet and don’t know much about responsibility. With regards to senior citizens, high risk car insurance companies differ from each other. The thing that they agree both is where you live. They consider you high risk if you live a crowded city and have a high crime rate. They give also higher rates to those who drive miles away from home and how many times they use their car a week. You should also be informed that the more claims you have, the higher your rates are.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance companies, car insurance discounts, high risk car insurance, senior car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Do I need to have SR22 insurance here in Jacksonville if I have DUI? My case is still ongoing so I just need to know some things if I get convicted.

David

Jacksonville, FL

SR22 insurance is a certificate of financial responsibility asked by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) as a proof that a person has car insurance. If you have an ongoing DUI case in Jacksonville, it does not necessarily mean that you need SR22 insurance. It would actually depend on whether you will be convicted or not and whether you have car insurance at the time you were arrested for DUI.

A number of things may cause you to need SR22 insurance in Jacksonville. If you will be ultimately convicted for DUI, your driver’s license will be suspended or revoked. In this case, you need SR22 insurance to reinstate your driver’s license and you have to maintain it for a certain number of years. Other reasons include causing an accident without proper insurance, having numerous tickets or accidents in a short period of time or an accident you caused that resulted to death.

SR22 insurance could be acquired by getting in touch with your insurance company and let them submit the form for you to the DMV. Normally, you would have to pay a small charge for the SR22 to be filed. SR22 generally will be required for three years but would vary depending on the gravity of the incidence.

Tags: car insurance, DUI, SR22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

The insurance carrier that I have for my homeowners and life insurances is different from my car insurance carrier here in Jacksonville, Florida. I was advised that I can get cheaper car insurance rates if I have them under one insurance carrier, is that true?

Harrison

Jacksonville, FL

Since your homeowners and life insurances in Jacksonville, Florida are under the same insurance carrier, you can include your car insurance coverage to the policy that you currently have. You could be qualified to get a discount for having multiple policies under the same insurance carrier. But your current insurance carriers are not the only options that you have since there are lots of insurance carriers around. You may very well shop around for better insurance rates and find cheaper car insurance coverage. Certainly, there are a lot of means for you shop around for cheaper car insurance rates.

If you are fond of surfing the Internet, you could easily search an insurance carrier that would provide you online car insurance quotes. Once you go online, the only thing you need to do is to fill out the questionnaire online and submit your information. After that, you could get a lot of car insurance quotes that will be sent to your email. You can be able to find a quote that is cheaper than what you pay for to your current car insurance carrier. If you don’t trust the Internet, you may get in touch with insurance agent or simply call up insurance carriers and request various quotes.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance online, car insurance quotes, car insurance rates, cheaper auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I am purchasing my own car real soon that I need to have insured here in Jacksonville, Florida. What type of vehicle do I need to get in order for me not to have high insurance premiums and how else can I save on auto insurance?

Abram

Jacksonville, FL

Before you purchase a new vehicle in Jacksonville, Florida, you need to make some research about the different types of vehicles and the probable cost of insurance for it. The insurance industry groups rate each vehicle model according to the claims history of collision, injury, theft, etc. If a particular vehicle has higher rating, that means that the auto insurance premiums are lower. In the same way, a flashy sports car that has lower rating could considerably mean higher insurance rates since car insurance carriers relate that type of vehicle to be of more risk because of higher possibility of theft and the owner tends to drive recklessly.

There are also other means for you to save money on your auto insurance such as taking precautionary measures. A lot of auto insurance companies give discounts on drivers who take steps to give protection for their vehicles against damage and robbery. By choosing to install antilock brakes, front and side airbags, alarms and some other safety features on your vehicle, you are more likely to have considerable savings on your auto insurance premiums.

Tags: auto insurance companies, auto insurance premiums, car, car insurance discounts

Reader’s Question:

I try my very best not to spend too much for certain things including my car insurance here in Jacksonville, Florida. Can you tell me the factors that determine my car insurance rates and how they can impact my car insurance?

Garland

Jacksonville, FL

Certainly, Garland, I can help you understand the things that affect your car insurance rates in Jacksonville, Florida. Let me tell you first that it’s generally who you are that figures out how much you pay for your car insurance. There are things that you have power over and some things are out of your hands. The factors that you could not alter would be your age and gender. According to statistics, elderly (65 years up) and younger people (16-25 years old) are more probable to have accidents. When it comes to gender, they say that female drivers are safer motorists than the males.

For the things that you have power over to change include the place you live in, your driving record, the type of your car and your credit score, among other things. The area that you are living in is important because this may tell whether you are more likely to have accidents because of the population in the area. Your driving record, whether you have a clean one or not, will be counted on your car insurance rates. Regarding the type of vehicle that you drive, if you own a low-profile vehicle, you’re more likely to have lower car insurance rates. In terms of your credit score, several car insurance companies think that those who have poor credit and even those who don’t have credit history are in the higher risk category.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance rates

Reader’s Question:

What is an SR-22? My son had to get one due to a violation here in Jacksonville, Florida. Also, what will happen there is a “lapse” in maintaining an SR-22?

Don

Jacksonville, FL

An SR-22 is a form that is submitted by your car insurance provider to Florida’s Department Of Motor Vehicle as proof that you have enough financial capacity to properly compensate for damages or injuries in case you cause a car accident. In other words, it is proof of your car insurance there in Jacksonville and you will need to maintain this form (meaning, you will need to have continued car insurance coverage) for a period of about two or three years.

If your son was required to get an SR-22 it could mean that he was caught driving without any auto insurance to show for, has had one too many traffic violations, caught Driving under the Influence (DUI) or has been proven at-fault in a car accident. This is the state’s way of making sure that your son is capable of paying for damages and liabilities in the event of another car accident or violation in the future.

It is highly advisable that your son maintains continuous auto insurance coverage for the duration of the SR-22. Any lapse in coverage, such as failing to maintain his insurance policy or violations causing his insurance provider to terminate the insurance agreement will only make it harder for him to reinstate coverage in the future. He may also be fined very high fees and penalties and may end up paying for even higher auto insurance premiums or rates in the future for losing his SR-22.

Tags: advice, auto insurance, car insurance, car insurance company

Reader’s Question:

My brother races a lot with his sports car here in Jacksonville, Florida. Will his car insurance company provide coverage in case of any accident when he is racing?

Gayle

Jacksonville, FL

Most auto insurance providers label race car drivers as the worst drivers. In other words, the accidents are worst and that would be the reason why your brother’s car insurance company in Jacksonville, Florida won’t give coverage while he is racing or even at high-performance driving schools. It would be so risky for car insurance providers because the crashes are rather huge. As a matter of fact, a high-speed crash would generally end up as a total loss of the vehicle.

Before, nearly all auto insurance policies will not provide coverage for damages caused from drag-racing, organized racing or even timed event. However, high-performance driving schools frequently don’t clock the race and they promote their events as the training for the motorists–not racing. But in the most recent years, a good number of car insurance providers began to keep out coverage for driving at any spots that are intended for racing, regardless the events are timed or not. Motorist who have been joining some races for a number of years using their own vehicle are now faced with a problem–that forces them not to use their own car or pray that no accident would happen.

Tags: car, car insurance, car insurance company