Reader’s Question:

I am getting a new auto insurance for my second car here in Jacksonville, Florida. Aside from paying higher deductibles, what do you think are the other things that could make my rates lower?

Paisley

Jacksonville, FL

Aside from opting to pay higher deductibles, you can have lower rates for the auto insurance on your second car in Jacksonville, Florida if you are a conservative driver. A lot of auto insurance providers would lower the amount of your insurance policy if have a perfect driving record. If you were never involved in any accidents, and have never received a ticket from a police officer for a certain number of years, your auto insurance provider would surely notice this and offer you lower premiums. If you are a careful driver and do not take any unnecessary risks, you have a high chance of getting cheaper auto insurance rates.

The type of automobile you have could also have an effect on your insurance rates. Showy cars like a Corvette or a big new Hummer may have higher premiums because they are correlated with risky driving according to statistics. Moreover, those types of car are more commonly subject to theft and vandalism. On the other hand, a medium-sized, unremarkable sedan will be considered as lower risk by auto insurance providers.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance rate, cheap auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

How important is having an auto insurance after a drunk driving conviction here in Jacksonville, Florida? My sister seems to have a hard time getting herself insured after her DUI.

Mariah

Jacksonville, FL

First of all, a motorist could not drive legally without an auto insurance so it is very important for your sister to be insured after her drunk driving conviction in Jacksonville, Florida. Although the rates would be higher, premiums still differ from one company to another. Also, bear in mind that a lot of DUI insurance policies require that the premium be fully paid, instead of spreading out in equal payments over six months.

Some drivers would prefer to go through small, private insurance providers to get DUI insurance, although a lot of the larger national companies also offer it. Several people convicted of DUI feel that drunk driver insurance is outrageous and that they’re not given a fair chance by their auto insurance providers. But the truth is that motorists who have a DUI in their driving record are more of a risk for subsequent accidents, and the auto insurance providers should prepare themselves. You can tell your sister that she might want to try and get a rate quote from this website for her auto insurance because she might just find what she needs.

Tags: auto insurance, drunk driving insurance, DUI, DUI conviction

Reader’s Question:

I need to get an SR22 with my new auto insurance policy because of my DUI to get my license reinstated but it seems like I would have problems getting it. Is it true that I need to pay the policy in full so that I can be issued an SR22 here in Jacksonville, Florida?

Forrest

Jacksonville, FL

The Florida Financial Responsibility Law mandates drivers and owners of automobiles to be financially responsible for damages and/or injuries they could cause to others when an accident happens. Your driver’s license would be in suspension for up to three years if you violate this law and you don’t have insurance to abide with the financial responsibility law. You would need to pay a reinstatement fee and show them certified proof of full liability insurance or SR22 for three years from the original suspension to reinstate your license.

Whether you need to pay the SR22 in full or not depends on the reason why you need to get it. You would need to get a six-month paid in full insurance policy since you are ordered to get SR22 insurance in Jacksonville, Florida because of your DUI. Some auto insurance providers underwriting rules demand the SR22 to be paid in full no matter what the state requirement is.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance policy, DUI, SR22 insurance

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.

Tags: DUI, DUI lawyer, DUI penalties

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.

Tags: car insurance, DUI, DUI conviction, DUI lawyer

Reader’s Question:

I’m having my driver’s license reinstated soon after a DUI conviction here in Jacksonville, Florida? What is the process involved in getting my driver’s license back after the suspension period?

Vinnie

Jacksonville, FL

The very first thing that you need to do to reinstate your driver’s license after your DUI conviction in Jacksonville, Florida is to know what is on your driving record. You can do that by purchasing it from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) then you need to call them and ask them what other DMV fees are needed to reinstate your driver’s license. There’s usually a $5 reinstatement fee and also payment for all other outstanding parking/moving violation fines.

With all the information that you need, you have to file for an SR22 auto insurance with your current insurance company. If they don’t offer SR22 coverage, you can find another company with the lowest price for your auto insurance. This website gladly offers free SR22 insurance quote so you can get the best deal for your auto insurance at a cheap price. If you have already been issued the SR22, you can go to a local DMV office to reinstate your driver’s license immediately.

Tags: auto insurance, driver’s license, DUI, DUI conviction, SR22 insurance

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.

Tags: blood alcohol content, blood alcohol test, blood test, DUI, DUI lawyer

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.

Tags: blood alcohol, drunk driving laws, DUI, DUI lawyer, DUI penalties

Reader’s Question:

Do I need to have a lawyer when charged with DUI here in Jacksonville, Florida or can I just go through this by myself, or maybe I can just plead guilty? Your input will be much appreciated; thanks so much in advance.

Carla
Jacksonville, FL

Consulting with an experience DUI lawyer in Jacksonville, Florida could help you be educated on the DUI laws and help you secure a favorable outcome on your DUI case. DUI is actually one of the most common criminal offenses that people hire a lawyer for defense. If you come to think of it, it would seem that every year, there would be new harsher DUI laws and the penalties are getting more serious. There is an ample amount of DUI cases in Florida and there have been several legal challenges. Each DUI case is different and should be evaluated on its own merits because the case law and statutes are constantly changing and there are several new areas to challenge and fight all the time.

And please, don’t plead guilty if your case hasn’t been reviewed by an experienced DUI lawyer. A good DUI lawyer could help you determine what defenses you have on your motor vehicle driver’s license suspension or the defenses to your DUI case. You can demand for a trial by jury on your DUI case and you can also request a hearing at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). The DUI lawyer that you would hire should represent you in both the criminal courts and at the DHSMV.

Tags: DUI, DUI lawyer, DUI penalties

Reader’s Question:

I still wanna be able to drive after my DUI charge here in Jacksonville, Florida. How can I have a temporary license while suspended and when does a person disqualified from getting a temporary license?

Marina

Jacksonville, FL

If you wanna restore your driving privileges after your DUI charge in Jacksonville, Florida, you should apply for a hardship license. If your driver’s license was suspended because your blood alcohol content was at .08% or above or you refused to take the chemical test, you must show a proof of enrolment in DUI School and you should apply for an administrative hearing for possible hardship reinstatement. If you had an unlawful BAC, you should serve 30 days without driver’s license or permit prior to eligibility for hardship reinstatement. If you refused the chemical test for the first time, you must serve 90 days without driver’s license or permit prior to eligibility for hardship reinstatement.

A person is disqualified or prohibited for a hardship license upon second or subsequent license suspension for test refusal or if driver has been convicted for DUI two or more times. Anyone who is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle could not obtain a hardship license to operate a commercial motor vehicle.

Tags: driver’s license, DUI, DUI lawyer, DUI school