Reader’s Question:

My poor cousin has just been recently charged with DUI here in Jacksonville, Florida and my mom told me that my cousin is gonna opt for a nolo plea. What does a nolo plea mean?

Libby

Jacksonville, FL

In a DUI case, a “nolo contendere” or no contest plea is of little or no use. In earlier years, so many people opted to seek a “nolo” plea because it could save a person’s driver’s license. Right now, if an accident with liability for damages or injuries has occurred, the primary benefit to a driver now would be to possibly limit use of the plea in a civil suit.

Today, it will not save your cousin’s driver’s license if he seeks a “nolo” plea in his DUI case in Jacksonville, Florida. In any case actually, the judge does not have to accept a “nolo” plea. If the judge accepts it, your cousin would still have stiff fines, perform community service, and possibly serve some jail time. The driver’s license suspension is the same as if a “guilty” plea was entered. That is why many people choose to go to trial, seeking to win the case. Because even if a “nolo” plea is used, it still counts as a prior conviction. Any other future DUI arrests would be negatively impacted by more punishment than if a person had no prior history at all.

Tags: drunk driving laws, DUI, DUI lawyer