Free DUI Lawyer Jacksonville Florida

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 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:

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:

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 didn’t have a rate increase on my auto insurance when I got convicted for DUI here in Jacksonville, Florida. Will my premiums increase once they find out about it later on?

Marci

Jacksonville, FL

If your insurance company misses your DUI conviction in Jacksonville, Florida during the time that it happens, surely they will find out about it once you file an SR22 auto insurance that you will need to get your license back and restore your driving privileges. The SR22 auto insurance would be your proof that you have a liability insurance and this is being required by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV also requires that they should be notified by your auto insurance company in case your insurance policy lapses or is cancelled for any reason.

Once the auto insurance company discovers your DUI conviction if you file an SR22, you will be considered a high risk driver and your auto insurance provider may still increase their rates. If the auto insurance company doesn’t offer SR22, they may cancel your policy or not renew it at the end of your coverage. In this case, you would have to find another insurer who will provide an auto insurance policy with SR22 insurance. You may find the best premium rates if you try to get an online rate quote available from this website.

Tags: auto insurance, DUI, DUI conviction, SR22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

Is it true that aside from the legal consequences that I could have if I will be convicted for my DUI case here in Jacksonville, Florida, it would also have hidden penalties?

Jaheem

Jacksonville, FL

If you will be convicted for your DUI case in Jacksonville, Florida, the legal consequences include the loss of your license, fines, court costs, probation, jail time, vehicle impoundment or forfeiture and installation of ignition interlock device on your car. Aside from these legal penalties, it’s true that there would also be “hidden” DUI penalties following a DUI conviction. The first on the list is the probable loss of your job or you can lose some opportunities for future employment. Your car insurance will also be affected as your premium rates will certainly increase.

Another “hidden” DUI penalty is with regard to travelling out of the state or abroad because it could be limited. Substance abuse treatment and community service are other consequences that a DUI prosecution and conviction could bring. So you have to protect yourself from unfair losses of your rights and privileges. You must obtain guidance through the legal and practical “minefield” that is a DUI case. You can definitely minimize the consequences of your DUI charge, or you can avoid them altogether by making sure that you make the most appropriate decisions before accepting any plea offers.

Tags: drunk driving laws, DUI, DUI cost, DUI lawyer, DUI penalties

Reader’s Question:

Hi, I honestly don’t know anything about DUI yet, even DUI cases here in Jacksonville, Florida, but I am willing to learn everything. Is there any scientific evidence in a DUI case that is being used in court trial?

Beth

Jacksonville, FL

Not like other criminal cases, alcohol impairment cases or DUI cases often turn on scientific evidence. Our government supports those DUI arrests with field sobriety tests to determine probability of impairment. The field sobriety tests are distracted attention tests from which a police officer extrapolates alcohol impairment. It usually wins convictions based on complicated chemical breath or blood alcohol tests to determine the level of impairment. Indeed, one of the components of a DUI offense – the blood alcohol level – is itself, directly the result of scientific evidence.

If the preliminary breath test is admitted and given weight, it alone could give grounds for probable cause. This is the reason why DUI defense lawyers, including those in Jacksonville, Florida, should know the science and assumptions behind the blood alcohol tests. This is to assure their veracity and identify their potential flaws. A very good DUI lawyer knows every single way on how to challenge these tests that are most often being used as evidence in DUI court trial.

Tags: blood alcohol test, DUI, DUI trial, field sobriety tests

Reader’s Question:

I always knew that my daughter has a driving problem but I didn’t pay too much attention to it until she was arrested for DUI here in Jacksonville, Florida. Is it true that an officer can detect a driver who is under the influence just because of these driving problems?

Lan

Jacksonville, FL

Yes, it’s true, a police officer can definitely detect that a motorist is driving under the influence because of any driving problems. Your daughter’s driving problem is probably the reason why she was arrested for DUI in Jacksonville, Florida. One category of a driving problem that a motorist can exhibit is vigilance problems. A motorist whose vigilance has been impaired by alcohol has a tendency to respond more slowly than normal to a change in a traffic signal. An example of this driving problem is that the vehicle might remain stopped for an unusually long period of time after the signal has turned green. On a similar note, a driver who is impaired might be unusually slow to respond to an officer’s lights, siren, or hand signals.

The most extreme DUI hint in the category of vigilance problems is finding a vehicle stopped in a lane for no apparent reason. Sometimes when we notice that this behavior, the driver will be just lost or confused, but more than half of the time the driver is under the influence and maybe even asleep at the wheel.

Tags: DUI, DUI arrest, DUI lawyer

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:

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.