Jacksonville Florida DUI Lawyers

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 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:

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:

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:

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:

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.

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.