Free DUI Lawyer Jacksonville Florida

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:

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.

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.

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.