DUI Penalties in St. Augustine, Florida
Your Rights Explained by Our St. Augustine DUI Attorney
If you are facing charges for a misdemeanor or felony DUI offense, you will need to speak with our St. Augustine DUI lawyer immediately. The penalties imposed upon DUI drivers in Florida are exceptionally harsh, and even a first time DUI conviction can carry serious repercussions. You will have the right to seek legal counsel and fight the charges against you.
When your future is at stake, you owe it to yourself to retain an aggressive, experienced, and skilled St. Augustine DUI defense attorney. At Taylor & Waldrop Attorneys, we inform our clients of their legal options, their rights, and what they should do in order to increase their chances of securing a favorable outcome. Due to our professional abilities, aggressive defense strategies, and extensive trial experiences, our defense team will work with you to develop a case strategy custom-tailored for your unique circumstances.
Talk to Taylor & Waldrop Attorneys today at (904) 204-6499 to learn how we can craft a winning strategy for your case!
What happens after an arrest?
In the state of Florida, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the impairment of drugs or alcohol. Under Florida laws, driving under the influence (DUI) is an offense measured by the impairment of normal faculties or unlawful blood alcohol content level (BAC) of .08% or above.
First Time DUI Penalties
- Up to $1,000 in fines (up to $2,000 if aggravated)
- 50 hours of court-ordered community service
- Additional fines of $10 for each hour of required community service, at the court's discretion
- Up to one year of probation
- Up to six months of jail time (up to nine months if aggravated)
- License revocation for 180 days up to one year
- 12 hours of mandatory DUI school
- Ten day vehicle impoundment at your own expense
Further, if you were driving with a BAC of .08% or higher with a minor in your vehicle, then you could face up to nine months in jail. Individuals driving with a BAC level of 0.15% or higher could also be subject to enhanced (aggravated) penalties.
Second Time DUI Penalties
- Fines up to $2,000
- Up to nine months in jail
- 30 days of vehicle impoundment at your own expense
- 180 days up to one year license revocation
- Completion of DUI school immediately following conviction
If your BAC was at 0.15% or higher, you could be subject to paying fines as high as $4,000 and a mandatory one-year jail sentence. If your prior conviction was within five years of your current conviction, there will be a mandatory sentence of at least ten days served in jail, 48 hours of which must be served consecutively.
Third Time DUI Penalties
- If your third conviction occurs more than ten years from your second conviction, you could be subjected to legal fines between $2,000 - $5,000
- Up to one year of jail time (or up to five years if charged as a felony third offense)
- 90 days of vehicle impoundment at your own expenses from the day you are released from jail
- 180 days up to one year license revocation (minimum ten years of license revocation if charged as a felony third offense)
- Completion of DUI school immediately following conviction
Fourth Time (or Subsequent) DUI Penalties
- Up to five years in state prison
- Designation as a habitual offender
- Fines no less than $2,000 and as high as $5,000
- Mandatory permanent license revocation
- Other consequences associated with a felony conviction
Taylor & Waldrop Attorneys: How We Can Defend Your Freedoms
At Taylor & Waldrop Attorneys, we work closely with our clients to defend their rights, interests, and freedoms. We understand that many of our clients are facing potentially life-changing circumstances and we pay careful attention to their needs or concerns.
Why have clients chosen Taylor & Waldrop Attorneys? We have established a reputation for:
- Hard-hitting, tenacious, and zealous trial presence in all levels of court
- Thorough investigations used to dismantle the prosecution's case
- Experience in state, federal, and appellate courts throughout Florida
- Proven record of trial success, including hundreds of cases being returned with not-guilty verdicts and settlements
No matter how incriminating the evidence against you may seem, no matter how complex your case, our St. Augustine DUI attorneys can employ aggressive DUI defense strategies to help safeguard your rights. Don't go into this battle alone. Choose Taylor & Waldrop Attorneys to be your trusted advocate.
To schedule your free case consultation in our private offices, please contact our St. Augustine DUI defense law firm today. We are ready to listen to your side of the story.
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