No one wants to be punished by the law and forced to spend time behind bars. But the possibility of going to jail is an unfortunate aspect of most criminal cases that can only be avoided through the use of an aggressive defense. With a DUI case there is the chance of jail time with every arrest, but it is less so if it is your first offense. The more frequently you face the same type of charges, the more serious punishment becomes.
For a DUI case, here are two things that are important to know about the possible range of punishment:
- A first time offender can expect to pay up to $500.00 in fines, as well as court costs. First time DUI offenders are also required to complete a certain number of community service hours, and attend DUI school. Loss of your driver’s license for up to 6 months is typical, but this can often be counter balanced by seeking review of the suspension and requesting reinstatement of your driving privileges in full, or at least in part. And while jail time is not mandatory, there is the possibility of being sentenced to jail on a first offense for up to 6 months.
- Subsequent DUI cases include many of the same forms of punishment, just at higher costs and for longer lengths of time. As far as the potential to be sentenced to jail on a subsequent DUI, the length of time between cases comes in to play and it is possible that a jail sentence is mandatory of cases occur to close together in time. It is also possible to be charged with a felony if you have had a significant amount of DUI charges, or there are other factors at play such as an accident with injury resulting from the DUI incident.
Given these possibilities it is never a good idea to tackle a DUI case on your own. Instead, let one of our DUI defense attorneys take a look at your case and help you. We defend cases based on the facts, and by fighting for what is in the best interest of our clients.
If you have been arrested for DUI, call our office for help. Contact us today schedule an appointment with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Stuart and the Treasure Coast. The first visit is a free initial consultation.