Drunk driving arrests are so common that many people probably think that these are relatively minor incidents. But, while such arrests – for first-time offenders – are typically misdemeanors, which means they have a lower level of potential penalties involved, the all-encompassing penalties, beyond just what is involved from a criminal justice standpoint, can be significant.
For instance, some people probably think that serving a year under probation supervision, if convicted of DUI, isn’t that big of a deal. However, think of how such a sentence will impact your life: you will be required to report regularly to a probation officer; you will likely be prohibited from visiting locations where alcohol is served, such as bars; and you will likely be required to attend substance abuse or alcohol counseling. These are time consuming obligations, which must be fulfilled to avoid probation violations.
Beyond these requirements, anyone convicted of DUI will also likely face a driver’s license suspension. The inconvenience of being unable to drive cannot be overstated. For most people, driving is a regular part of life – to get to work or school, go grocery shopping and taking kids to extracurricular activities, for example. A driver’s license suspension can cause all sorts of problems.
At our law firm, we understand that there are significant penalties associated with a DUI conviction in Florida. We do our best to help our clients understand these potential penalties and plan accordingly in the criminal defense process. For more information about how we attempt to help Florida residents, please visit the DUI overview section of our law firm’s website.