Top Rated Local® Emerald Coast Law Offices
Legal Services for DUIs in Destin
A DUI is a serious charge in the state of Florida, and a conviction can follow you for the rest of your life, impacting your career and livelihood in the future. In fact, a DUI conviction will remain on your record for 75 years! Even first-time offenders can find themselves facing jail time. The more offenses you have on your record, the worse the penalties become. Contact the team of DUI attorneys at Matthes & Jones, LLP in Destin today.
Reasons To Choose Our Dui Lawyers in Destin:
- Experienced
- Knowledgeable
- Caring
- Superb track record in court
- Local
- Confident
- Ethical
- Strategical
Jail Time
Fines
License Revocation
Ignition Interlock Device (IID)
What Constitutes a DUI
Drunk driving or driving under the influence of alcohol is considered a DUI. Sometimes, it can also be known as DWI, or driving while intoxicated. Essentially, you can be charged with a DUI when you operate a motor vehicle and your blood alcohol content is above the legal limit set by the state. Here in Florida, that threshold is .08. This number has been determined by the state to be the level at which a person is unable to safely operate a motor vehicle. As you know, cars, trucks, and SUVs can weigh 1,000 pounds or more, which makes them extremely dangerous to drive if you are under the influence of alcohol. If you’ve been charged with a DUI, contact the team of attorneys at Matthes & Jones, LLP.
DUI Penalties for 1st Offense
If your BAC (blood alcohol content) is less than .15 without a car crash, or if you refuse a breath test, you can receive up to six months in confinement. Fines are between $500 and $1,000.
If you have a BAC level that is .15 or higher, or you were driving with a minor in the vehicle, you can receive up to nine months in jail. Fines are between $1,000 and $2,000.
If you are involved in a car crash, you can receive up to 12 months in jail.
DUI Penalties for 2nd Offense
If your second DUI arrest is within five years of the first DUI conviction, you face a minimum of 10 days in jail if convicted, or a residential rehab program at the judge’s discretion. Fines are between $500 and $1,000.
If your second DUI arrest is more than five years after your first DUI conviction, and if you refused a blood or breath test, or you were below .05 BAC level with no car crash, then you can face a maximum of 9 months in jail, with no minimum jail time.
If your second DUI arrest is more than five years after your first DUI conviction, and you had a BAC level of greater than .15, or you were driving with a minor in the car, then you can face a maximum of 12 months in jail, with no minimum jail time. Fines are between $2,000 and $4,000.
DUI Penalties for 3rd Offense
If your third DUI arrest is within 10 years after your previous two DUI convictions, you face a 30-day minimum jail-time sentence if convicted. Fines are between $2,000 and $5,000.
If your third DUI arrest is more than 10 years after your previous two DUI convictions, there is no minimum jail time, with a maximum of 12 months in jail.
DUI Penalties for 4th Offense
If you are convicted of a fourth DUI, you will face a felony conviction. This carries a sentence of up to five years in a Florida state prison and you will be considered a felon from then on. Fines are a minimum of $2,000.
DUI Attorneys in Destin
Matthews & Jones, LLP serves clients throughout the Emerald Coast with exceptional DUI representation. We understand that this is likely a difficult time in your life, and we will do our best to ensure you have a favorable outcome. We will give you our honest assessment of your DUI case and how we can help. When facing a DUI charge in Florida, you don’t want to go it alone. Call our compassionate DUI lawyers today!
