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DUI Attorneys in Destin, Fort Walton Beach & Niceville

DUI, DWI, or BUI are serious charges in the state of Florida, and a DUI 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, so your entire life. Even first-time offenders can find themselves facing jail time. And the more offenses you have on your record, the worse the penalties become.

Matthews & Jones, LLP has three law offices to better serve you, located in Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, and Niceville. Our DUI lawyers have years of experience helping form solid defenses against DUI charges. We’re here to help find creative solutions so that you receive the most favorable outcome possible. We ensure each client receives our whole-hearted attention, understanding, and, of course, legal expertise. We will give you an honest assessment of your DUI case. Call today for a consultation!

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REASONS TO CHOOSE OUR DUI LAWYERS IN DESTIN

  • Experienced
  • Knowledgeable
  • Caring
  • Superb track record in court
  • Local
  • Confident
  • Ethical
  • Strategical

Areas of Practice

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WHAT IS DUI?

DUI stands for driving under the influence. This is commonly known as drunk driving, and depending on the state in which you live, it could be known as DWI, or driving while intoxicated. Essentially, DUI is when you are operating a motor vehicle and your blood alcohol content is above the legal limit set by the state in which you live. 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 operate a motor vehicle safely. As you know, cars, trucks, and SUVs can weigh a 1,000 pounds or more, making them extremely dangerous to drive when you are under the influence of alcohol that may cause harm to someone else. As your speed increases, so does the risk of harming someone else.

WHAT IS DWI?

DWI stands for driving while intoxicated. For the most part, DWI means the same thing as DUI, which is operating a motor vehicle while impaired. DWI is a bit more encompassing, since it includes the use of drugs as well. However, DUI arrests can be for drugs as well. Depending on which state you are in, they use different terms. For the state of Florida, it’s officially called DUI. Regardless of which you choose, both mean that you’ve been arrested for endangering not only yourself, but others as well.

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WHAT IS BUI?

BUI stands for boating under the influence. This is the same offense as DUI, but specifically for those driving a boat. This is a serious offense in the state of Florida that has miles of beautiful coastlines and lakes that boaters love to use. Alcohol is a leading cause of deaths while boating. This is because people don’t have the experience driving a boat while drinking. Plus, when you factor in the other unknown factors, such as wind, sun, vibrations, engine noises, and weather patterns, the chance for an accident is increased. BUI holds the same threshold levels as DUI, meaning if your BAC is at or over .08, you are considered legally drunk. This can be determined through a breath test or a judgement call by the arresting officers. BUI convictions in the state of Florida hold very similar fines and consequences as DUI convictions.

WHAT IS DWAI?

DWAI stands for driving while ability impaired. This charge has two different degrees, with one being more severe than the other. You can think of a standard DWAI charge much like a traffic infraction; whereas, with a more severe charge, you’re looking at a DWAI felony. This charge is for those who aren’t at the threshold of .08 but are still found to be impaired while driving. The standard is no drinking at all while driving. You can still face fines, jail time, and a suspension of your driver’s license. While the penalties aren’t as high, you still don’t want a DWAI on your record. The difference between a DWAI traffic infraction and a DWAI felony is the level of intoxication and the different types of substances in your body. If you have both alcohol and drugs in your system, that’s an automatic felony. Penalties are higher as well and almost the same as a DUI or DWI.

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PENALTIES FOR DUI

It’s safe to say that Florida has some of the harshest DUI laws in the United States, with the judge being able to impose a wide range or penalties, depending on the circumstances of your case. Jail time is not unheard of for first time offenders, which is why you need an exceptional DUI attorney in Destin if you are facing DUI charges. Here’s the possible consequences of a DUI conviction:

1st Offense:

  • If your BAC (blood alcohol content) is less than .15 without a car crash, you can receive up to 6 months in confinement or if you refuse a breath test. Your fines are between $500 and $1000.
  • 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 9 months in jail. Your 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.

2nd Offense:

  • If your second DUI arrest is within 5 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. Your fines are between $500 and $1000.
  • If your second DUI arrest is more than 5 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 face a maximum of 9 months in jail, with no minimum jail time. 
  • If your second DUI arrest is more than 5 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 face a maximum of 12 months in jail, with no minimum jail time. Your fines are between $2,000 and $4,000.
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3rd Offense:

  • If your third DUI arrest is within 10 years after your other two DUI convictions, you face a 30-day minimum jail time sentence if convicted. Your fines are between $2,000 and $5,000.
  • If your third DUI arrest is more than 10 years after your other two DUI convictions, there is no minimum jail time, with a maximum of 12 months in jail.

4th Offense or More:

  • If you are convicted of a fourth DUI, you will face a felony conviction. This carries a sentence of up to 5 years in a Florida state prison and be considered a felon from then on. Your fines are a minimum of $2,000.

HOW OUR DUI ATTORNEYS CAN HELP IN DESTIN

When you’ve been arrested for DUI, DWI, BUI, or DWAI in the state of Florida, your world can seem to stop. With such life-changing ramifications on the line with a DUI conviction, you need a top-notch DUI attorney to help.

Matthews & Jones, LLP serves Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, and all of the surrounding areas with exceptional DUI representation. We understand that this is a difficult time in your life, and we do our best to ensure you have a favorable outcome. You can rest assured that if you partner with our DUI attorneys that we will do our due diligence to discover what happened on the day of your arrest, the circumstances, and read all of the reports. We will give you our honest assessment of your DUI case and how we think we can help. When facing a DUI charge in Florida, you don’t want to go it alone. Call our compassionate DUI lawyers today!

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Matthews & Jones Attorneys Practicing Criminal Law

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