DUI Lawyers in Okaloosa County, Florida 

The Alice Harris Law Firm is a DUI defense law firm in Okaloosa County, Florida that can help you if you were arrested or if you are facing charges for a DUI. The penalties for a DUI in Florida can be very serious and can involve jail time, the loss of your driver’s license, and fines, in addition to collateral consequences that can include increased insurance costs, having a criminal record, and having a DUI on your driving record. The consequences and penalties for a DUI can be even more serious if you were involved in an accident and then were arrested for drunk driving, if someone was injured or killed and you are being accused of drinking and driving, or if there was a minor present in your car when you were arrested. Finally, if this is your second or subsequent DUI, you could also face additional penalties, like longer jail sentencing, longer license suspension, and other consequences.

The DUI defense lawyer at The Alice Harris Law Firm in Okaloosa County, Florida works with clients who are facing DUI accusations. Our driving under the influence attorney in Okaloosa County, Florida can review the details of your arrest, review the evidence police might have gathered against you, and evaluate the options you might have going forward. Navigating the criminal justice system can be stressful, and the consequences of having a DUI on your record can be high and can impact you potentially for the rest of your life. The Alice Harris Law Firm is a DUI law firm in Okaloosa County, Florida that can help.

How Much Can I Drink Before I am Considered to Be Under the Influence in Florida?

Under Florida law, a person is considered to be under the influence of alcohol in Florida if their blood alcohol concentration is found to be 0.08% or higher. How many drinks would result in a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%? This depends on the person’s weight, whether the person had anything to eat before drinking, and how fast the person metabolizes alcohol. A person could also be charged with drinking and driving if an officer suspects that he or she was smoking marijuana or if the officer suspects that he or she might be under the influence of illegal drugs. A person could be charged with a DUI if he or she is impaired after taking even prescription or over-the-counter drugs. In Florida, operating a motor vehicle while impaired is against the law.

How do police officers determine if your BAC is above 0.08% or that you might be impaired? Under Florida’s implied consent law, if you are arrested for drunk driving and refuse to submit to a breath or blood test, you could face an automatic driver’s license suspension of up to one year. If your blood alcohol concentration is higher than 0.08%, you could face arrest or drunk driving charges. Officers might ask you to take field sobriety tests to determine if you might be under the influence of drugs. If an officer suspects that you might be under the influence of marijuana or another drug, you could also face drunk driving charges.

If you have been charged with a DUI in Florida, it is important to understand that you are innocent until proven guilty. You have the right to dispute the facts that officers might present against you in court. There might be several situations where individuals might be able to mount a successful defense. Alice Harris with The Alice Harris Law Firm is a driving under the influence lawyer in Okaloosa, Florida. Contact our DUI lawyer today to learn more about your options and rights under the law.

DUI Defenses

The DUI defenses available to you will depend largely on the details and facts of your case. The Alice Harris Law Firm is a DUI law firm in Okaloosa, Florida that can review these details to help you understand your options under the law. In some cases, charges can be reduced or even dropped. For example, if there were errors in testing, problems with the breathalyzer, or if the chain of evidence was not properly preserved, then you may be able to raise these issues in trial. Sometimes officers might think a person was drinking and driving based on field sobriety tests, but not realize that the individual suffers from a medical condition that can make the individual appear to be under the influence. Alice Harris, Attorney at Law, is a driving under the influence lawyer that can also review the reasons why you were pulled over in the first place.

In some cases, the evidence against you may still be strong. However, there may be other alternatives to jail time available, including alcohol treatment programs and Florida’s ignition interlock program. Have questions about your options? Reach out to the DUI lawyer, Alice Harris with The Alice Harris Law Firm in Okaloosa, Florida today.