Pensacola DUI Lawyers
The Alice Harris Law Firm is a DUI law firm in Pensacola, Florida that may be able to assist you if you have been charged or arrested for drunk driving. The consequences of a DUI conviction can include fines, imprisonment, impoundment of your vehicle, and revocation of your driver’s license. If you were involved in a crash in which another person was injured or killed, the penalties you could be facing might be more serious. For example, if a person was killed because you were driving while under the influence, you could face manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter charges. If a person was seriously injured because you were driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you could face felony charges. And, if there was a minor in your vehicle when you were arrested for a DUI, you could also face enhanced penalties. Higher blood alcohol concentrations can also result in more serious penalties. Finally, if this is your second, third, or subsequent DUI charge, your penalties could also be more serious.
Individuals can be charged with driving under the influence if the arresting officer suspects that a driver might be impaired due to drug or alcohol use, or if the arresting officer tests a driver’s blood or breath alcohol level and finds that the individual has a level above 0.08%. A person can face a DUI charge if he or she is impaired by any drug, including prescription medication or over-the-counter medication. If an officer suspects that you have been driving while under the influence, you may be asked to take a blood or breath test. Under Florida law, driving is considered a privilege, not a right. Every time you get behind the wheel, you are giving police implied consent to require you to submit to a breath or blood test if you are suspected of driving while under the influence. Refusal to take a test when asked could result in the suspension of your driver’s license for up to one year and the fact that you refused to take the test could be admitted as evidence in trial.
If you have been arrested for a DUI, you may have many questions and concerns. The police have many powers when it comes to gathering evidence of your guilt. In most cases, your best options are to assert your right to remain silent, to comply with required testing, and to ask to speak to a DUI lawyer in Pensacola, Florida as soon as possible. The Alice Harris Law Firm is a Pensacola, Florida DUI law firm that may be able to help you with a range of questions pertaining to your arrest and rights.
How a Driving Under the Influence Lawyer in Pensacola, Florida May Be Able to Help You
If you have been charged with a DUI in Pensacola, Florida, you are innocent until proven guilty. However, every DUI case will be unique and the defenses available to you will depend largely on the details of your case. If you are fighting a DUI charge in Pensacola, Florida, the Pensacola DUI lawyer at The Alice Harris Law Firm may be able to review your case, identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and help you get the best possible outcome under the law.
What are some common DUI defenses that may be available to you? Your Pensacola DUI attorney can review the details surrounding your stop. Did officers have probable cause to stop you? Why did the officer suspect that you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs? For example, people with certain illnesses might exhibit signs that can be mistaken for inebriation. Field sobriety tests are only as sound as the officer trained to perform the test, and there are a range of situations where a poorly administered test or misapprehension of results could result in false positives. Breathalyzers can sometimes malfunction, provide erroneous results, or the test could be improperly administered, resulting in inaccuracies. These are just some of the possible defenses that may be available to an individual facing a DUI.
Even if there is evidence you were drinking and driving, sometimes the law may offer you a range of alternatives to jail time and the loss of your license. For example, some individuals may qualify for a driver license, but on a restricted basis. You may be required to submit to a breath test each and every time you drive, but this is an option if you do not want to lose your ability to drive. Sometimes a DUI lawyer can negotiate with prosecutors to have your charges reduced in some situations. In other cases, individuals may be able to reduce jail time by seeking alcohol treatment programs.
Have questions about your rights if you are being charged with a DUI? The Alice Harris Law Firm is a Pensacola, Florida DUI law firm that may be able to help you. Contact our law firm today to learn more about how we may be able to defend you if you are facing drunk driving charges.