Florida DUI Laws – Questions and Answers – Florida DUI Information

Under Florida DUI Laws, Can the Court eliminate a DUI suspension imposed by the Bureau of Administrative Reviews – The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles – DHSMV?

Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers

Under Florida DUI laws / traffic laws sections 316.656 and 322.2615 trial judges in county or circuit courts cannot alter the administrative suspension and / or revocation periods. On an equally important note, courts are prohibited from withholding adjudication in DUI cases; or from reducing a DUI charge if the defendant’s blood alcohol was over .20 . The only way to have an impact on the ability to drive after a DUI traffic stop, an arrest for DUI, a refusal to submit to a chemical test, or a breath result above .08 is to immediately take advantage of the procedures available via the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) Bureau of Administrative Reviews (BAR).

Why should I hire a DUI Lawyer?

When stopped and arrested for DUI you may need to set a court hearing. Sometimes the hearing dates are set automatically. One reason to hire a competent DUI attorney is to find out the benefits that may be gained by investigating possible defenses, the risks of conviction, and what sentence may be imposed. Sometimes prosecutors make specific offers, but it is tough for defendants to reach out and personally discuss the case without making statements that the State can use against the driver.

What would be the advantage of hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney?

Sometimes drivers consider contacting the Office of the State Attorney or the Prosecutor in their own DUI case. The defense attorney can help with the initial administrative license suspension that will occur, if not challenged, within 10 days of the traffic stop and arrest. The lawyer may be able to help get a driving permit for work or business purposes. This short time period (less than two-weeks) will come and go long before the police, the clerk of courts, the Judge and prosecuting authorities ever even open a case file and set a court date. That is why many people hire private lawyers to find out if an arrest was improper. If the right questions are asked during the defense attorney’s investigation, the lawyer may be able to get the case dismissed. A lawyer may be able to get a better plea arrangement, keep you on the road, and out of jail.

What is the Legal Limit under Florida DUI Law?

Since an arrest for DUI can be made if an officer thinks a driver’s normal faculties are impaired, there is no legal limit. In Florida, a person can be arrested and convicted of DUI after consuming any amount of alcohol, even if the results are below a .08. Sometimes drivers are arrested and submit to other chemical tests and the results will not be available for weeks after the arrest.

What does .08 mean under Florida DUI Laws?

What does .08 mean under Florida DUI Laws?

What does a .08 mean?

Frequently a .08 is referred to as the legal limit. In Florida this is not entirely accurate. Under Florida Law, .08 BAC is a presumptive level for impairment. In other words, if you reach a .08 BAC, you are automatically considered impaired and a jury will be told to presume you are impaired if all procedures have been followed using an accurate breath testing machine. The instructions given to jurors can be found here.

What if a Florida Driver is below .08 BAC?

A driver can still be convicted of DUI even if under .08 BAC. This seems unusual and it is. In Florida, if a Prosecutor can convince a Judge and Jury that driving ability was impaired, a conviction and virtually permanent entry on a driver ‘s record will follow.By the way, drivers are already under arrest before even given a breath test in Florida.

Florida DUI Adjudication and Sentencing

Under the DUI Laws in this state, and based upon the Florida Statutes sections 316.656 and 322.2615 a conviction or plea agreement to a driving under the influence charge results in an adjudication which is the legal term for conviction. Upon the closing of a DUI case as charged (without a reduced charge of reckless driving) drivers become convicted criminals and an entry is made on the official driver’s license record. The law states, “no court may suspend, defer, or withhold adjudication of guilt or imposition of sentence for any violation of s. 316.193 . . . .”

There are also minimum sentences including license suspension, fines, court costs and attendance at an approved alcohol traffic education course commonly referred to as the DUI School. The law provides, “If the suspension of the driver’s license of the person relating to unlawful blood-alcohol level or breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher is sustained, the person is not eligible to receive a license for business or employment purposes only pursuant to s. 322.271 until 30 days have elapsed after the expiration of the last temporary permit issued. ” Furthermore, “If the suspension of the driver’s license of the person for failure to submit to a breath, urine, or blood test is sustained, the person is not eligible to receive a license for business or employment purposes only, pursuant to s. 322.271, until 90 days have elapsed after the expiration of the last temporary permit issued.”

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One recent Gasparilla, there were 5 BUI Boating Under the Influence Arrests. The Police, Sheriff’s Office, Coast Guard, and Florida Fish and Wildlife will be using a Mobile Facility this year to process arrests made on the water. See video at bottom of this article. Many of these charges listed below are criminal charges that can result in a permanent criminal record

Common Charges From The Gasparilla Weekend.

Possession Open Container

If you have been charged with TPOR0064 POSSESSION OF OPEN CONTAINER you can call a Defense Attorney Tampa at 1-877-793-9290 and tell me your story.

Form Code: TPOR0064
City of Tampa Municipal Code: 003.40.B
Level: Municipal/Local
Description: POSSESSION OF OPEN CONTAINER

TPOR0064 POSSESSION OF OPEN CONTAINER one of the most commonly charged offenses in Hillsborough County, Florida.

Sec. 3-40. – Consumption and possession of open containers on streets, sidewalks, alleys and other public property.

(b) It is unlawful for any person to possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage upon any street, sidewalk, alley or other public property, including public or semi-public parking lots, within the city.

(1) As used in subsection (b), “open container” means any vessel or container containing an alcoholic beverage, including beer or wine, which is immediately capable of consumption or the seal of which has been broken.

(2) An open container shall be considered to be in the possession of the person if the container is in the physical control of such person.

 

Tampa Open Container Ordinance Sec. 3-40. – Consumption and possession of open containers on streets, sidewalks, alleys and other public property.
 
(a)It is unlawful for any person to consume, assist or aid another to consume any alcoholic beverage upon any street, sidewalk, alley or other public property within the city.
 
(b)It is unlawful for any person to possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage upon any street, sidewalk, alley or other public property, including public or semi-public parking lots, within the city.
 
(1)As used in subsection (b), “open container” means any vessel or container containing an alcoholic beverage, including beer or wine, which is immediately capable of consumption or the seal of which has been broken.
 
(2)An open container shall be considered to be in the possession of the person if the container is in the physical control of such person.
 
(c)Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply when:
 
(1)The street, connecting sidewalk or alley has been officially temporarily closed upon application to the director of public works and the approval of the city council for the purpose of a block party as provided in this Code; or
 
(2)A portion of a sidewalk has been leased and permitted as a sidewalk café as provided for in chapter 22 of this Code; or
 
(3)Public property has been zoned and permitted for the sale of alcoholic beverages pursuant to law; or
 
(4)A portion of the street, connecting sidewalk or alley has been marked and/or designated as a crossing for a public golf course.
 
(Ord. No. 99-229, § 1, 10-28-99; Ord. No. 2007-19, § 2, 2-1-07)

 

MISC0112 POSSESSION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE BY PERSON UND

 

Possess Alcohol Under 21 
If you have been charged with MISC0112 POSSESSION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE BY PERSON UND you can call a Tampa Criminal Defense Lawyer at 1-877-793-9290 and tell me your story.
 
MISC0112 POSSESSION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE BY PERSON UND is often charged in Hillsborough County, Florida.
 

Title XXXIV ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO
Chapter 562 BEVERAGE LAW: ENFORCEMENT

562.111 Possession of alcoholic beverages by persons under age 21 prohibited.

(1) It is unlawful for any person under the age of 21 years, except a person employed under the provisions of s. 562.13 acting in the scope of her or his employment, to have in her or his possession alcoholic beverages, except that nothing contained in this subsection shall preclude the employment of any person 18 years of age or older in the sale, preparation, or service of alcoholic beverages in licensed premises in any establishment licensed by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco or the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 562.45, any person under the age of 21 who is convicted of a violation of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083; however, any person under the age of 21 who has been convicted of a violation of this subsection and who is thereafter convicted of a further violation of this subsection is, upon conviction of the further offense, guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) The prohibition in this section against the possession of alcoholic beverages does not apply to the tasting of alcoholic beverages by a student who is at least 18 years of age, who is tasting the alcoholic beverages as part of the student’s required curriculum at a postsecondary educational institution that is institutionally accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and that is licensed or exempt from licensure pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1005 or is a public postsecondary education institution; if the student is enrolled in the college and is tasting the alcoholic beverages only for instructional purposes during classes that are part of such a curriculum; if the student is allowed only to taste, but not consume or imbibe, the alcoholic beverages; and if the alcoholic beverages at all times remain in the possession and control of authorized instructional personnel of the college who are 21 years of age or older.

(3) In addition to any other penalty imposed for a violation of subsection (1), the court shall direct the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to withhold issuance of, or suspend or revoke, the violator’s driver’s license or driving privilege, as provided in s. 322.056.

Common Charges From The Gasparilla Weekend.

DUI Driving Under Influence

If you have been charged with TRAF1012 DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE You can call a Tampa Criminal Defense Lawyer at 1-877-793-9290 and tell me your story.

Form Code: TRAF1012

Florida Statute: 316.193.1
Level: Misd (Misdemeanor)
Degree: 2nd

Description: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Title XXIII MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 316 STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL

316.193 Driving under the influence; penalties.

(1) A person is guilty of the offense of driving under the influence and is subject to punishment as provided in subsection (2) if the person is driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle within this state and:

(a) The person is under the influence of alcoholic beverages, any chemical substance set forth in s. 877.111, or any substance controlled under chapter 893, when affected to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired;

(b) The person has a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or

(c) The person has a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

Common Charges From The Gasparilla Weekend.

DUI Over .08

If you have been charged with TRAF1015 DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE UNLAWFUL BREATH A (DUI determined with a Breathalyzer Intoxilyzer Machine) you can call a Tampa DUI Lawyer at 1-877-793-9290 and tell me your story.

Form Code: TRAF1015
Florida Statute: 316.193.1C
Level: Misd (Misdemeanor)
Degree: 2nd
Description: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE  UNLAWFUL BREATH A (DUI determined with a Breathalyzer Machine)

TRAF1015 DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE  UNLAWFUL BREATH A (DUI determined with a Breathalyzer / Intoxilyzer Machine) one of the most commonly charged offenses in Hillsborough County, Florida.

 

Title XXIII MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 316 STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL

316.193 Driving under the influence; penalties.

(1) A person is guilty of the offense of driving under the influence and is subject to punishment as provided in subsection (2) if the person is driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle within this state and:

(a) The person is under the influence of alcoholic beverages, any chemical substance set forth in s. 877.111, or any substance controlled under chapter 893, when affected to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired;

(b) The person has a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or

(c) The person has a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

Police Will Also Be on the Lookout For:

Open Containers Permitted Only Along The Parade Route – In Designated Areas
 
Must Be 21 Or Older To Consume Alcohol
 
Alcohol May Not Be Consumed From Kegs Or Large Vessels
 
No Glass Permitted
 
Use Port-O-Lets Or Other Restroom Facilities
 
No Fighting
 
No Trespassing On Private Property 
 
No Flashing Or Nudity For Beads


Common Charges From The Gasparilla Weekend.

Notice to Appear? Tell Me Your Story Toll Free 1-877-793-9290 .


Chapter 901 ARRESTS

901.28 Notice to appear for misdemeanors or violations of municipal or county ordinances; effect on authority to conduct search. — The issuance of a notice to appear shall not be construed to affect a law enforcement officer’s authority to conduct an otherwise lawful search, as provided by law.

 

901.31 Failure to obey written promise to appear.—Any person who willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required by a written notice to appear shall be fined not more than the fine of the principal charge or imprisoned up to the maximum sentence of imprisonment of the principal charge, or both, regardless of the disposition of the charge upon which the person was originally arrested. Nothing in this section shall interfere with or prevent the court from exercising its power to punish for contempt.

 

BUI Video 


Gasparilla Arrest? Get Affordable Help From an Attorney | Lawyer | Toll Free 1-877-793-9290