The hiring of an attorney may seem like an expensive financial commitment. However, it is important to protect your rights when facing a DUI charge.
A conviction of DUI can lead to fines of $500 up to $4,000, court costs (which can range from $200 to $1,000), costs for the mandatory impoundment of your vehicle, and the monthly cost of supervision for probation. Depending on your breath test “blow,” there could also be a required ignition interlock device, which is quite expensive.
Other than the mandatory fees required by law, there are also associated costs such as increased insurance rates, time off work or loss of a job, fees associated with your loss of license and the overall inconvenience of having a DUI conviction on your record.
Although an attorney can never guarantee a dismissal of your case, it is important to protect your rights so that you can try to avoid the heavy financial costs associated with a DUI conviction.

You will probably go to jail for at least eight to 12 hours. Many times a person is taken to the jail for a breath test, whether they have been formally arrested or not. Under Florida law, a person arrested for DUI must be held at least eight hours before release, unless they are no longer intoxicated, their faculties are no longer impaired, or they have a BAC (blood alcohol content) less than .05.
If you lose your case at trial or enter a plea, it is possible that you will be sentenced to jail. The amount of jail you serve, if any at all, is up to the sentencing judge, and these are some guidelines:
A first time DUI is punishable by up to six months in a county jail.
A second DUI is punishable by up to nine months in a county jail. If it is a second offense within five years there is a MANDATORY 10-day jail sentence that must be imposed.
A third DUI is punishable by up to one year in jail. A third offense within 10 years carries with it a MANDATORY 30-day jail sentence that must be imposed.
A fourth DUI is considered a felony and substantial jail or prison time may be imposed.
If you are charged with refusing a breath test, you may face up to one year in jail.
If your breath test “blow” measures over .15, the maximum jail time may be extended by up to three months.

Yes. You only have 10 days to schedule an administrative review hearing if you want to challenge the suspension. If you do not take action to keep your license in those 10 days, your license will be suspended for the necessary period of time.