Tampa DUI Lawyer
Getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after consuming an alcoholic beverage or another impairing substance isn’t just dangerous, it may be illegal. Driving under the influence, or DUI, is harshly prosecuted in Tampa in an effort to reduce drunk driving and makes our roads safer. If you have been charged with a DUI, you need a Tampa DUI lawyer working on your case. At the law office of Trombley & Hanes, our Tampa DUI lawyers can start building your case immediately. Call us today to learn more about your options and what to do when facing DUI charges.
DUIs have varying levels of severity based on factual circumstances such as the level of blood alcohol or breath alcohol, whether the incident involved injury or an accident, whether children were present inside the vehicle, and whether the driver has prior DUI convictions.
Additionally, upon arrest for a DUI offense the Department of Motor Vehicles will take prompt action to suspend your license. Again, depending on the factual circumstances of the case the suspension could range from six months, a year, eighteen months or longer and could include thirty or ninety day “hard suspension” periods preventing you from driving for any reason.
What Constitutes a DUI?
Many people believe that they can operate a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol or another impairing substance so long as their blood alcohol concentration is under .08 percent. This is a common misconception; instead, the law explains that driving under the influence occurs when a person is under the influence of alcoholic beverages, chemical substances, or controlled substances and they have a blood/breath alcohol level of .08 percent or above or there is “impairment of normal faculties.” As such, the prosecution does not have to have the results of a breathalyzer in order to secure a conviction; it need only prove that faculties were impaired.
Penalties for DUI in Tampa
As found in Florida Statutes Section 316.193, a first conviction DUI can be penalized by a fine of between $500-$1,000, a license revocation of between 180 days and one year, and jail time of up to six months. Secondary and subsequent DUI offenses are punished more harshly.
How a Tampa DUI Lawyer Can Help
If you are facing DUI charges in Florida, our Tampa DUI attorneys can help. We’ll work with you to ensure you understand the charges you’re facing and the potential consequences of a conviction. We’ll also work hard to build your defense. Some potential defenses to DUI charges include:
- Not intoxicated—If there is no proof that you were intoxicated, charges against you may be reduced or dropped altogether.
- Improper stop—police must have reasonable suspicion to make a traffic stop. If there was none, evidence seized against you may be unlawful.
- Improper breathalyzer administration or result—if a breathalyzer is improperly administered or if there is a defect with the breathalyzer, results should not be submitted to court.
Our responsibility is to make sure that your Constitutional rights are upheld throughout the process and that you secure the best case outcome possible. Our lawyers can also represent you in negotiating a plea bargain.
Call Our Tampa, Florida DUI Defense Lawyers Today
At the law office of Trombley & Hanes, we know how significantly a DUI conviction can impact your future. If you are facing DUI charges, one of the best things that you can do for yourself is to secure legal representation from a qualified Tampa DUI attorney as soon as possible. The Tampa DUI lawyers at Trombley & Hanes, P.A. have defended numerous DUI cases and represented current and former NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL athletes against DUI charges in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. To learn more about our Tampa DUI lawyers and how we can help, call us as soon as possible after being arrested and charged.
