Bradenton DUI Defense Lawyers Aggressively Fighting Your Criminal Charges
Driving under the influence (DUI) is aggressively prosecuted by authorities in Bradenton, Florida. Even if you are a first-time offender, the court can impose serious penalties on you if you are convicted of DUI. Your future—and your freedom—is on the line. Fortunately, the DUI defense lawyers at Carlson Meissner Hart & Hayslett are here to help.
Our attorneys will work tirelessly to help you minimize or avoid the legal penalties of a DUI conviction. We are committed to defending your rights, protecting your freedom, and reaching the best possible outcome in your case. If you’ve been arrested for DUI, schedule a free consultation with our team today by calling 941-747-3100.
What Are the Penalties For DUI in Bradenton?
The penalties for DUI in Bradenton can vary depending on several factors, including your prior criminal record. The penalties for first-time offenders can include up to $1,000 in fines and up to six months in jail.
The penalties for repeat offenders are even more serious. Second-time offenders can face up to $2,000 in fines in addition to up to nine months in jail. If this is your second conviction within five years, you will also face mandatory imprisonment of at least 10 days.
Third-time offenders may have to pay up to $5,000 in fines and spend up to one year in jail. If this conviction occurs within 10 years of a prior conviction, you will face mandatory imprisonment of at least 30 days.
If you have three or more prior DUI convictions on your record, you can face at least $2,000 in fines and up to five years in prison for your fourth or subsequent conviction.
How Does A DUI in Bradenton Affect Your Driving Privileges?
If you are arrested for DUI, your driver’s license is immediately revoked. The length of this revocation will vary depending on your prior DUI history, but it can range anywhere from six months for a first conviction to up to ten years for more than three convictions.
If you apply for a DMV hearing within 10 days of your arrest, you may be able to challenge your suspension and retain your driving privileges. It is imperative that you have a skilled DUI defense attorney with you at the DMV hearing to help you fight for your driving privileges.
Do You Qualify For A Hardship License After A DUI Arrest?
If your license is suspended after a DUI, you may be eligible for a hardship reinstatement, which would allow you to continue driving for business or employment purposes only.
The eligibility requirements for hardship reinstatement will vary depending on whether you are a first-time or repeat DUI offender. For example, first-time offenders will need to provide proof of completion of DUI school. However, if this is your second DUI conviction within five years, in addition to completing DUI school, you must also wait one year before applying for hardship reinstatement. Furthermore, you must remain in a DUI supervision program for the remainder of your driver’s license revocation period.
If you have four or more DUI convictions, you will not be eligible for hardship reinstatement.
How Can An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Fight DUI Charges?
DUI cases often rely mainly on the results of the driver’s chemical test. You may think that there’s no way to fight your charges if your results show that you were intoxicated, but that’s not the case. The truth is that the results of blood, breath, and urine tests are often inaccurate.
The police must follow specific procedures when administering, testing, and storing samples from chemical tests. If they fail to follow one or more of these procedures, the results may not be accurate. Our attorneys will carefully review the evidence to look for missteps or mistakes that we can use to weaken the state’s case against you.
It is possible to avoid a conviction even if your chemical test results show intoxication—we can help.
Book Your Free Consultation With Our DUI Defense Law Firm in Bradenton
Have you been arrested and charged with DUI in Bradenton? If so, it’s in your best interest to seek legal representation from the knowledgeable DUI and criminal defense lawyers at Carlson Meissner Hart & Hayslett. You can’t fight DUI charges without an experienced attorney in your corner. With over 125 years of combined experience, our team has what it takes to reach the best possible outcome in your case. To schedule a free consultation regarding your case, call 941-747-3100 or fill out the form on this website.
