What Consequences Am I Facing With a DUI Arrest in Gainesville, Florida?
Florida has some of the toughest laws regarding Driving Under the Influence in the country. Here is a summary of what you are facing if you are arrested and charged in Gainesville or Alachua County for a DUI:
If you are arrested for DUI in Gainesville, or Alachua County, you are facing two penalties:
- DUI Criminal Conviction
- Driver’s License Suspension by the DMV:
Additionally, if you are a University of Florida student charged with DUI, there is an additional penalty:
- University of Florida (UF) Suspension or Expulsion. Here is the latest news regarding Student Code of Conduct violations for first time DUI
Jeffrey Meldon Tip: The DUI Criminal Conviction is serious, more serious than many felonies and can affect the rest of your life! It can be more serious than grand theft auto, for example, and will not go away no matter how much you try to ignore it!
Here is why:
- Florida law does not permit the judge to withhold an adjudication of guilt! In most criminal cases in Florida, the judge has the discretion or ability to keep a conviction off your record, but not with a DUI conviction.
- This means if you plead “no contest”, “guilty” or are “found guilty” by a judge or jury to the charge of DUI, the judge has no choice but to convict you and you will have a DUI criminal conviction on your record for the rest of your life.
- This criminal conviction can never be sealed or expunged.
This means:
- This DUI conviction may have to be reported to certain employers, the military, graduate schools, and to your insurance company.
- Your insurance rates will skyrocket with a DUI conviction, costing you as much as $20,000 over the next 3 to 5 years! This is a due to a new 2007 Florida law that requires extra auto insurance for anyone with a DUI conviction.
- This DUI conviction can haunt you if you are ever charged with a second DUI (even if it is 15 to 20 years later).
- A DUI conviction will also mean: jail time and/or probation, DUI School, fines and court costs, community service, driver’s license suspension, possibility of an ignition interlock device placed on your car, and the Victim Impact Program.
- A DUI conviction is also reported nationwide, it will always be on your driving record, and no matter what state you move to, it will follow you.
- Jeffrey Meldon Tip: It is of the utmost important to hire an experienced Gainesville DUI attorney. Doing so will give you the best chance of avoiding the DUI charge and its life long penalties. Here are things you should look for in a DUI attorney
Remember, the only sure way of avoiding the lifelong consequences of a DUI conviction is to not drink and drive!
However, if it is too late, do not make another mistake – hire an experienced DUI/DWI attorney to represent you and do it ASAP, don’t wait! You can contact us today at 800-373-8000.
The experienced Trial Attorneys at Meldon Law are dedicated to preserving the rights of the accused.
Pictured above – Dan Weisman, Jeffrey Meldon, and Carey Meldon have a combined 60 years of legal experience representing people in Gainesville, Florida and Alachua County, Florida accused of DUI/DWI and other criminal charges. They wrote the DUI Guide for Alachua County – Ways to Possibly Avoid a DUI Charge or Conviction. Request your free copy today.
This free no obligation book, written by a team of experienced DUI defense criminal trial attorneys, gives insight into what a DUI charge is, ways the State can prove the charge, and possible legal defenses.
Being charged and convicted of DUI is best avoided by not drinking and driving! This book also gives information on what it takes to be over the legal limit, how alcohol affects the body, plus much, much more!
