Ocala First DUI Offense Attorneys
The Right Representation for a First DUI Offense
When a police officer stops you and believes that you are driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, it can abruptly change your life. The officer might ask you to participate in several different roadside sobriety tests. You may be asked to breathe into a breathalyzer, and the officer may also ask to search your car. Additionally, if the officer has probable cause to believe your ability to drive is impaired by alcohol, you can be arrested and taken to the police station where a prosecutor will issue you a charge for DUI.
It’s a mistake to think that a first offense DUI isn’t a serious issue. In Florida, the authorities strive to strictly enforce DUI laws and will often try to impose the harshest penalties available for those who are convicted. The fact that it is your first offense doesn’t mean that you will be let off with just a warning. To the contrary, any DUI arrest in Florida is a serious offense that can have devastating impacts on many different areas of your life.
The experienced Ocala first DUI offense attorneys at Meldon Law understand that a criminal charge for a first time DUI offender can be complex and intimidating. We are here to support and guide you through the process. We frequently represent people in Ocala, Gainesville, and throughout Levy County, Florida who have been charged with a first-offense DUI. If you have been arrested on a DUI charge, don’t delay in retaining legal representation. We are available to discuss the details of your case and explain how our attorneys can help you through this process.
Don’t Wait – Contact a DUI Defense Attorney Without Delay
After an arrest, DUI charges are often issued quickly. You will be sent a notice of your court hearing in the mail, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles might also suspend your driver’s license. You can appeal this suspension, because it is a civil administrative matter separate from the DUI case in criminal court. You have only a small window in which you can appeal the suspension decision, and it’s advisable to do so in order to keep driving while your case is worked out. At Meldon Law, we will handle every step of your first-time DUI case, including all of the administrative tasks like appealing a license suspension. You need to act quickly, however, because these matters are extremely time-sensitive.
Additional penalties that may follow a first-time DUI in Florida include:
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Your life can be upended in multiple when you lose your license or when you are required to have an ignition interlock device installed in your car. When you have a DUI conviction on your record, it is often difficult to secure rental housing, find a new job, get a professional license, and it may even impede your custody rights. Additionally, if you’re accused and convicted of another DUI in the future, the penalties for a multiple-DUI charge are much more significant. The best possible scenario is to avoid a DUI arrest completely, but if arrested, it is essential to speak with a defense attorney as soon as possible.
The attorneys at Meldon Law have a solid understanding of the strict timelines, options, and consequences for these cases. We will start by evaluating the details and circumstances of the arrest. Then we will work to collect evidence that supports your defense. This evidence will be used to show that the prosecution should drop the charges against you or that the judge should dismiss the case. If needed, we can also work on your behalf to create a favorable plea bargain. A strategic plea bargain can reduce the consequences of the charges against you.
The faster we can start working on your case, the stronger the potential for a favorable outcome. It is in your best interest to have an attorney started on your defense right away – it is unwise to delay contacting a defense attorney, even if it seems like a daunting conversation to initiate. Remember that our purpose is to find the best possible way to defend you against these DUI charges and minimize the lasting negative impacts on your life.
We Are Knowledgeable on How to Defend DUI Charges
Some people might assume that if they take a breathalyzer test and blow below the legal limit (0.08 percent), they are in the clear and are not in danger of a DUI conviction. However, if the arresting officer states that they saw other signs of impairment, a prosecutor can consider that statement and issue charges accordingly even without a “failed” breathalyzer. Some people also think that if their BAC was above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, it is pointless to hire a defense attorney, thinking the results of the test are conclusive. It is a mistake to give up so quickly, however, as the defense attorneys at Meldon Law have many different strategies to help those who are facing a first-time DUI charge regardless of whether you failed a breathalyzer. It’s up to you to make the first call—then we can support you throughout the entire process.
Ways we are able to defend those with first-time DUI charges in Ocala include:
- Showing that the officer didn’t have the correct training when they conducted the sobriety tests
- Pointing out any errors that were made when conducting chemical tests or field sobriety tests
- Arguing that the traffic stop was a violation of your constitutional rights and that the officer did not actually have a valid reason for pulling you over.
- Finding that the breathalyzer equipment was faulty or not used properly.
Call Meldon Law to speak with a Ocala First DUI Offense Attorney
At Meldon Law, our legal team has a thorough understanding of the stresses accompanied by a first time DUI arrest. We know that your case has the potential to impact your life in many different ways, both now and permanently. We are dedicated to providing aggressive defense for each an every one of our clients. Call us today at 800-373-8000 or contact us online to learn how we can help in your DUI case.
