DUI Consequences

When arrested for DUI, you do not yet know what consequences you will face. Punishments can range from mild to severe, depending on various details of your case. In Orlando, the criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm will fight to protect you from the harshest consequences.

Possible DUI Penalties

If you are convicted of DUI, a number of different criminal consequences are possible, including:

• Suspension of driver's license
• Jail time
• Fines
• Impoundment of vehicle
• DUI school
• Probation
• Community service

Additionally, a DUI conviction in Florida cannot be expunged from your record. In Florida, DUI criminal consequences also apply to driving while impaired by drugs or controlled substances. Although other states refer to this type of impaired driving as DWI, Florida makes no such distinction and DUI punishments are handed down for both.

Misdemeanor and Felony DUI

In the state of Florida, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. You may also be arrested if police officers have reason to believe that drugs or alcohol are impairing your normal abilities, even if you refuse to participate in field sobriety tests. Beyond your BAC, the charges against you may be influenced by:

• Property damage caused
• Physical injury to other people
• Past DUI convictions

Under Florida law, a DUI arrest can result in a misdemeanor or felony charge, depending on the circumstances leading up to your arrest. If you caused property damage or someone else's personal injury, you can be charged with a misdemeanor.

If you cause serious bodily injury to another person, you can be charged with a felony. Felony charges also stem from repeat DUI convictions within a certain number of years. In just about every case, a felony conviction carries the potential for harsher consequences.

Learn more by reading What To Do When Stopped for DUI.

If you have been charged with a DUI in Central Florida, please contact the experienced Orlando criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm to schedule a free and confidential consultation.