Alafaya DUI Lawyer

Get an Aggressive Defense From Our DUI Lawyers in Alafaya

Law enforcement can be quick to slap on charges and move you through the legal system – often with ramifications that follow you around for the rest of your life.

If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Alafaya, you need a DUI defense lawyer in Alafaya who will fight for and protect your best interests. That is where Panella Law Firm comes in.

Call 407-233-1822 or click to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your options with an Alafaya DUI attorney when facing a DUI charge.

Getting a DUI In Alafaya

The Problem With Probable Cause

A DUI Charge in Alafaya, FL, can come with life-changing consequences. Unfortunately, a large number of people who are charged with a DUI are first-time offenders who might not even realize that they were breaking the law. In fact, many people have no idea how easy it is to end up with a DUI charge. It can happen to anyone – even when you’re not drunk.

Florida state law requires law enforcement to have probable cause before issuing an arrest for DUI. It’s very common for an unsuspecting driver to provide probable cause without even realizing it. They were often not even aware that they were coerced into being complicit in their own arrest.

What is Probable Cause?

In Florida, probable cause means that the officer must have an identifiable reason to suspect that you are driving under the influence. Examples of probable cause include:

• Breathalyzer results at or over the legal limit of 0.08%
• Driver’s admission of driving drunk
• Signs of intoxication (stumbling, slurred speech, smelling of alcohol, etc.).

If an officer finds probable cause, you can be arrested and taken to jail even if it hasn’t been proven that you were driving drunk.

The problem with probable cause is that it’s often simply a matter of the arresting officer’s suspicions. The law does not require proof that you’ve done anything illegal.

If you’ve been wrongly charged or unknowingly manipulated into giving probable cause, you need to start talking DUI defense strategies with a DUI defense lawyer in Alafaya, FL, one who knows your rights and will fight aggressively to protect them — a law firm like Panella Law Firm.

How a DUI Attorney in Alafaya, FL, Can Help

Suppose that you have been pulled over and the officer suspects that you are under the influence. In that case, all they need to do is meet the bare minimum legal requirements to arrest you.

At Panella Law Firm in Alafaya, our DUI attorneys know that the arresting officer’s suspicions often don’t meet the legal threshold for probable cause. However, all too often, the handcuffs go on. Then, the rest of the scenario plays out by the book with hearings, charges, jail time, and other consequences. Without an experienced DUI lawyer defending your rights, it’s easy to be swept along with legal proceedings.

You can successfully fight a DUI charge with the help of an experienced attorney who can thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your arrest and charges to devise the best DUI defense strategy for your case.

There are many ways a DUI defense lawyer can call the charges into question, including:

• Questioning probable cause
• Questioning grounds for initial investigation and detention
• Ascertaining whether your Fourth Amendment rights were violated
• Questioning the validity of field sobriety or breathalyzer tests
• Arguing that medication or a medical condition played a role.

Many factors can contribute to a DUI arrest. When you don’t have aggressive DUI lawyers in Alafaya fighting for you, it’s easy to have your rights stripped away, facing consequences you don’t deserve.

The Consequences of a DUI in Florida

The potential consequences associated with a DUI in Alafaya are no laughing matter. Even for a first-time offense, the penalties can be substantial. Here’s what you could be facing due to your DUI charge.

1. First Offence

• Jail time of up to six months
• $500 – $1,000 in fines
• License revoked for 180 days to a year
• If your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is higher than .15%, you may be required to install an Ignition Interlock device (IID) in your vehicle for six months.
• Additionally, you will be required to complete one year of probation, 50 hours of community service, and an impoundment of your vehicle for ten days.
• If you had a passenger who was a minor at the time or your BAC was .15% or more, a judge could seek to increase these penalties.

2. Second Offense

• Jail time of up to nine months
• $1,000 – $2,000 in fines
• License revoked for 180 days to a year
• IID installed in your vehicle for two years
• If the second offense occurred within five years of the first, the judge could order at least ten days in jail, have your license revoked for five years, and impound your vehicle for 30 days.

3. Third Offense

• Jail time of up to one year
• $2,000 – $5,000 in fines
• License revoked for 180 days to a year
• IID installed in your vehicle for two years
• If your third offense occurs within ten years of the second, it becomes a felony charge, and a judge could order up to five years’ imprisonment.
• Additionally, the judge could seek to hand out even greater consequences, especially if your BAC was more than .15% or you had a minor in the vehicle.

Why Choose Panella Law Firm

Panella Law Firm is an aggressive criminal defense firm. Attorney Michael Panella is a fierce advocate of clients who have been wronged by the legal system.

When you are fighting a DUI charge in Alafaya, DUI lawyer Michael Panella will conduct a detailed investigation into your case, develop a comprehensive defense strategy, and boldly advocate to have your charges reduced or dropped entirely.

Panella Law Firm is highly reputable and known for its skilled criminal defense practices. Client testimonials and impressive case results speak to just how good attorney Michael Panella is at helping clients emerge from seemingly hopeless situations.

If you face criminal DUI charges in Alafaya, FL, you need an attorney who is passionate about fighting injustice — someone whose track record demonstrates skill and success in the courtroom. After a DUI charge, time is of the essence if you want to see it reduced or dropped.

Panella Law Firm Can Protect Your Rights And Your Future

You have only ten days to apply for a hardship license or work permit following an arrest. Acting promptly can help ensure that your rights are defended as legal proceedings unfold. The sooner attorney Michael Panella can begin investigating your case, the more opportunities he has to question the decisions made by law enforcement leading up to your arrest.

Michael Panella is the Alafaya defense attorney who has your back when you don’t know where to turn next.

Contact Panella law firm today at 407-233-1822 or click to request your free initial consultation.