Clermont DUI Lawyer
Panella Law Firm Accepts Cases Throughout Florida
Get An Aggressive Defense From Our Dui Lawyers In Clermont
A Clermont DUI charge can come with life-altering consequences. Unfortunately, a significant number of people who are charged with a DUI are first-time offenders and may not even realize they’re breaking the law.
Law enforcement can be quick to slap on charges and move you through the legal system — often with consequences that follow you for the rest of your life. If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Clermont, FL, you need a DUI attorney in Clermont who will fight and protect your best interests.
Panella Law Firm can help. When you need to fight back against a DUI, you need an experienced attorney well-versed in DUI defense strategies to minimize the damage.
Contact Panella Law Firm at 407-602-6559 to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your options after you’ve been hit with a DUI charge in Clermont.
Getting A Dui In Clermont
The Problems With Probable Cause
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. A DUI is one of the most common causes of arrest in Florida for just this reason.
When you don’t know your rights, it’s easy for law enforcement to take advantage of you.
Florida state laws require law enforcement to have probable cause before they can issue an arrest for DUI. It’s very common for an unsuspecting driver to hand over probable cause without even realizing they’re being coerced into complicity in their own arrest.
Probable cause in Florida means the officer must have an identifiable reason to strongly suspect that you have been driving under the influence. Examples of probable cause include:
- Breathalyzer result at or over the legal limit of 0.08%
- Driver admission of driving drunk
- Signs of intoxication (stumbling, slurred speech, smelling of alcohol).
If an officer finds probable cause, with the expertise of a Drug Case Lawyer, you can be arrested and taken to jail, even if it hasn’t been conclusively proven that you’ve been involved in a drug-related offense. The problem with probable cause is that it’s often simply a matter of the arresting officer’s suspicions; probable cause does not require proof that you’ve done anything wrong.
Consequences For Dui In Clermont
The penalties you can face after a DUI arrest are serious. The legal limit in the state of Florida for blood alcohol content is .08, and for drivers under the age of 21 it’s .02. If convicted, you can face a minimum of three days of mandatory jail time. It’s possible that jail time can be waived if you participate in a drivers’ intervention program. Other penalties for a DUI arrest can include:
- Fines
- Driver’s License Revocation or Suspension
- Probation
- Forfeiture of Vehicle, Property and Assets
- Forfeiture of Certain Basic Civil Rights
- Community Service.
If you lose your license, it can be hard to get to your job, and a DUI conviction may interfere with your ability to pass a background check for another position. Our Clermont DUI lawyer can work on your case with some of the best DUI defense strategies to prevent this from happening to you. While hiring DUI lawyers or a Winter Park criminal defense lawyer to help fight your charges can be expensive, your penalties can add up to even more.
You Can Contest Dui Charges In Clermont
Some drivers arrested for DUI in Clermont may think they aren’t able to fight in the court system. If you were arrested for DUI, with the help of an experienced DUI defense lawyer in Clermont, FL, you can fight the arrest. Using some of the best DUI defense strategies, a Clermont DUI lawyer can check all the evidence provided, look for any possible inaccuracies in the facts, determine if there are issues with devices used for your arrest and then present your case to the court in order to try and minimize the consequences you can face. Working with an experienced Clermont DUI lawyer who has expertise in the traffic court system and DUI laws will give you the best advantage in your case.
Why Choose Panella Law Firm?
Panella Law Firm Fights For Your Freedom
Panella Law Firm is an aggressive criminal defense firm. Attorney Michael Panella is a fierce advocate for clients who have been wronged by the legal system.
When you’re fighting a DUI charge in Clermont, Attorney Michael Panella will conduct a detailed investigation into your case, develop the best DUI defense strategy for your situation, and fight aggressively to have your charges reduced or dropped entirely.
Panella Law Firm has a reputation for skilled criminal defense in the Clermont area. Client testimonials and previous case results showcase just how good Attorney Michael Panella is at helping clients escape from seemingly hopeless legal situations.
When you need a Clermont DUI lawyer, you want an attorney who’s passionate about fighting injustice, someone who has a track record that demonstrates skill and success in the courtroom. After a DUI charge, time is of the essence if you want to see your charges reduced or dropped.
Contact the Panella Law Firm today at 407-602-6559. Schedule a free initial consultation to discuss which DUI defense strategies will work for you.
How Clermont Dui Lawyers Can Help
Probable cause is the source of a great many DUI headaches. Suppose that you have been pulled over and the officer suspects you’ve been driving under the influence. In that case, all they need to do is meet the bare minimum legal requirements to arrest you.
Our DUI lawyers in Clermont 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 hearing, charges, jail time, and other consequences.
Without the legal assistance of an experienced DUI lawyer in Clermont defending your rights, it’s easy to be swept along with legal proceedings. DUI charges are fightable with an experienced DUI attorney in Clermont. An attorney will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your arrest and charges and devise the best DUI defense strategy to fit your case.
There are many ways a DUI defense lawyer in Clermont can call into question your charges, 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 Clermont fighting for you, it’s easy to have your rights stripped away.
Faqs
Our Clermont Dui Lawyers Answer Common Questions
Here are a few of the questions that we hear from those who are facing DUI charges.
How long will you lose your driver’s license for?
This can depend on whether or not you provided a breath sample. If you did, then your license may be suspended for six months. If you didn’t, then it’s possible to lose your license for one year.
Do insurance rates go up after a DUI conviction?
Yes, insurance premiums do go up after conviction and you will also be required to have additional minimum insurance requirements.
Is it possible to remove a DUI charge from my record?
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will determine eligibility for expunctions and sealing. It can be a complicated issue, so working with an experienced DUI attorney in Clermont can help you get the best results. If your DUI charges were amended or reduced, then it can be easier to expunge or seal records. Florida wants to keep DUI convictions in the public record to use them as a deterrent to drunk driving.
How high will my legal fines be after a Clermont DUI?
For a first offense DUI in Clermont, fines range from $400 to $2,000. However, if you have a minor in the car or your blood alcohol level is at or above 0.15%, fines increase, ranging from $2,000 to $4,000. When it’s not your first offense or other charges are also involved, fines can be much higher
How much jail time could I face for a DUI charge?
Even if it’s your first offense and no other charges were involved, you can go to jail for a Clermont DUI. A first offense can land you in jail for up to six months, or nine months if you had at or over 0.15% blood alcohol content or there was a minor in the vehicle.
An experienced Clermont DUI attorney can make a big difference to your outcome. Even when it’s not possible to have charges dropped entirely, an attorney can advocate for community service, probation, or a substance abuse program over jail time.
How much does a Clermont DUI attorney cost?
The cost of a Clermont DUI lawyer will depend on the circumstances of your case, including whether you’re facing additional charges and whether it’s your first offense. As with any service, clients pay more for high-value legal representation better equipped to provide the desired outcome.
A Clermont Dui Requires Aggressive Defense
Panella Law Firm Can Protect Your Rights And Your Future
If you’ve been charged with a Clermont DUI, you can’t afford to wait. Contact Panella Law Firm to speak with an aggressive lawyer for DUI today.
After a DUI arrest, you have only ten days to apply for a hardship license or work permit. 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 for questioning the decisions made by the law enforcement officers who arrested you.
Attorney Michael Panella is the Clermont criminal defense attorney who has your back when you don’t know where to turn next.
Contact Panella Law Firm today at 407-602-6559 to schedule an initial consultation and begin discussing the defense strategy that can clear your name and protect you from harsh legal consequences that you don’t deserve.
Attorney Mike Panella
For Mike Panella, the concept of zealous advocacy developed at an early age – fueled by what he perceived to be an unjust resolution in a personal family legal matter. Mr. Panella would later attribute his passion to defend the rights of those who stand accused to those inequities in the legal system he observed, and considered unjust. Before opening Panella Law Firm, Mr. Panella served as an Assistant Public Defender for Florida’s 18th Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office and worked hundreds of cases in both Brevard and Seminole Counties. Mr. Panella was undefeated at trial. [ Attorney Bio ]