Pine Hill, FL, DUI Lawyer

Panella Law Firm accepts cases throughout Florida

Get an Aggressive Defense from Our DUI Lawyers in Pine Hill

A Pine Hill, FL, DUI charge can come with life-altering consequences. Unfortunately, a large number of people who are charged with a DUI are first-time offenders and may not even realize they’re breaking the law. A seasoned Pine Hill, FL, DUI lawyer can help them.

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 Pine Hill, FL, you need a DUI attorney in Pine Hill, FL, 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 407-233-1822 to schedule a free initial consultation discussing your options after you’ve been hit with a DUI charge in Pine Hill, FL.

Getting a DUI in Pine Hill, FL

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, you can be arrested and taken to jail, even if it hasn’t been conclusively proven that you’ve been driving drunk. 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.

Why Choose Panella Law Firm?

Panella Law Firm Fights for Your Freedom

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

When you’re fighting a DUI charge in Pine Hill, FL, 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 Pine Hill, FL, 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 Pine Hill, FL, 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 407-233-1822. Schedule a free initial consultation to discuss which DUI defense strategies will work for you.

How Pine Hill DUI Lawyers Can Help

If you ask a Pine Hill DUI attorney about probable cause, they may tell you that it 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 Pine Hill 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 an experienced DUI lawyer in Pine Hill, FL, defending your rights, it’s easy to be swept along with legal proceedings. DUI charges are fightable with an experienced DUI attorney in Pine Hill, FL. 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 Pine Hill, FL, 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 your case on appeal.

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

FAQs to Ask a Pine Hill, FL, DUI lawyer

Our Pine Hill, FL, DUI Lawyers Answer Common Questions

At Panella Law, we believe that each client should be well-informed about the criminal process and procedures related to their case. Our lines are always open to answer and address any questions or concerns they might have. The following are some of the DUI questions our DUI defense lawyer in Pine Hill, FL, frequently fields from our clients.

  • What are the consequences of a DUI in Pine Hill, FL?

    The severity of your charges will depend on the circumstances of your arrest. Charges may depend on whether an accident, injury, or property damage occurred along with the DUI and whether you have any prior DUIs or other driving offenses on your record.

    Consequences after Pine Hill, FL, DUI charges may include:

    • Fines
    • Community service
    • Probation
    • Imprisonment
    • Revoked or suspended license.

    DUI charges stay on your record. One DUI charge can also make a huge negative difference in the outcome if you ever get into legal trouble again. The best way to protect your future is to act aggressively to have charges dropped or reduced.

  • What is an enhanced DUI in Pine Hill, FL?

    In Florida, an enhanced DUI charge exists. A normal DUI occurs when you have a BAC of .08 or higher, while an enhanced DUI will be charged when your BAC is at .15. Other situations give rise to an enhanced DUI in Florida. They include:

    • Having a previous DUI within the past five years
    • The presence of a minor in your car while driving with a BAC of .08 or higher
    • Being part of an accident that resulted in injury or death to another person or property damage and having a BAC at or above .08.

    If your DUI charge is enhanced, you will face penalties that are more severe than the base DUI charge, including a potential doubling of fines and jail time. These penalties are:

    • Up to $2,000 in fines and six months in jail for a first offense
    • Up to $4,000 in fines and jail time of up to 12 months for a second offense that has occurred within five years
    • Up to $5,000 in fines and a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail for a third offense and a felony in the third degree on your record.

    Additionally, your Pine Hill DUI attorney will inform you that you face the possibility of an extended license suspension.

  • What happens to my vehicle when I am charged with a DUI?

    In Florida, the law requires that your vehicle be impounded for at least ten and up to 30 days after a DUI conviction. If you are facing a second or third conviction for DUI, then the impound period will be longer, between 30 to 90 days, if these convictions happened within a specific time in the past. This applies to every vehicle that you own.

    In some cases, the court may allow you to place an ignition device on your vehicles in lieu of impounding them. This is obviously a preferred outcome to a DUI charge, but it is not guaranteed in every case. With a skilled advocate representing you, your chances of getting the ignition device over an impounding are 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 Pine Hill, FL, 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. If there was bodily injury, death, or property damage, you could be looking at significantly more time, including time in prison.

    An experienced Pine Hill, FL, 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 Pine Hill, FL, DUI attorney cost?

    The cost of a Pine Hill, FL, 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.

For more answers and a Free Case Evaluation, feel free to reach out to Panella Law any time, and we will answer any inquiries you have.

A Pine Hill, FL, DUI Requires Aggressive Defense

Panella Law Firm Can Protect Your Rights and Your Future

If you’ve been charged with a Pine Hill, FL, DUI, you can’t afford to wait. Contact Panella Law Firm to speak with an aggressive Pine Hill criminal defense 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 Pine Hill, FL, criminal defense attorney who has your back when you don’t know where to turn next.

Contact Panella Law Firm today at 407-233-1822 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 ]

Contact Attorney Michael Panella

Need a criminal defense service? Turn to Panella Law Firm and contact us today with your question.

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