St. Augustine DUI Lawyer
When you are arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) in Saint Augustine, you can end up facing misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the circumstances of the alleged offense. If you are convicted, you may suffer from penalties such as jail or prison time, probation, the loss of your driving privileges, a requirement to complete a DUI class and more. The costs of a DUI can be staggering. In order to strengthen your chances of avoiding conviction or of obtaining lighter sentencing, you need to act quickly and hire a skilled St. Augustine DUI defense lawyer.
Read our three-part guide to DUI stops in Florida, “What Everyone Needs to Know About DUI”
- Part 1 – Lights and Sirens
- Part 2 – Field Sobriety Tests
- Part 3 – Breath Tests: To Blow or Not to Blow?
At Albaugh Law Firm, our DUI lawyers share more than five decades of experience practicing law. Furthermore, Attorney Ryan Albaugh brings valuable experience handling St. Augustine DUI cases as both a former prosecutor and as a defense lawyer, due to his legal background. We encourage your to come to us for help fighting your DUI charges in St. Augustine, St. Johns County or other parts of Northeast Florida!
Evaluating the DUI Evidence
As soon as you make us you defense team, we get straight to work to obtain copies of all documentation that may serve as evidence against you, including field sobriety test evidence from dash cam footage. Our skilled DUI attorneys obtain documents such as the DUI investigation report, reports that show your breath test and blood test results, any Intoxilyzer inspection reports, charging affidavits, witness affidavits, traffic citations, information about checkpoints and much more.
We know which DUI defense strategies work, thus, we thoroughly investigate all the facts related to your arrest (including the conduct of the officers involved), and then we use this information to help you establish a strong defense plan. We can advocate for your best interests, whether we are negotiating with prosecutors or arguing your case in trial.
In addition to handling your criminal proceedings, our highly trained St. Augustine DUI lawyers can also defend yourself against any administrative action carried out against you by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. After you are arrested for alleged DUI, you only have 10 days from the date of your arrest to request an administrative hearing, where you can contest your driver’s license revocation. An attorney from our firm can guide you through this administrative process and represent you at your DMV hearing.
What are the penalties for DUI in St. Augustine, Florida?
Basic DUI offenses are usually prosecuted as misdemeanors. Convictions for these types of DUI offenses can result in some or all of following penalties for first-time offenders:
- Up to 6 months of incarceration in jail
- If probation is granted, up to 1 year of probation (may also include some jail time within this period)
- A fine of $500 to $1,000
- Driver’s license revocation for 6 months to 1 year
- 50 hours of community service or a $10 fine for each hour of service assigned
- DUI school
- 10-day vehicle impoundment
Penalties are more severe for felony DUI offenses. For example, DUI-related vehicular manslaughter convictions can result in up to 15 years of imprisonment. Defendants in DUI cases can also receive enhanced penalties if they have previous DUI convictions, if they had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15% or higher, or if there were other aggravating factors.
What Are the Costs of a DUI?
Avoid a Conviction with Our St. Augustine DUI Lawyer
What seemed like a cheap happy hour with friends can quickly escalate into a complete draining of your bank account when you get behind the wheel intoxicated. DUI arrests are common in Florida and offenders who forego legal representation run the increased risk of a conviction. After considering the true cost of a DUI, most realize quickly that taking chances is just not worth it.
We at Albaugh Law Firm have made it our mission to protect arrested individuals in St. Augustine from the consequences of a DUI conviction. With perseverance and skill, we have achieved remarkable results that our clients would be hard-pressed to secure elsewhere. Our team won’t settle for anything less than the best when your future is on the line.
Strong Representation: the Key to Saving Your Finances
At first glance, a DUI can almost appear insignificant – pay a few fines, find another ride to work, and all will be well. Look beneath the surface, however, and what you find may shock you. The Florida DMV estimates the average cost of a first-offense conviction to be right around $8,000.
Where does this number come from? Some of the costs include:
- Auto insurance increases
- Fines
- Court fees
- Public defender expenses
- Misdemeanor alcohol charges
Expenses only increase based on the circumstances, such as underage arrests or an exceptionally high blood alcohol concentration. Put simply, a DUI can add up and fast. If you were arrested and are tempted to go without an attorney because legal representation is “too expensive,” keep in mind that a DUI conviction can be far more costly.
Contact An Experienced St. Augustine DUI Lawyer Today
At Albaugh Law Firm, our DUI attorneys understand the various dynamics involved in DUI cases, including the scientific complexities involved in DUI testing. You can depend on our highly experienced criminal defense lawyers team to provide you with excellent legal representation in your criminal matter. Contact our firm today for your free initial consultation!
