Hundreds of defendants are charged with DWI each year in Florida and severe penalties are imposed especially if a defendant does not take the time and effort to find the proper legal representation and hire a DUI lawyer. Hiring a Florida DUI attorney after a DUI charge can eliminate the sometimes negative repetitive outcomes for DUI cases.

Florida criminal defense attorneys have represented DUI defendants throughout the state of Florida. DUI lawyers understand DUI laws and have experience defending DUI cases. They can help you get the best outcome possible following your DUI arrest.

What is a DUI?

A Florida driver can be found guilty of a DUI if he is operating a motorized vehicle and the following criteria are met:

1. The driver’s mental or physical faculties are impaired by consuming of any type of chemical substance or alcoholic beverage.
2. The driver’s blood alcohol level is 0.08% or more grams of alcohol per 100 ml. of blood.
3. The driver’s breath alcohol level is 0.08% or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

Penalties for DWI in Florida

First offense

Drivers who are convicted of a DUI for the first time are charged with a misdemeanor. Other penalties include:

• Jail time for up to 180 days or probation for up to 1 year but the two combined can not be more than 1 year.
• Required to pay a fine of $250 – $500
• A choice between 50 hours of required community service or paying $10 per hour for each hour of required community service
• License is suspended for six months to one year
• Required to attend a alcohol abuse education course
• Required impounding of one of the driver’s cars for ten days.

If the driver was found to have a BAC which was over 0.15% or if there was a child in the car, they will have additional penalties assessed against them including:

• Required jail time for 270 days
• 6 months required installation of an Interlock Ignition Device.
• Required to pay a fine of $1,000 – $2,000
• Potential license revocation for 180 days to one year

Second offense

The second offense is still considered a misdemeanor charge. If the driver’s first conviction is more than five years before their second they will have the following penalties assessed against them.

• Required probation for up to one year
• Required to pay a fine of $1,000 – $2,000
• Suspended license for 6 months to one year
• Required attendance of an alcohol education program
• 270 day jail term
• Impounding of all of the driver’s cars for 10 days
• An Interlock Ignition Device must be put in the driver’s car for at least one year

If the driver was found to have a BAC which was over 0.15% they will have additional penalties assessed against them. In addition, if the second DUI charge occurs less than five years from the date of the first charge enhanced penalties are assessed against the driver.

Third offense

For Florida drivers whose second DUI conviction was more than 10 years before their third offense, they will be charged with a misdemeanor and be assessed the following penalties:

• Required to serve a sentence in jail for 364 days
• Required to pay a fine of $2,000 – 5,000
• Required probation for up to one year
• Suspended license for 6 months to 1 year
• Required installation of an Interlock Ignition Device for two years
• Mandatory attendance of an alcohol education program
• All of the driver’s cars are impounded for 10 days

If the driver was found to have a BAC which was over 0.15% they will have additional penalties assessed against them. If the third DUI charge occurs less than ten years from the date of the second charge additional penalties are assessed and the charge is considered a 3^rd degree felony charge.

Fourth offense

Drivers who are convicted of a DUI for the fourth time are charged with a felony. Additional penalties include:

• Possible fine of $1,000 – $5,000
• Lose of drivers license permanently and no hardship license will be issued
• Required jail sentence of up to five years
• Impounding of all of the driver’s cars for 10 days

Penalties may vary based on the length of time from the 3^rd DUI conviction. A Florida DUI attorney can review your BAC information and the number of DUI charges which are on your record and provide more detailed information about the potential charges you may face if you are convicted of a fourth DUI.

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Drivers in Arlington and through out the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex may be arrested for driving while intoxicated or DWI if they have consumed any amount of alcohol or drugs and they are not able to operate a motorized vehicle with normal use of their mental or physical capabilities. Drivers may also be arrested for DWI if their BAC or blood alcohol concentration is 0.08% or higher. Arlington drivers who are under the age of 21 can also be arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) if their BAC is 0.02% or higher.

Drivers in the Dallas area including: Arlington, Plano, Frisco, Fort Worth, Bedford and Carrollton drivers can all face severe DWI penalties if they are convicted of DWI. DWI penalties in Texas can include high fines, jail time and probation. Hiring an Arlington DWI lawyer is the best way to avoid stiff fines and DUI penalties and potentially move on with your life. No Arlington DWI lawyer can guarantee they can get DWI charges reduced or dismissed, but they can dedicate themselves to developing a strong DWI defense for you.

Call an Arlington DWI attorney for information about current Texas DWI laws. Texas DWI laws can be complicated and unless you have complete understanding of the DWI penalties you are going to receive if you are convicted of DWI in Texas, it is a good idea to talk to a DWI lawyer in Arlington before deciding whether or not to plead guilty to DWI.

DWI Penalties for Arlington Drivers

DWI laws vary from state to state. Many states use a wide variety of terms to describe DWI including DUI (driving under the influence), OWI (operating while impaired) or DWI (driving while impaired). Regardless of the name, the penalties for drunken driving are severe in every state and are periodically updated by the state legislature. Arlington drivers should talk to their own DWI lawyer about the DWI penalties they can receive if they are convicted of DWI in Texas.

First DWI Conviction in Arlington

Class B Misdemeanor

• Arlington drivers are required to pay a DWI fine up to $2,000.
• Arlington drivers must perform a minimum of 24 hours and up to a maximum of 100 hours of community service.

Second DWI Conviction Arlington

• Arlington drivers can be ordered to install an Ignition Interlock Device in their vehicle.
• Arlington drivers must pay a DWI fine up to $4,000.
• Arlington drivers can be sentenced to a minimum of 72 hours and up to a maximum of 1 year in jail.
• The court may require drivers to perform a minimum of 80 hours and up to a maximum of 200 hours of community service.
• The courts may suspend a driver’s license for at least 80 days but for no less than 2 years.

Third DWI Conviction in Arlington

Third Degree Felony

• Arlington drivers can be required to pay DWI fines up to $10,000.
• Arlington drivers may be required to spend a minimum of 2 years in prison and up to a maximum of 10 years in prison.
• Drivers must install an Ignition Interlock Device in their vehicle as a condition of their release or bond.
• The court will require drivers to perform a minimum of 160 hours and up to a maximum of 600 hours of community service.
• The court will suspend an Arlington driver’s license for a minimum of 180 days up to a maximum of 2 years.
• The court may also require drivers to complete an alcohol or drug treatment program.

Hiring an Arlington DWI Lawyer

Under Texas Implied Consent Laws, Arlington drivers have given their implied consent to submit to a chemical test of their breath, blood or urine. Refusing to submit to a chemical test can allow the state to suspend a driver’s license. Arlington drivers have 15 days from the date of their DWI arrest to challenge their license suspension. If you have had your license suspended, a DWI lawyer in Arlington can schedule the hearing and represent you at the hearing. In some cases the court will reverse the suspension or allow an Occupational Driver’s License to be issued to the driver.

Hiring an Arlington DWI attorney is always a good idea if you do not have a complete understanding of Texas DWI laws and the penalties you could receive if you are convicted for DWI in Texas. DWI lawyers can review every aspect of your DWI case and answer your DWI questions. DWI lawyers in Arlington can defend you through out the entire Texas DWI criminal process.

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If you have been arrested for a DWI in Texas, it is important to contact a Texas DWI lawyer immediately. This is no time to try and handle things yourself. A DWI can have long-term legal consequences. If you are charged with a crime it can drastically affect your future. Community service, fines, probation or a jail sentence are all real possibilities without the right DWI attorney.

DWI lawyers will provide an initial review of your DWI charge and in most cases, the first appointment is free. DWI lawyers understand Texas DWI laws are more likely to get you a favorable outcome in your DWI case. A DWI attorney can help research your DWI incident, prepare your DWI case and help file any necessary DWI paperwork. If you are convicted of a DWI you could face:

• Penalties and fines
• Potential jail time
• An increase in your insurance cost
• Driver’s license suspension

For a DWI in Texas, call a DWI lawyer. We may not be able to eliminate all of the expense and inconvenience of the drunk driving arrest, but we can help.

What is a DWI?

Texas DWI laws define a person as legally intoxicated if they do not have the normal use of their mental or physical faculties due to drugs, alcohol or a combination of both substances. Intoxication also can occur if an individual has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.

Penalties for DWI in Texas

• First offense- An individual can be convicted for a DWI if the state can prove they have lost their physical or mental faculties or their blood alcohol level is greater than 0.08. The first DWI offense is considered a Class B Misdemeanor and carries penalties of up to 180 days in jail and a fine up to $2,000. The proceedings are generally held in the County Court. Community service will be assessed for at least 24 hours but not to exceed 100 hours.

• Second offense – If an individual is arrested a second time for a DWI, there must be a condition of release ordered by the court. This can include installing a deep lung machine on the car. Additionally, a fine up to $4,000 is required, jail confinement of no less than 72 hours or more than one year of community service. A judge can require the offender to serve at least 80 hours of community service but no more than 200 hours. The offender may also have their license suspended for at least 80 days but less than two years.

• Third offense – If an individual is convicted of DWI for a third time it is considered a third degree felony. They can be fined up to $10,000 and confined to prison for two to ten years. After conviction and release from prison, a deep lung air device is usually ordered as a condition of bond or release. Community service must also be completed for 160 to 600 hours and their driver’s license is suspended for 180 days to 2 years. The judge may also order a variety of alcohol treatment programs.

Common Questions about DWI arrests

• Do I need to hire a Texas criminal defense lawyer?

You should hire a Texas defense lawyer as soon as possible. A hearing request must be scheduled within 15 days of your DWI arrest. Failing to schedule the hearing or hire an attorney will waive your rights to fight against a license suspension.

• What do I do if my license is suspended and I need to get to work?

Most Texas defense lawyers can help get you an Occupational Driver’s License even if your license has been suspended. This type of license will allow you to travel to and from your job.

• What is the difference between DUI and DWI in the state of Texas?

Not all states use the same terms, but in the state of Texas driving while intoxicated means a person is operating a motorized vehicle while intoxicated by drugs, alcohol or a combination of both. Texas law uses the term DUI or driving under the influence to define an offense for anyone under the age of 21. If anyone under the age of 21 is operating a motor vehicle and an officer detects alcohol, they could be charged with a DUI.

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Technically, DUI means driving under the influence of some type drug. That can mean alcohol, prescriptions, or illegal drugs. DWI means simply driving while intoxicated, and in many states, refers to the use of alcohol.

The use of the terms can be interchangeable but DWI usually refers more to the severity the drug has metabolized within the offending person’s body.

Missouri defines DWI as the offense of operating a motor vehicle in a physically or mentally impaired condition after consuming enough to raise one’s blood alcohol content above the statutory limit, or after consuming drugs.

Missouri usually adds another term related to drug abuse and driving, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or DUID, but the definition for such is similar to the definition of DWI. So, the use of the term DUID relates to the law concerning types of drugs other than alcohol.

For first time offenses in Missouri, convictions can be quiet severe. Conviction of a first DWI or DUID is a class B misdemeanor that can carry the following penalties:

• Jail: Up to a maximum of six months imprisonment.
• Fine: Up to $500 plus court costs between $10 and $100.
• Probation: The general terms of probation are no drinking, do not break the law, and attend the states Substance Abuse Traffic Offenders Program (SATOP). Probation usually lasts for 1 to 2 years and is commonly referred to as a Suspended Imposition Sentence or SIS.
• Suspension of Driving Privileges: A 30-day license suspension followed by a 60-day restriction to driving only to and from work, in the course of employment, or to alcohol treatment is automatic. The suspension goes on the person’s driving record. The court may also require that a person be restricted to driving a motor vehicle which has an ignition interlock device while on probation. The device costs $50.00-100.00 to install and $50.00-$75.00 per month to maintain. A conviction will result in 8 points being assessed against the driver’s license.

Kansas City police are known to conduct a drunken driving checkpoints in areas known for drunken driving crashes or arrests.

Whatever term you refer to drinking and driving or drunk driving, states are clamping down on these type traffic violations. When you face these kinds of charges, it is no time to handle your case all by yourself. You may need an attorney who understands such cases. Contact DUIAttorneyHome.com to help you get in contact with a lawyer who can help you understand the subtle differences in the legal jargon of Missouri law, and who will represent YOUR best interests.

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