A Florida Felony DUI Charge Lawyer You Can Trust
An attorney fighting for your rights in Florida
When DUI charges are brought against you following an accident involving repeat offenses, injuries or a fatality, the state of Florida may seek very harsh penalties. That’s why you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. The Clay County DUI attorneys at Aguilar & Sieron, P.A. have been fighting for the rights of the accused for decades.
Most first- and even second-offense DUIs are treated as misdemeanors in Florida. But in certain circumstances, a DUI is considered a felony – punishable by more than a year in jail, along with other penalties. That means the stakes for your freedom and your future are much higher.
Felonies generally involve crimes punishable by more than one year in jail. In Florida, felony charges related to driving under the influence include:
- 3rd DUI conviction within 10 years, punishable by up to five years in prison
- 4th or subsequent DUI conviction within 10 years, punishable by up to five years in prison
- a DUI accident resulting in serious bodily harm, punishable by up to five years in prison
- DUI manslaughter – an accident resulting in the accidental death of another person, punishable by up to 15 years in prison
- DUI manslaughter and leaving the scene – a hit-and-run accident resulting in the accidental death of another person, punishable by up to 30 years in prison
- Vehicular homicide – a fatal accident caused by criminal negligence or murderous operation of a vehicle, punishable by up to 15 years in prison
- Vehicular homicide and leaving the scene – a fatal hit-and-run accident caused by criminal negligence or murderous operation of a vehicle, punishable by to 30 years in prison
But the consequences for a felony DUI conviction extend far beyond prison time. You could face thousands of dollars in fines. Your driver’s license can be revoked for up to 10 years, or even permanently. If you are able to get a hardship license, you’ll be required to have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed in your vehicle, at your expense.
In addition, you may be sentenced to community service after you get out of prison. You may be required to complete a DUI substance abuse course, at your expense. You may be required to undergo a substance abuse evaluation. You may find it more difficult to find a job, and there can be consequences in your personal life, as well.
Putting your best interests first
That’s why you need to have an attorney experienced in Florida DUI cases representing you against these charges. We know the legal consequences you are facing and how they can affect your freedom and your future. We aggressively fight the charges you are facing every step of the way.
Our team will thoroughly review your accident. We know where to look for signs that the police made a mistake and will fight to exclude any evidence that was obtained improperly. We may be able to get your charges reduced to lessen the impact on your life. Our firm also has experience in handling appeals.
A felony DUI charge is extremely serious. You need an experienced Florida DUI attorney. Contact us to learn more about how we can help. You can reach our office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We know how to handle tough cases and can advise you on how to proceed.