If you were recently arrested for driving under the influence, you may be unsure about your future. Many people’s expectations for West Palm Beach DUI charges involve jail time and a suspended license, and for many people this is true. Thankfully, an experienced DUI attorney could help. The legal team at Leifert & Leifert could fight to keep you on the road and your record clean. Give us a call today for a free case review.
Process of Receiving a DUI Charge
DUI cases start with a traffic stop or a motor vehicle accident. There will be a roadside investigation where Law Enforcement will ask the person to do some physical tasks, and if they feel that the person is impaired, the Police will arrest them. They handcuff the individual, put them in a police car, and take them to the Jail. Upon arrival at the Jail, they are going to ask the person for a breath test.
If the person agrees to take the breath test, they are going to hold the person for eight hours at a minimum. After Law Enforcement releases the defendant, the individual will have to go back to court within the next 30 to 40 days. The person also has serious issues with their driver’s license that have to be addressed in the first 10 days. DUI cases are handled by the police, the Jail, the Court, and Department of Motor vehicles all at the same time.
Consequences of a DUI Arrest
One of the expectations for West Palm Beach DUI charges is that the person is going to go to Jail. They will have their fingerprints taken and a booking photo that will go on the internet and in the local newspaper. People are going to search for it, and it will be posted on social media and on Google. It will most likely stay there forever for anyone to find in the future.
Someone accused of a DUI should also expect to lose driving privileges. Here in West Palm Beach and all of South Florida, it is difficult to make a living without being able to drive because there is little public transportation.
A DUI can seriously affect a person’s livelihood, lifestyle, and their freedom of mobility. It also affects their reputation, and members of their community are going to see that.
First Offender Diversion Programs
Sometimes for first offenders, there is a first offender diversion program. The first offender diversion program is available to first offenders for non-aggravated cases. Non-aggravated cases mean there was:
- No accident
- No injuries
- Less than twice the legal limit on the blood alcohol test
- No additional criminal charges along with the DUI
The diversion program has offenders plead guilty to a lesser charge. They will avoid a conviction, but the individual will be on probation and have more punishment than they otherwise would for a first offense DUI. At the end of the program, the person does not have a conviction on their record or a driver’s license suspension.
Alcohol Monitoring Devices
Part of the negotiated sentence in the first-offender program would involve using an alcohol monitoring device for three to six months. There are several types of alcohol-monitoring devices that can be used.
Ignition interlock devices go inside a person’s vehicle. There are also devices called monitors, which are worn on the person’s body. The monitor goes on the person’s ankle and detects through body temperature and moisture whether there is alcohol in the person’s system. There is also a portable breath test machine that records, has a video camera, and sends data electronically over the cell phone network. These are the three different types of alcohol monitoring devices and those are all negotiable with the prosecutor prior to trial.
Allow Leifert & Leifert to Fight for You
DUI charges often have serious consequences for those convicted, but you could have a better outcome with the help of an attorney. Your worst expectations for West Palm Beach DUI charges may not be true if you have skilled legal representation by your side. Reach out to Leifert & Leifert today to discuss your case and get started on your defense.
