If a person is on probation for a DUI charge in West Palm Beach and has been arrested or charged with another DUI charge, the court will treat that very seriously. Being arrested for any new crime while a person is on probation is not a good thing. It is perhaps one of the most serious offenses an individual can commit to cause their probation to be violated.
To better understand the penalties you may face for being charged with a DUI while on probation in West Palm Beach, it is important to contact an attorney immediately. A knowledgeable DUI lawyer in West Palm Beach can build a case to help reduce any potential consequences you may be facing.
Subsequent DUI Charges
If the new charge is a DUI while a person is on probation for a DUI in West Palm Beach, it is more likely than not that a warrant will be issued for the person’s arrest. There will be no bond set until the person appears in front of a judge.
The concern that the court and a prosecutor will have is that a person is possibly continuing to drink and drive. Not only that, but that the individual is creating more harm to themselves such that their driving was so bad that they got pulled over again and arrested.
Danger to the Community
The court will be concerned that the person who was on probation and continues to drink and to drive in West Palm Beach poses a danger to the community. That is why the judge will issue a warrant for a person’s arrest.
Once the person is brought in front of the judge, the concerns will be about what they are doing to protect the community. The only way to prevent a person who continues to drink and drive, even while on probation for a separate DUI charge in West Palm Beach, will be to put them in jail.
Receiving Further Probation
A person can receive probation for existing violations of probation. This probation is suspended pending the outcome of the charge that violated the probation in the first place. The judge has the choice and authority to decide whether or not to reinstate or revoke the person’s probation.
If a person is not guilty of violating their probation, their initial probation will be reinstated. However, if the person is shown to be guilty of violating their probation, it is possible that the judge will not reinstate the person’s probation, but may put the person in jail.
Being placed back on probation would be one of the lesser penalties a person can receive. That is the penalty that an attorney will strive to obtain.
Contact an Attorney
Getting another DUI in West Palm Beach could be one of the most serious violations that a person can commit while on probation for a separate DUI charge. That is why it is important to contact an attorney immediately once a person knows that they have a second charge or subsequent charge for DUI while they are currently on probation for another DUI in West Palm Beach.
Typically, a person would have anywhere from one week to 30 days before a warrant will be issued for violating their probation. It is crucial to contact an experienced DUI attorney to prepare for the upcoming hearing and pending warrant. An individual should be prepared to address the concerns of the court.
A lawyer can make a plan for the person who has violated their probation to hopefully get released back into the community. This is so that they continue to live the way they want to live and can maintain their jobs, lifestyle, and livelihood.
If a person is on probation for a different charge other than a DUI and they pick up a DUI charge, the penalties will depend upon what the charge is that they are on probation for. If a person is on probation for a minor crime such as a retail theft, it is not a good thing that they violated their probation. Receiving a DUI while on probation in West Palm Beach can always result in serious consequences, cementing the need for an experienced attorney.
