Tampa DUI First Offense Lawyer
While the penalties for a second, third, or fourth DUI become increasingly severe, a person’s first DUI is sometimes the worst experience. In many ways, a first DUI offense carries the greatest penalties of all: a criminal record that can never be expunged or sealed. Make no mistake, a DUI can follow you around for the rest of your life, standing in the way of job opportunities, loans, and even housing. If you were arrested for a DUI, you need to take every possible measure to protect your name and your rights. The Tampa first offense DUI lawyer at The Matassini Law Firm, P.A. provides comprehensive DUI defense and has been serving Florida and the Tampa area for many years.
What Are The Penalties of a First Offense DUI?
The penalties for a first time DUI offense vary, based on the driver’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), whether or not a minor was in the car with them during the arrest, and whether or not they caused a crash in which anyone was injured.
- Fines:
- Between $500 and $1,000
- If your BAC was 0.15 or higher, or if there was a minor in your vehicle, between $1,000 and $2,000
- Jail Sentence:
- Up to six months
- If your BAC was 0.15 or higher, or if there was a minor in your vehicle, up to nine months
- Vehicle Impound:
- Unless your family has no other transportation, 10 days
- Driver’s License Revocation:
- The minimum license revocation period is 180 days and the maximum is one year
- However, for a first time conviction, an offender may be able to complete DUI school and apply for hardship reinstatement if they rely on their car for employment. If their BAC was 0.15 or greater, then their vehicle must be outfitted with an ignition interlock device for up to six months.
Refusal of BAC Chemical Testing
After being arrested for a DUI, if you refuse to submit to a breathalyzer or blood test to determine your BAC, you suffer even greater consequences. Penalties include license suspension for one year. This law exists as a deterrent for drivers with very high BACs from refusing a test in the hopes that they will be penalized for a lower BAC than they might actually have.
Call a Tampa First Offense DUI Lawyer Today
A DUI stays on your record for 75 years in the state of Florida, but an arrest does not necessarily mean a conviction. With the help of an experienced Tampa DUI first offense attorney, you may be able to have the charges dismissed, or at the bare minimum have the penalties reduced to a minimum. Defense strategies that may be relevant to your case include lack of probable cause or reason to pull you over in the first place, problems with the sobriety test, problems with the breathalyzer test, and violations of your civil rights. Call The Matassini Law Firm, P.A. at 813-217-5715 to schedule a free consultation.
