St. Petersburg DUI Attorney

Overview of DUI Regulations in Florida

Florida holds strict penalties for individuals convicted of driving under the influence. A DUI conviction can lead to the loss of one’s license, substance abuse counseling and classes, fines, and imprisonment. In addition, a conviction will stay on your permanent criminal record. We at Leavengood & Nash have successfully defended DUI cases in St. Petersburg and Tampa for many years. There are a variety of defenses our attorneys can use to help protect your rights:

• Probable cause: A police officer must have good reason to pull you over – by observing the behavior of a driver operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs. This includes swerving, speeding or driving recklessly. If the officer did not have probable cause, your case may be dismissed.
• Implied consent warning: A police officer must inform you of the consequences of refusing to take a BAC test. If he or she did not do this, we may be able to use that to get your charges dropped.
• Suppression hearing: Our defense attorney assigned to your case will request a suppression hearing and motion to suppress evidence that was collected incorrectly or improperly.
• Inaccurate testing: If a BAC test malfunctioned, was tampered with, or was performed incorrectly, this could be grounds for suppression of your BAC evidence.

Our Key Areas of Practice: DUI Defense

If you have been criminally charged with drunk driving, it is highly important that you get the legal assistance of a heavyweight on your side. Our website was created for people like you. Should you choose to look through the following pages, you will be able to learn more about DUI-related charges, the nuances of the case that you are facing and will be able to learn more about how our firm can help.

DUI Overview
In the state of Florida, it is considered to be a criminal offense to be operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. Should the defendant be under the legal drinking age of 21, they will be held to the zero tolerance law and will have a threshold of 0.02%. At our firm, we put the strength of a former state prosecutor on your side – fighting to help you defend your legal rights. Read more about DUI.

Blood Alcohol Concentration
The foundation of any DUI-related case will often rest on evidence pertaining to blood alcohol concentration. This will refer to the amount of alcohol that you have in your system at the time of arrest. While a valid form of evidence, the testing use to gain this number can be faulty and prone to error. Read more about blood alcohol concentration.

BUI Overview
Florida is often best known for its easy access to local waterways. Many of these water lovers do not know that the same laws that bind them to sober driving on the land still apply when on a boat. The problem becomes worsened when one considers the fact that sun, wind and weather can often aggravate the symptoms of alcohol – making law enforcement believe that a defendant is more impaired than they actually are. Read more about BUI.

DMV Hearing
Separate from the criminal case, following a criminal charge relating to drunk driving, a defendant will also be facing what is known as the DMV hearing. During this process, the defendant will be forced to deal with the state's DMV to determine the future of their license. This will not deal with their guilt of the crime – only their license. At our firm, we are prepared to handle both the civil and criminal aspects of a crime. Read more about the DMV hearing.

DUI FAQs
After being arrested for any crime – especially drunk driving – it is likely that you will have considerable questions. In our efforts to help you fully understand what you are facing, we have compiled a list of some of the most common questions. If you would like to learn more, we encourage you to call our firm and schedule your initial case consultation. Read more about DUI frequently asked questions.

Field Sobriety Tests
One of the primary steps used in the DUI arrest process will be that of a field sobriety test. While widely considered to be a valid form of testing, the truth is that these tests are subjective to officer opinion and can be prone to serious error. If the office did not administer them exactly by the book, they could be dismissed as evidence in your case. Read more about field sobriety tests.

Hardship Licenses
If you have lost your driving privileges because of a drunk driving charge, you are not without hope. At our firm, we know the process of seeking a hardship license, no matter whether for a business or employment, and can help you to get relief. Read more about hardship licenses.

Multiple DUIs
Charged with more than one DUI? If facing a conviction with prior convictions on your record, it becomes increasingly more important that you get legal assistance on your side that you can rely on. At our firm, we know the importance of providing high-quality and aggressive assistance. Read more about multiple DUI.

The Breath Test
One of the most popularly used forms of chemical testing is that of the breath test. During this, a machine will be used to take a sample of the defendant's breath. The sample will then be analyzed to determine the amount of alcohol in their system. The process, however, is not without its problems. Improper calibration, the presence of mouth alcohol or extenuating factors can all cause a false reading. Read more about the breath test.

Why a DUI Attorney?
If you are innocent, it can be easy to think of hiring a DUI lawyer as an unnecessary expense. The truth, however, is that it's not what you know – it's what you can prove. By hiring a DUI attorney, especially a former state prosecutor, you can rest easier knowing that you will have a heavyweight in your corner fighting for your best interests. When you have this much at stake, you need to be proactive in your defense. Read more about hiring a DUI attorney.

Contact a St. Petersburg DUI attorney from our firm!

Our experienced criminal defense lawyers at Leavengood & Nash are familiar with a variety of defenses that may prove successful in your defending your DUI (driving under the influence) charges. Driving under the influence is defined as operating any type of motor vehicle while one’s abilities are impaired by consumption of alcohol or drugs. If you were operating a motor vehicle and your blood alcohol concentration was 0.08% or above, you may be accused of DUI. We understand the consequences of a successful conviction and will do everything that we can to help you protect your legal rights. You can be confident knowing that you will have a former state prosecutor on your side fighting for your rights.

Have you been arrested for DUI? Contact a St. Petersburg DUI lawyer from our firm today!