In the state of Florida, if you are pulled over by law enforcement for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, you can be arrested if an administered breathalyzer test shows that your blood alcohol content is above the legal limit of 0.08%. Furthermore, you can be arrested if you refuse to take the breathalyzer test. In both of these instances your driving privileges will be automatically suspended if you do not request a formal administrative hearing to get your driving privileges reinstated. At your hearing it would be wise to have a Jacksonville DUI attorney advocate to help you through the administrative process. If your driving privileges are suspended for a DUI arrest, in the state of Florida it is possible for you to get a hardship license thirty days after your arrest. If you have been arrested for a DUI in the Jacksonville, Florida area, Jacksonville DUI attorney James Davis, P.A. can help you to retain your driving privileges.
If you are arrested for a DUI in the state of Florida and have not posted bond, your first appearance in court will take place within 24 hours of your arrest. Following your first appearance, you will be scheduled for an arraignment, which is when you enter your plea of either guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Because of the serious nature of the charges, it you would wise for you to consult with a Jacksonville criminal lawyer before your arraignment and have him represent you at your hearing.
If you do not plead guilty to the DUI charge, you will be scheduled for a pre-trial conference to discuss possible plea bargains; again, it would be of your interest to have a Jacksonville DUI lawyer represent you through this process. Following you pre-trial conference, your criminal defense attorney may file motions to suppress evidence on your behalf depending on the circumstances of your arrest. Finally, if the evidence against you is not suppressed and you do not accept a plea, you will go to trial. At your trial, six Florida jurors will decide on your guilt or innocence. Because a conviction for a DUI can have some lasting effects, if would be in your best interest to retain the services of a skilled Jacksonville DUI lawyer.