Long-Term Consequences of a DUI in Florida
One of the first questions people ask themselves following a driving while intoxicated (DUI) arrest is how much it will cost them. However, there are a variety of long-term effects of a DUI that go beyond financial worries. These long-term consequences of a DUI include:
Jail Time
You could spend up to six months in jail, though the majority of first-time offenders do not. For repeat offenders or DUIs that result in harm or death, the potential penalty rises.
Employment
After a DUI, both your current and future employment are at stake. Your employer has the right to fire you after a DUI arrest since Florida is an at-will employment state. Additionally, your chances of finding work in the future will be hampered because the majority of businesses demand that applicants submit to background checks.
Professional Licenses
If you have a DUI conviction, some professional licenses may be revoked or rejected, which will hinder you from working in your preferred field.
Education
Any type of criminal conviction, including a DUI, may cause many institutions to reject applicants.
Housing
Background checks are frequently required of potential tenants by landlords and property management organizations, which could result in your application being rejected.
Child Custody
In conflicts over child custody, a DUI conviction may be used against you.
When looking at the cost of a Florida DUI, these additional consequences should be taken into account as they represent potential losses you stand to suffer.
If you have a traffic ticket you would like to fight, such as a speeding ticket, contact a Miami traffic attorney. If you have reason to believe you unfairly received a red light ticket, contact a red light camera violation attorney.
Why Fight Traffic Tickets in Florida?
Everyone who lives and drives in Florida is bound to receive a Florida traffic ticket at some point in their lives. Because traffic violations happen so frequently and most don’t result in a criminal record, people sometimes forget that paying the ticket isn’t necessarily the best option. A traffic violation can end up costing individuals who pay it a lot more money in the long run than if they had contested it. Here are two reasons why you should consider fighting your next traffic ticket.
Insurance Premium Increase
People tend to forget that each ticket has an associated point value. The more points you receive for a traffic violation on your driving record, the higher your insurance premiums will be. Each ticket will result in 3-6 points being added to your driving record. That implies a single ticket can add up to $300 to your annual premium or 20 percent to your insurance costs. Many individuals ignore that type of money because it is distributed over the course of a year, but it adds up to nearly $1000 over three years and $1,500 over five years.
License Revoked
With enough points, the state of Florida will eventually confiscate your license. 12 points is all it takes to lose your driver’s license. Many individuals have the misconception that getting 12 points on your driver’s license record is difficult. When you consider that numerous tickets can be written in a single stop, it isn’t. Speeding is punishable by four points. Driving over the speed limit while making quick or inappropriate lane changes because you’re late for work might result in an additional 3 points, 4 points for reckless driving. You can easily rack up 11 points in a single stop, and all it takes is a single failure to stop completely at a stop sign within a year to lose your license.
If you have a traffic ticket you would like to fight, such as a speeding ticket, contact a Miami traffic attorney. If you have reason to believe you unfairly received a red light ticket, contact a red light camera violation attorney.
Florida’s Suspended Driver’s License Penalties
If you drive while your license is suspended, you could face fines and possibly jail time, with escalating penalties for repeat offenders. The length of the driver’s license suspension is determined by the severity of the traffic infraction. For certain infractions, your license could be suspended for a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 1 year, or revoked for a minimum of 5 years and up to a permanent revocation. Driving while your license is suspended is a criminal crime that can result in a misdemeanor or possibly a felony depending on the circumstances.
If you are caught driving while your license is suspended in Florida, you should consider contacting an experienced Miami traffic ticket lawyer who is aware of the laws and arguments. Drivers with suspended licenses may be eligible for limited or “hardship” licenses in specific circumstances. They can drive while their license is suspended if they have this form of license. They are, however, banned from driving in specific areas and at certain times of the day with this license.
Driving With A Suspended License In Florida Has The Following Consequences:
- Your first offense could be a second-degree misdemeanor, carrying a maximum fine of $500 and a possible sentence of up to 60 days in jail.
- A second conviction might result in a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries a maximum fine of $1,000 and a possible sentence of up to one year in jail.
- A third or subsequent conviction might result in a third-degree felony, punishable by a $5,000 fine or up to five years in jail. Furthermore, a conviction for driving while license is suspended may result in additional suspension or revocation of your license.
Questions about other traffic violations? Contact a red light camera violation attorney.
Tips for Driving Safely in the Florida Rain
Summer has arrived, and while it brings lots of sunshine to the “Sunshine State,” it also carries with it the threat of unexpected violent rainstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes. Driving in heavy rain or high winds increases the risk of a dangerous situation for you, your family, and other drivers on the road.
Here are five rainy season safety tips to keep you safe:
Slow Down
Speed restrictions are based on ideal driving conditions, and rainy conditions are not ideal. The only way to prevent hydroplaning is to reduce your vehicle’s speed. One of the most hazardous times to drive is just after it begins to rain, because oils on the road create slick conditions. When it is pouring, waiting a few minutes before hurrying to your destination may be the safest course of action.
Increase the Distance Between Cars
You’ll need to allow yourself extra time to brake if you have less traction. You can’t expect to stop in the same amount of space as you would on a dry road if the car in front of you suddenly stops.
Turn Your Headlights On
Other cars will be able to see you better thanks to your headlights. While many cars have daytime running lights, it is critical to switch on your headlights during a rainfall so that your tail lights are also turned on, ensuring that you are visible from all sides.
Stay Focused on the Road
Many people drive instinctively during their usual commute and may be less aware than they are when driving in strange territory. Severe weather necessitates your complete focus. During storms, it’s critical to keep attentive and focused on the road, with a firm grip on the steering wheel and no distractions such as radios, other passengers, or phone calls.
Summer rainstorms are nearly unavoidable in Florida, and they can appear out of nowhere. Understanding how to drive in the rain in Florida can save your life or at the very least keep you from getting into a costly accident.
This update is brought to you by Hochman & Goldin, P.A. A Miami traffic attorney can assist you with criminal traffic violations, and our team is ready to answer your questions. Please call (305) 665-1000 to speak with a red light camera violation attorney.
Hochman & Golden Provides Guidance for Toll Violations in Florida
There are numerous ways for drivers in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Gardens counties to incur traffic citations, fines, and other penalties for Toll-By-Plate Violations. Often drivers inadvertently pass through a SunPass lane without a transponder, are unable to pay cash, unwittingly let the credit card associated with their SunPass account expire, or fail to pay a Toll-By-Plate invoice. Hochman and Goldin, P.A. provides Toll-By-Plate Violations Services, which are in great demand as a result of the widespread installation of systems such as MDX and SunPass that tax vehicles based on required transponders.
The penalties can be costly, with the average toll citation in Miami-Dade County costing $149 on top of the unpaid toll charge. Furthermore, such infractions can be recorded on a driver’s record, particularly if the driver fails to pay a Toll-By-Plate bill. Prior to paying such citations, you should consult with a Miami traffic attorney. An experienced legal team may be able to keep tickets off a driver’s record while also lowering the amount owed.
In addition to toll violations (including MDX, Toll-by-Plate, and SunPass), Hochman & Goldin, P.A. defends clients against speeding tickets, red light camera violations, and other civil traffic fines. Their experienced team of lawyers also help people get their criminal records expunged and sealed, as well as help people with criminal traffic charges.
More questions about traffic violations? Contact Hochman & Goldin, P.A. today.
What Is the Cost of a Florida Speeding Ticket?
If you’re regularly pushing the needle on your speedometer past the legal limit, you’re risking a lot more than simply your fellow drivers’ displeasure. According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, almost 5 million traffic penalties are issued each year, the bulk of which are issued to speeding drivers.
If you’re caught speeding down the road, you could face steep fines depending on your county. Individual counties manage traffic tickets in Florida, and speeding fines vary slightly based on where you get a speeding ticket in the state.
Penalties for going over the speed limit:
1-5 m.p.h. – Warning
6-9 m.p.h. – $118.00-$151.00
10-14 m.p.h. – $193.00-$226.00
15-19 m.p.h. – $243.00-$276.00
20-29 m.p.h. – $268.00-$301.00
30+ m.p.h. – $343.00-$376.00
In most cases, the driver is issued a warning for minor infractions of five miles or less over the speed limit. They may, however, still earn license points. Fines escalate in direct proportion to the driver’s speed exceeding the legal limit. In addition to the regular penalties, violations occurring in a school zone or a construction zone are subject to increased penalties. When a violation causes a person to be injured or property to be destroyed, there are further consequences.
Understanding your options and possible results after receiving a traffic citation will help you respond in the most effective way imaginable. A Miami traffic ticket lawyer who specializes in traffic law may be able to help you.
Questions about other traffic violations? Contact a red light camera violation attorney.