Sarasota DUI Attorney

Dedicated DUI Lawyer with 15+ Years of Experience

If you have been subjected to a DUI arrest, a conviction can lead to serious penalties, such as driver’s license suspension, fines, and possibly jail time. The stakes change substantially when a DUI charge goes from a misdemeanor to a felony. You want an experienced criminal defense attorney who knows the law and the process, who can anticipate the strategies and tactics police and prosecutors will use to get a conviction, and protect your rights and freedom throughout the legal process.

At the Law Offices of Eric Reisinger, we have the experience you need. Before setting up our practice, Eric Reisinger worked as a prosecutor at the State Attorney’s Office. With more than 15 years of experience, our Sarasota DUI lawyer has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of how the state prepares and presents misdemeanor and felony DUI cases. We can quickly and accurately review the evidence against you, and provide a realistic assessment of your likelihood of success defending the charge.

Interested in a free consultation? Call a Sarasota DUI lawyer today at (941) 541-5335 or reach out through our online contact form.

How Serious is a First DUI Offense in Sarasota?

When you get your first DUI in Florida, you could face harsh penalties depending on a number of factors that occurred in your DUI. You could be facing fines of up to $1,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months, losing your license for 6 months.

If you have no significant prior criminal history, as a first-time offender you could receive less: a $500 fine, probation for up to a year, a license suspension for six months and possibly a six-month jail sentence. If your first DUI leads to the death or significant injury of someone else, you are facing a felony DUI, which is much worse and harsher penalties. For your first DUI, you maybe forced to attend drunk driving school, attend a drug and alcohol program and be sentenced to community service.

What are the DUI Laws & Penalties in Florida?

A person can get arrested for a DUI by driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least .08 percent or under the influence of drugs. A first DUI conviction is punishable by a maximum jail sentence of six months, fines of up to $1,000, and driver’s license suspension for up to one year.

However, if your BAC is at least .15 percent – almost double the legal limit – or you were driving with a minor passenger at the time of your DUI arrest, you could be charged with aggravated DUI. A first offense carries a jail term of up to nine months and a maximum fine of $2,000.

The following are some examples of felony DUIs in Florida:

• Multiple DUIs – A third DUI charge in ten years or a fourth DUI is a third-degree felony, which can result in imprisonment for up to five years and a fine not exceeding $5,000.

• Serious injury – A DUI causing serious injury is a third-degree felony.

• Death – DUI manslaughter is a second-degree felony, which carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.

Let Our Sarasota DUI Lawyer Protect Your Rights

Our Sarasota DUI attorney handles all matters related to DUI charges, preparing and filing all the necessary documentation, and acting as your advocate in all hearings or proceedings. We will fully investigate the facts and circumstances of your case, looking first to see whether law enforcement officers had probable cause to make the traffic stop. We will also review police reports, and question witnesses to verify that you were properly advised of your rights before making any statements to police.

Our firm will carefully examine the evidence to establish whether field sobriety and blood alcohol tests were correctly administered. We will look at the history of the arresting officer to determine whether he or she has a history of making things up just to get an arrest. If there are any violations of your constitutional rights, we will seek the exclusion of evidence and/or the dismissal of charges, if appropriate.

Here are several other benefits of hiring our Sarasota DUI lawyer:

• Knowledge of DUI Law: We have extensive knowledge of the laws and regulations related to drunk driving, which can be invaluable in ensuring a fair trial.
• Negotiating with Prosecuting Attorneys: Our Sarasota DUI attorney will know how to negotiate with prosecuting attorneys and present legal arguments to get the best possible outcome for your case.
• Understanding Complex Sentencing Guidelines: We can help guide you through the complexities of sentencing guidelines and make sure you understand what is expected from you.
• Investigating Evidence: We can investigate any evidence presented by the prosecution and use this information to challenge their claims or create reasonable doubt about your guilt.
• Crafting Defenses Against Charges: We know how to craft convincing defenses that may result in reduced charges or even dropped cases altogether.
• Finding Opportunities for Plea Deals or Bargaining Agreements: Our Sarasota DUI lawyer are also well versed in plea deals and bargaining agreements, which may allow clients to avoid jail time or get lesser penalties than they would otherwise receive without representation.

Contact us today to learn more about our Sarasota DUI attorney's effective and personalized legal solutions.