Have you or a loved one been arrested for DUI in Hillsborough, Pinellas, or Pasco County Florida?
If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you or a loved one has been arrested for DUI in Florida.
Certainly, this is a challenging time. If you, your spouse/partner, or a child has been arrested, you have been through a lot in a short amount of time.
Now, you have to decide whether or not to hire an attorney to represent the accused in court, as well as during the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) administrative process (which deals with the arrested person’s driver’s license).
The Hardy Law Firm, P.A., is a DUI and criminal defense law firm that has offices in Tampa, Florida. Attorney David C. Hardy represents persons accused of DUI in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, and Pasco County.
Attorney Hardy is a former Florida State Prosecutor that it highly experienced at handling DUI cases, both as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney. Attorney Hardy is board certified as an expert in criminal trial law by the Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Everyone’s Financial Resources are Limited – Can you Afford to Hire a DUI Attorney?
Attorney Hardy represents people accused of DUI from all financial backgrounds. Attorney Hardy has represented lawyers, accountants, medical professionals, business owners, and members of the military accused of DUI. He has also represented persons of more humble means, including college students from the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa. Sometimes, a concerned parent will hire attorney Hardy to represent an adult child that has been arrested for DUI.
Attorney Hardy’s fees will depend upon a variety of factors, including the complexity of the case, whether the person holds a commercial driver’s license, whether or not the accused has been arrested for DUI in the past, whether or not there was a motor vehicle accident, and whether or not the accused is facing other charges in addition to the DUI.
Some Hardy Law Firm clients pay the attorney fee all at once at the start of the case, and some clients choose to make installment payments. That’s a decision the client and attorney Hardy make together.
A Florida DUI Attorney can Help you Navigate the Florida DHSMV Administrative DUI Process
Many people arrested and charged with DUI only think of the part of the DUI process that deals with going to court and facing a judge. However, there is another process, separate from the court process, that a DUI defendant will likely need to navigate.
This is the Florida DHSMV administrative process. It deals with whether or not your driver’s license will be suspended as a result of your DUI arrest, and if so, for how long.
While you don’t legally have to hire an attorney to represent you when you are dealing with the DHSMV, if your driver’s license is important to you, it makes sense to do so. An experienced DUI attorney can take actions that can mitigate, and sometimes avoid entirely, the inconvenience of a driver’s license suspension or driver’s license revocation.
Florida DUI Law is Complex!
Florida DUI law, and the judges’ interpretation that law, is complex, and ever changing.
Experienced Florida DUI attorneys stay up to date with the latest developments in the law, and they develop strategies to build strong defense cases.
Hiring an experienced DUI attorney ensures that the client benefits from a professional who understands the intricacies of Florida DUI law.
An Experienced DUI Attorney Knows how to Ensure that Law Enforcement did not Violate Your Rights
Law enforcement personnel are, like the rest of us, human beings. Some do a better job that others, and sometimes police officers or sheriff’s deputies can commit errors or make poor decisions that can prejudice a person accused of DUI.
One of the fundamental roles of a DUI attorney is to protect their client’s constitutional rights. This includes ensuring that law enforcement followed proper procedures during the stop and arrest of the accused, as well as verifying that all field sobriety exercises were administered correctly and judged fairly.
An Experienced DUI Attorney Can Build a Strong Defense
A highly experienced Florida DUI attorney will have the knowledge and resources to investigate a DUI case thoroughly.
This may involve the DUI defense attorney hiring a private investigator to gather evidence and interview witnesses. It also may involve the attorney obtaining an expert to challenge the state’s evidence.
Also, law enforcement officers now frequently use body cameras to record their DUI investigations. An experienced DUI attorney will carefully review this video evidence and see things or hear things that the average person could miss. Body camera evidence can frequently be of great benefit to a defense attorney.
An Experienced DUI Attorney Can Negotiate the Best Possible Outcome for a Person Accused of DUI
Every Florida DUI case is different.
Sometimes, the best possible outcome of a DUI case ends up being that the accused receives the minimum punishment for a DUI.
However, sometimes the best possible outcome is that the prosecutor reduces the charge from DUI to reckless driving. Such a reduction in charge can have significant benefits for an accused, which may include saving the person from the inconvenience of a driver’s license revocation.
In other cases, the only just outcome is that the State Attorney’s Office dismisses the case DUI case entirely. In those cases, the evidence may show that the officer was mistaken in his or her assessment that the accused was impaired while driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle.
Yes, hiring a Florida DUI Attorney is Worth the Money
If you have the financial resources to hire an attorney for your Florida DUI case, then do it. Don’t just give up!
You should do the following: research several DUI attorneys in your area; speak to at least three of them; review their background and experience; read their online reviews; pick one within your price range with whom you feel comfortable.
Don’t necessarily pick the DUI attorney that offers you the lowest fee. If you or a loved one is charged with DUI, there is a lot on the line. A person convicted of DUI faces the revocation of their driver’s license, a criminal record for life, community service hours, increased insurance rates, probation, and possible incarceration. Take your time and choose wisely.
If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, then ask the judge handling your case if you qualify for a public defender. A public defender won’t represent you in the Florida DHSMV process, but they will represent you in the criminal court if you are indigent.
Get Help Today
Feel free to contact attorney David C. Hardy today if you or a family member has been arrested for DUI in Hillsborough County Florida, Pinellas County Florida, or Pasco County Florida. Attorney Hardy has the skills and experience to guide you through the DUI process and obtain the best possible outcome.
Posted in Florida DUI Defense
