A DUI arrest can lead to serious penalties, including jail time, costly fines, and driver’s license suspension. If you incur a second-offense DUI in Key West within five years of a previous conviction, you could be subject to harsher punishment, including mandatory jail time and driver’s license revocation.
When facing the wide range of consequences involved with a second conviction for driving while intoxicated, it is wise to enlist the help of a trusted DUI attorney as soon as possible. Our legal team at Keys Criminal Defense, PLLC is ready to assist you, so contact us today.
Florida Statutes § 316.193 outlines standard DUI charges. Drivers with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, or those impaired by drugs or controlled substances, typically face a misdemeanor DUI charge.
To secure a conviction, prosecutors must show that the driver had control of the vehicle and was impaired. For a second-offense DUI, prosecutors in Key West must also show that the driver has a prior conviction within the past five years. Second-time offenders may face enhanced penalties if their BAC was 0.15% or higher or if a minor was in the vehicle at the time.
Under state law, a second-offense DUI remains on the driver’s record for 75 years, meaning it is essentially a permanent mark on your driving record. Other penalties may include:
Drivers convicted of second-offense DUI may also experience long-term issues in their personal lives, such as:
Even after serving any required jail time and probation, a second-offense DUI can affect a driver for years to come.
Prosecutors in Key West have to prove a second DUI offense beyond a reasonable doubt, using evidence such as laboratory results, witness statements, video footage, and other tools to show a defendant’s guilt. Our experienced defense attorneys could analyze the evidence and attack the strength of the prosecution’s case where reasonable doubt exists about their client’s guilt.
In some cases, attorneys may use their own experts to question the validity of lab reports and other pieces of evidence. The law requires police officers to observe a driver’s constitutional rights when making a traffic stop and arrest, and a skilled defense lawyer will thoroughly review all aspects of the traffic stop to raise constitutional issues when needed.
An attorney’s level of experience with impaired driving cases will also be valuable during plea negotiations. Our attorneys understand how prosecutors and judges in their jurisdiction approach DUI cases and could work to negotiate a favorable outcome, such as reductions of charges and agreements to minimize jail time.
A second-offense DUI in Key West could lead to jail, fines, loss of driving privileges, and other serious consequences. If you are charged with a second DUI, a seasoned attorney could help. Don’t go to court alone—call our dedicated legal team at Keys Criminal Defense, PLLC today to get started.
