DUI Attorney
Being charged with driving under the influence, or DUI, is a very serious offense that can negatively affect your future for years to come.
If you have been charged, a DUI defense attorney at our law firm can ensure that your case is resolved in the best way possible.
Why should you hire J. David Bogenschutz & Associates, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale, FL, to represent you when charged with a DUI?
Criminal Defense Is Our Focus
Well-Qualified DUI Lawyers
The attorneys at J. David Bogenschutz & Associates, P.A., in Fort Lauderdale have handled dozens and dozens of DUI cases. The DUI laws in Florida are some of the most stringent in the country, and every person arrested for DUI is subject to the mandatory minimum penalties created by the legislature. Our goal is to help resolve each and every DUI the best way possible, with the ultimate goal of having the charges dismissed entirely, or having the charges reduced.
Protecting Your Future
A DUI conviction can have serious consequences that affect your future and result in hefty fines, jail time, loss of driving privileges, and a criminal record. Hiring a criminal defense attorney who is knowledgeable in DUI defense is the best way to negotiate a less severe sentence.
Helping You Build a Strong Case
It is extremely important that the criminal defense lawyers who represent you in a DUI case have an in-depth understanding of DUI law. For example, someone with a blood-alcohol level above .15 faces enhanced penalties compared to a person who blows a .08. Additionally, if you have ever been arrested for DUI before, and whether that conviction occurred within a certain number of years, all affect the final resolution of your case.
A great DUI attorney is able to recognize problems that occurred during the administration of the field sobriety tests, and knows exactly what motions need to be filed, and what depositions need to be taken, in order to show a prosecutor why charges need to be dismissed, or at least, reduced. J. David Bogenschutz are able to do just that.
Find Out How We Can Help You with Your Case
A DUI conviction can have a lasting impact for our clients in Broward County and throughout South Florida. Hiring a criminal defense attorney can help you resolve this matter in a timely and satisfactory manner. Ultimately, our goal is to:
- Get your charges dismissed entirely, or at a minimum, reduced to a lesser crime, such as reckless driving; and
- Minimize any penalties so you can move on with your life
Contact our Fort Lauderdale law firm online or call us at (954) 764-2500 today.
Hiring a criminal defense attorney with a background in DUI law is the best way to negotiate a less severe sentence.
If your blood alcohol level was greater than .15 or a minor was in the vehicle at the time of your DUI, you are subject to enhanced penalties.
We Can Challenge the Circumstances of Your Case
Reasonable Suspicion
Police officers must have reasonable suspicion to pull you over. If you are driving erratically or commit a traffic offense, the police have the lawful right to perform a traffic stop. If there are no facts or circumstances supporting the officer's reason to pull you over, our criminal defense lawyers can challenge the legality of the stop and file motions to suppress any related evidence.
Probable Cause
Probable cause indicates that a crime, in this case, DUI, has been committed. In DUI cases, a driver slurring his or her words or having open alcohol containers can establish probable cause. However, if an officer searches your vehicle, detains you longer than necessary, or begins performing DUI tests without probable cause, pre-trial motions can be filed to question the officer's conduct, and make sure there was sufficient probable cause for the stop in the first place.
Chemical Tests
Officers may order breathalyzer, urine, or blood tests if they suspect you of DUI. The manner in which these tests are administered, how urine and blood tests are stored, the timing of the tests, certain medications, and some medical conditions can affect the results of chemical tests. We will investigate how your tests were taken, stored, and interpreted to determine if they are inaccurate.
Field Sobriety Tests
While police officers have the right to conduct field sobriety tests to determine if a driver is under the influence, these tests are often inaccurate and poor indicators of a person's blood alcohol content. If the officer failed to provide proper direction, the test was done on uneven ground, the weather was poor, or the subject had a medical condition, we can challenge the validity of field sobriety test results.
Can an Attorney Minimize DUI Penalties?
There are a number of factors that affect the type of DUI you are charged with and the resulting penalties. The state of Florida will consider:
- The number of DUI charges
- The time span in which those DUI charges occurred
- The recorded blood alcohol level
- Whether a minor was in the vehicle
If your blood alcohol level was greater than .15 or a minor was in the vehicle at the time of your DUI, you are subject to enhanced penalties. Penalties also increase with subsequent DUIs.
In any case, it is in your best interests to contact criminal defense lawyers who have a background in dealing with the state's DUI laws. At our criminal defense law firm, serving clients in Broward County and all over South Florida, we will develop a legal strategy to minimize your charges and penalties.
If you have been convicted of a DUI and are on probation, it is critical to maintain good behavior during this time. A drug, domestic violence, theft, or any other criminal charge could lead to further punishment.
