Per Se DUI or DUBAL v Normal Faculties (Part 1)
In Florida, the State has two equally valid ways of proving a DUI. Both require the State of Florida to prove that you were driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle within this State. However, that is where the similarities end. This article will focus on the Per Se DUI. Click here to read about DUIs proven using the Normal Faculty Method.
PER SE DUI (DUBAL)
A Per se DUI also known as DUBAL (Driving with Unlawful Balance) is proven by the results of a Breath or Blood test. A Per Se DUI can only be proven in the case of alcohol, and cannot be used to prove a DUI based on chemical or controlled substances. In Florida, once an officer makes an arrest for DUI, they can ask the person to take a breath test. The use of blood tests are severely restricted in Florida, but a Per Se DUI can also be proven in cases where a blood test is administered.
To prove a DUI using the Per Se method, the state must prove:
- You drove or were in actual physical control of a vehicle within this state (as mentioned above);
AND
- A) you had a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or
- B) you had a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.
No Per Se DUI if the Breath Test is Refused
In Florida, you must first be placed under arrest for DUI before a request for a breath test is valid and lawful. If you are asked to take a breath test prior to being arrested and you refuse, in most cases the refusal will not be able to be used against you as the request is invalid. Further, once you are arrested, an officer can only ask that you take a breath test. If you say no, there are penalties that are applied against you. See our article on Implied Consent to learn more about breath test refusals. However, if you refuse, the State cannot prove your DUI using the Per Se or DUBAL method. A breath test (if admissible) is a very strong piece of evidence for the State at trial.
No Per Se DUI if the Breath Test Result is Suppressed
In most Florida counties the results of the breath test are admissible in a trial against you, unless there was something about your particular test that was done improperly. However, the Law Offices of Katz & Phillips, P.A. have participated as co-counsel or lead counsel in major decisions affecting the admissibility of breath test results using the Intoxilyzer 8000 (the only machine approved for use in Florida) in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake Counties. Because of work we did alone (Lake and Seminole Counties) and work with did with a select few other local attorneys (Orange, Seminole, and Osceola Counties), tens of thousands of breath test results have been suppressed in Florida, which means they were not admissible as evidence in court against the driver.
An Experienced Central Florida Attorney Can Help with Per Se or DUBAL DUIs
Believe it or not, even if you have blown over the legal limit you still have a chance to be found not guilty by a jury. Our expert DUI defense attorneys have experience defending thousands of clients who took the breath test a blew over the legal limit. All hope is not lost. First, it may be possible to get your breath test score suppressed. It does not matter what your score results were if the Judge rules that the state cannot mention the breath test to the jury. Further, there are other defenses even if the score is admissible. One such defense is the disconnect defense. There are times that the breath test result is outrageously high and yet the person stopped for DUI looks sober on the roadside a jail videos. A jury can choose to disbelieve a number produced by a machine and instead use their common sense. Remember the State must prove beyond and to the exclusion of all reasonable doubt that the driver is guilty. Even with a high breath test score, a video showing a person behaving normally can convince a jury not to put any credibility into the breath test score and result in reasonable doubt and a not guilty verdict.
Call the Orange County Office of Katz & Phillips, P.A. Today to Discuss Your Case.
The Board-Certified Expert DUI Defense attorneys at Katz & Phillips, P.A. are always happy to discuss the particular facts of your case with you. Our experienced team will take the time to look through your police report and discuss how we can help you based on the facts of your case. Call today. Remember that you only have 10 days from the date of your arrest to protect your driving privilege. We look forward to speaking with you.