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Should I Plead Guilty to DUI?
DUI, driving under the influence, is a serious crime and one that isn’t taken lightly. If convicted of DUI you’ll face penalties that could include jail time, fines, and a suspension of your driver’s license. If you’ve been arrested or charged with DUI you’ll need to speak to an attorney as soon as possible. There are some things you need to understand before making any decisions after your arrest. If you’ve been arrested, you will usually be arraigned quickly. An arraignment is also called a first appearance. It is the first time you’ll be in front of the judge. The judge will give you the exact charges, ask for your plea, and set bail at this time.
Types of Pleas
There are three main types of pleas to pick from – guilty, no-guilty, and no-contest. It is essential to understand the best option before making a plea since it can have long-term effects. Talk to your attorney before you plead in your case. Most often, you should plead not-guilty. If so, your case will proceed forward to trial. If you plead guilty you’ll be sentenced immediately. A plea of no-contest is sometimes a good idea, particularly if there are further legal actions that could be taken against you. For example, if you had an accident while driving DUI and hit a fence, the fence owner could sue you for the costs of fence repair. If you have plead guilty you’ll have no further defense against this lawsuit.
Plea Deals
Your attorney will discuss whether there is a possibility for a plea deal in your case. A plea deal is an offer that is made by the prosecutor and typically allows the defendant to plead guilty to a lesser charge. This may occur when the evidence against you is weak. If you have a lawyer, he will work with the prosecutor to try to work out some type of deal. This is often possible if your BAC was only slightly over the legal limit of 0.08% and if this is your first DUI. In some cases the charges may be lowered to reckless driving, as long as you plead guilty. Then you’ll be sentenced immediately, usually based on the recommendation of the prosecutor according to the deal that was struck. You may be required to be on probation for a length of time and perform community service or pay a fine.
Resolving a DUI
The decision of how to plead in a DUI case needs to be based on the individual circumstances of the situation. Each DUI case is different so it’s best to get assistance from an experienced DUI attorney. Your lawyer will review every aspect of your case from the time you were stopped through DUI testing and your arrest. Sometimes a DUI case can be settled more quickly with a plea deal while other times this won’t be possible. Talk to your lawyer before your first appearance to learn what is the best way to proceed.
Decades of Trusted Service. Hundreds of Grateful Voices.
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“David Katz sets the standard by which all other defense attorney's must measure. He not only knows his craft and has the experience to back it up, he relishes forcing his opponents to follow the law towards the best outcome for his clients.”- Karate K.
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“Christine Vazquez took on our case with a 24hr commitment. She put everything on the line to hold the judicial system accountable.”- Phil W.
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“I can’t thank attorneys Christine Vazquez and David Katz enough for the incredible job they did on my DUI case.”- Gabriel H.
Why Hire Katz & Phillips?
Some important reasons to secure experienced representation include:
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Board-Certified* Attorneys
Our founding attorneys are two of three board-certified* DUI defense lawyers in the state.
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Former Prosecution Experience
As former prosecutors, we bring an invaluable perspective and skillset to every case.
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High Success Rate in Criminal Defense
With a 90%+ success rate, our proven track record of success speaks for itself.
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Decades of Experience
With more than 10,000 cases handled, our advocates are well versed in criminal law to help you navigate your case with care and efficiency.
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Always Responsive
Our team is available to take your call and address any questions or concerns you have.
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Financing Available
The last thing you need during a criminal case is financial stress. Our firm offers financing with no credit check required.
Meet Your Dedicated Defense Team
Led by two of Florida's Board-Certified* DUI Experts, Our attorneys bring together more than 50 years of success, defending clients across Florida against criminal and DUI charges.
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DUI Charges Reduced
The court deemed all other conditions satisfied so M.A. did not have to go on probation at all and walked out of courthouse with a fine and fees to pay, and the case behind her.
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Case Dismissed
J.A.R. had had a previous DUI conviction and was facing mandatory jail time if convicted of this offense. In reviewing the discovery provided by the state, our team found several issues with the police investigation, and realized that our clients’ rights had been violated.
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All Charges Dropped
In reviewing the evidence provided by the State our team realized that T.R.’s rights had been violated when she was immediately illegally arrested by the Trooper. Further, there were many other errors made by the Trooper which would result in the evidence gathered being suppressed.
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All Charges Dropped
In this case, our client, R.H., was out with friends. A family member who was angry with him tracked his location by tracking his cell phone, called the police, told them he was very drunk, and led the police right to his car. The officers stopped his car and eventually arrested him.
Our Case Results
Two of Florida’s only Board-Certified* DUI Defense experts fighting for you.
- DUI Charges Reduced
- Case Dismissed
- All Charges Dropped
- All Charges Dropped
