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What is the criminal process for a DUI offense in Florida?
A lot of people who are arrested for DUI, this is their first encounter with law enforcement and the court system, and it’s a very scary situation. After being arrested you’re going to receive a court date – it’s usually about two to three weeks after your arrest and it’s called an arraignment date.
You will have to go to that unless you’ve hired an attorney who can waive your appearance. But if you do go to the arraignment yourself the court’s going to call you up and they’re going to tell you what you’re officially being charged with. In the case of a DUI they’re going to tell you you’re being charged with a DUI, whether it’s with property damage or enhance, and the judge is going to give you an opportunity to enter one of three pleas; guilty, not guilty or no contest.
No contest is pretty much the same as a guilty plea accept without taking any reliability; you’re neither admitting it or denying it.
If you enter a not-guilt plea the court will then set your case for a different court date; either a pretrial conference or docket sounding, and that’s usually about a month after. During the docket sounding, pretrial conference or whatever the court calls it, that’s an opportunity for your attorney to discuss with the State attorney’s office a resolution in your case and also to inform the court about where you’re at in the case.
After that your case is usually set for trail or it could be continued to another court docket based on more time for discovery, or in our situation, we file motions in all of our DUI cases and a lot of times we have to extend the pretrial conference to have time to have our motion set for hearing.
Once all issues are resolved, as far as motion practice, then your case will either be set for plea or it will be set for trial.
A DUI is not a quick process. From the time of arrest to the time of resolution, the DUI legal process can range anywhere from two to three months to up to a year, depending on your case. That’s why it’s important to sit down with a DUI attorney so they can appropriately evaluate your case and set up a game plan and a strategic plan on resolving your case.
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
