Panama City DUI Lawyer Answers Common Questions
FAQ - DUI Charges in Panama City
If you have recently been arrested for a DUI in Panama City, it is important to review your legal options before you make a decision to plead guilty. An experienced attorney can answer your questions and ensure that you have the information you need to make the right decision. The following common questions are provided for your convenience. It is important that you get in touch with our Panama City DUI attorney immediately after your arrest if you hope to avoid penalties. Our firm has been defending DUI charges since 2006, and we are proud of our record of success.
At the Seaton Law Offices, P.A. our lead attorney has the ability to identify errors in the case that could lead to a dismissal, reduced charge or an acquittal at trial.
- What do officers look for when pulling over a potentially intoxicated driver? - An officer can pull over a driver for suspicion of DUI if the driver is exhibiting any signs of possible drunk driving such as crossing lanes, swerving, speeding, hitting another vehicle, wide turns, weaving, driving off road, tailgating, driving against traffic, or driving without headlights. You could also be pulled over for any other driving infraction, and later charged with DUI.
- How much alcohol must I have had in order to be arrested for a DUI in Florida? - Your blood alcohol content must register at .08% or higher in order to be charged with driving under the influence. This is measured by a blood or breath test, but the testing must be administered correctly for the evidence of intoxication to be valid; there are many cases in which errors in test administration has occurred.
- Am I required to take a blood or breath test if a police officer requests that I do so? - You are not required by law to take a blood, breath or urine test in our state but under state law, if you refuse the test, your license will be suspended for 1 year. It may be assumed that you were DUI if you refuse the test, although there are other reasons a person may do so other than intoxication, including fear, nervousness or being pulled over illegally.
- Is it possible to beat a DUI charge? - Yes. The first action to take is to call our office and speak with us. You may have been a victim of an illegal police stop, and were not exhibiting any signs of intoxicated driving, and yet were pulled over. This is illegal. You may have been administered tests incorrectly, or the office waited too long to test you. Blood alcohol levels rise and fall after consuming alcohol, and the question at hand is only related to your blood alcohol level at the time you were actually operating your vehicle. Let us review your case and look for possible defense strategies.
No matter what has occurred up to the present, there is still help available to you. No DUI charge is hopeless and there are various strategies that could allow you to avoid conviction.
Contact our Panama City DUI lawyer today so that we may review your case immediately.