I know someone who had been charged with DUI offense. If proven guilty what DUI penalty would he get here in Palm Beach, Florida? Does a DUI offense have serious punishments? I’m totally clueless about DUI stuff I’m hoping someone can help me. Also, can you tell me how to get cheap DUI insurance?

Georgina

Palm Beach, FL

I’m hoping that you’re not the one who needs to get cheap DUI insurance. Well, as to your question, DUI penalties in Palm Beach, Florida are as follows:

• Fine of $250 to not more than $500;
• Jail time of six months, this may change to nine months if a minor is present at the vehicle at the time of the incident, or the BAC is .20 or higher;
• Vehicle may be impounded for 10 days provided that the family has other means of transportation;
• Operating privileges suspension for 6 months;
• Either community service for 50 hours or opt to pay $10/ hour for community service supposed to be rendered;
• Completion of a DUI program;

Those are pretty serious DUI penalty right? So don’t you even think about getting drunk and hitting the road. As to your second question on how to get cheap DUI insurance, it would be quite a challenge to get one. It’s a fact that DUI insurance rates are astronomical. But you can still get affordable DUI insurance. Here’s how:

• Shop around for DUI insurance, never be contented in getting just the first DUI insurance quote that you got.
• If you are a student, getting good grades could probably give you good student discount.
• Cut on your driving miles to possible get a discount for low driving miles.
• Installing safety devices on your car could also give you affordable DUI insurance
• Improve your driving record and as much as possible maintain a good driving record.

For more information about DUI penalty and DUI insurance, you can also ask your auto insurance agent.

I’m afraid I might just lose my DUI case here in Palm Beach, Florida because I really don’t know what to do. I know this would cost me too much time and money, but how would I know what it would really cost me to have a DUI conviction?

Franco

Palm Beach, FL

The first thing that you would have to do now after you have been charged with DUI in Palm Beach, Florida is to get a lawyer who would represent you. Hire a lawyer who specializes in DUI cases if your income allows it. This kind of lawyer would be able to give you solid information on what you could expect in terms of cost for your DUI case. You can add the lawyer’s fees into your total and you could also request an estimate or you may estimate this cost based on your lawyer’s hourly rate.

A lot of DUI lawyers offer a free consultation to go over the basic facts of your DUI case. You may ask for a ballpark figure on what the defense would cost you based on your particular situation. Also, remember that a DUI conviction could be costly for years to come. For some people, a DUI conviction would be costly in terms of employment because they’ll have limited options for the future and, in some cases, termination. Your DUI may also cost you for your car insurance rates to increase. So if you’re in search for a justifiable car insurance rates after your DUI, go on and get an online rate quote from this website.

My brother was being asked to submit a SR22 form by his insurance company after finding out that he was charged with DUI in Palm Beach, Florida. What is the SR22 form all about and what could the effects on his insurance?

Matthew

Palm Beach, FL

Getting a car insurance after being charged with drunk driving or DUI can be a pretty challenging task that requires resourcefulness and considerable amount of knowledge. Major car insurance carriers do not give coverage for DUI convicted individuals. If there may be some companies that do, it is expected to cost you a hefty amount. Well, it may sound unfair for first time DUI offenders. But that is how most insurance carriers in Palm Beach, Florida calculate their premiums. It is based on the risk factor of every claim. These insurance companies also require a review of your previous driving history as well as your credit report to ensure that you are financially stable to continue the policy. They may also even check out for your claims history report. They combine all these information to create an “insurance score” which is almost the same as what credit bureaus do with a credit score. Let’s say you got arrested and convicted for DUI. You will be required to provide an SR22 form from the DMV. This is already considered to be a proof or evidence of insurance which is required to get a restricted license. It also informs the DMV that car insurance company has issued at least a minimum liability coverage for the person filing the form.

I also had experienced that dilemma when I was charged for DUI in Palm Beach, Florida and eventually got acquitted. If your brother was not yet convicted, I suggest that you seek legal advice with a good DUI lawyer. You can also check on available post DUI insurance rates from this site.

My cousin was charged with DUI here in Palm Beach, Florida and I see that he worries too much about his auto insurance. What can he expect from his insurance company after his drunk driving charge?

Margaret

Palm Beach, FL

Most auto insurance companies check their client’s motor vehicle record once a year. Some auto insurance companies do check it only once every three years or when the client is applying for a new insurance policy. Sometimes, tickets, drunk driving or DUI convictions and accidents could escape the auto insurance company’s attention. If your cousin’s auto insurance company finds out about his DUI charge, especially if he gets convicted, he will see higher premium rates and possibly he might have the task of seeking a new auto insurance company because his current auto insurance company might not renew his coverage.

There are usually two ways that auto insurance companies deal with customers who have DUI charge. Including your cousin’s DUI case in Palm Beach, Florida, the first possible thing that would happen is that the auto insurance provider might cancel the policy. It would also be possible that the auto insurance company would raise the premiums due to increasing the “point” count, almost to the point of “unaffordability.” In case this happens, he can check out other auto insurance providers and he can absolutely find a good auto insurance through getting an online rate quote from this website.

I understand how serious a DUI charge is because I know some people here in Palm Beach, Florida who suffer the consequences of DUI. Question is, what usually happens after a DUI arrest?

Felicia

Palm Beach, FL

Let’s say for example that a person is arrested for DUI there in Palm Beach, Florida. After the DUI arrest, the accused will be “booked” into the criminal justice system and be held in custody until all or most of the police officer’s required arrest paperwork is completed. At this point, the police could even set preliminary bail, which must be paid before the person is released from custody. Shortly before the DUI suspect is released, a court date would be set and the police will generally provide one or more pieces of paper commanding the person to appear in court at a certain place and time to be “arraigned.”

In some instances, the police officer would arrest the person, finish some preliminary paperwork, and then immediately take the person for an appearance before a local court judge. The first court date or courtroom proceeding would be the arraignment. During this arraignment, the person will be called before a criminal court judge.

Hi, I’m taking time in studying DUI as it is required in my schooling here in Palm Beach, Florida. My question is very simple, if a person will be convicted for DUI, how long would the mandatory jail time be?

Beverly

Palm Beach, FL

If a person, for example, who lives in Palm Beach, Florida, has more than one DUI conviction on his/her record, he/she faces mandatory jail time. In the state of Florida, one faces a minimum of 10 days serving in jail if he/she is convicted of two DUI’s within five years. If the person is convicted of three DUI’s within 10 years, he/she could face a minimum of 30 days in jail. Furthermore, a third DUI could result in the charges being upgraded to a felony. But let me just tell you, of course, that a good DUI lawyer could negotiate to keep the case a misdemeanor even if the defendant has more than two prior DUI convictions.

Several times, the prosecution and/or judge would require a person charged with a third DUI or more to serve a significant amount of time in jail. Prosecutors and most judges are willing to allow a person facing serious jail time to serve their sentence in an alcohol rehabilitation center in lieu of jail.

I’m very much curious about the Miranda Warnings relating to DUI cases especially here in Palm Beach, Florida. In case there was a traffic accident and it turned out to be a case of DUI, how important would the Miranda Warnings be?

Jenny

Palm Beach, FL

In such situation that a person is arrested for DUI Palm Beach, Florida or anywhere in the state of Florida for that matter, the Miranda warnings are required to be read to the person arrested for DUI. This specific warning is seldom needed following a DUI arrest because it deals with statements that the person arrested for DUI makes following the DUI arrest. Police officers are trained to get the necessary information with regard to how much the person drank, what he/she ate and when he/she last drank before the DUI arrest to avoid any problems with Miranda warnings (so unfair).

Miranda warnings are important in any accident case because if you are involved in an accident, anything you say to the investigating officer is protected and could not be used against you. If this accident investigation turns out to be a DUI case, the officer should then read you Miranda warnings before asking you any questions because if not, your statements would not be allowed to be used against you.

The officer took my driver’s license after being arrested for DUI in Palm Beach, Florida. Does this mean that I would have to apply for a new license?

Sean
Palm Beach, Florida

It is an ordinary practice for law enforcement officers to take the driver’s license of a person who is suspected for DUI after the arrest. Usually, the driver’s license is suspended if the person who was arrested refused to take the breath, blood or urine test to check the blood alcohol content (BAC) or if the person had a BAC which is at or above the legal limit of 0.08%. The driver’s license suspension could last as long as six to 18 months. The worse thing about this one is that not only that your driver’s license would be suspended immediately for a blood alcohol refusal, but it could also be used against you in your DUI criminal court trial.

That is the reason why the police officer took your driver’s license when you were arrested for DUI in Palm Beach, Florida. Don’t just apply for a new driver’s license because it could create even more problems for yourself. You may seek to have your driver’s license returned by requesting for a hearing with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) within 10 days upon your DUI arrest.

The law really confuses me and even if I know that it’s far from happening, I still feel the urge to ask this question. If I will be arrested for DUI in Palm Beach, Florida, do I have the right to a lawyer before I decide whether or not to take a breath or blood test?

Earl

Palm Beach, FL

Florida DUI laws do not give anyone the right to speak with a lawyer prior to making the decision of whether or not to take the field sobriety tests, the breath test or blood test. Florida DUI laws also do not prohibit an officer from allowing a person to call a lawyer prior to making the decision on whether to take any field sobriety tests or the breath or blood test. Moreover, the law does not require anyone to perform any field sobriety tests or to take a breath or blood test.

If you will be contacting a DUI lawyer in Palm Beach, Florida prior to taking a breath or blood test, you will be exercising good and normal judgment. If you are already under arrest, you are entitled to contact a lawyer at this point. The officer might tell you that you don’t have the right to contact a lawyer at that time and the decision to take a blood or breath test is up to you. This is but a normal response from an officer but jurors might not like this because most people believe that anyone is entitled to a lawyer once he/she is arrested. If the officer tells you that the Courts have ruled that they don’t have to allow you to contact a lawyer, it doesn’t seem that they are being fair.

I have a recent charge for DUI in Palm Beach, Florida and I was told that I have to go to a DUI school. Does this mean that I would also need to have an alcohol assessment and treatment?

Cali

Palm Beach, FL

After your DUI arrest in Palm Beach, Florida, you might be assumed to have a drinking problem and you will be mandated to have an alcohol evaluation, education (DUI School) and treatment before your driving privileges could be restored if you will be convicted for DUI.

A DUI conviction in Florida means that you will be required to undergo an evaluation to determine the extent your life is affected by alcohol consumption and if your drinking behavior is considered alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. You would also be required to attend classes on the dangers of driving under the influence regardless of the results of your alcohol evaluation. This is commonly referred to as a DUI School or drunk driving school. If the evaluation determined that you have a drinking problem, the length or number of the required education classes can be increased. Also, if the alcohol evaluation determines that you are an alcohol abuser or an alcohol dependent, you will be required to complete some form of treatment before driving privileges are restored.