A 51 year old experienced female prosecutor in the Miami Dade County State Attorney’s Office was recently arrested for DUI, leaving an accident scene and alleged child neglect.
The arrested assistant state attorney is known for her handling of major criminal cases, including murder, but this time she was the one to be handcuffed, taken to the Broward County Jail and has now been bonded out.
The arrest took place at the scene of a minor accident on Interstate 9 close to Hallandale Beach. The prosecutor is now expected to face some serious charges. Anyone caught drinking and driving in Florida will find that the penalties are so harsh that you could risk losing your freedom and license for a period of time.
It does not matter who you are when it comes to being arrested for DUI in Florida, a mayor, a lawyer, a cop, a judge or even a prosecutor. Your driving behavior on the road is the most important reason for being arrested, especially if an accident has taken place and some action has to be taken by the police to determine the cause of the accident. In this recent case the assistant state attorney is likely to face some serious charges under Florida law. First of all there is the question of leaving the scene of an accident. The second is driving under the influence of alcohol with a child in the car and the third is having a blood alcohol level of over 0.08 BAC.
For a driver who leaves an accident scene when any property has been damaged he or she could face up to sixty days in jail, six months of probation, $500 in fines plus court costs and six (6) points on your license. If there have been any injuries, the penalties are far harsher and the crime is classified as a 3rd degree felony with up to five years in prison, five years of probation and fines of $5,000 plus court costs and six (6) points.
At this point in time it has not been revealed if she has been stopped for DUI before but a first conviction could result in a jail term of up to six months, and in Broward County, there is no DUI diversion program. If a child is in the car at the time, or the BAC level of the driver was 0.15 or higher, a jail term of up to nine months could be imposed, even for a first offense. The motor vehicle might be impounded for ten days and there could also be a fine of up to $2,000 plus court costs, a six month license suspension and community service of 50 hours, let alone the requirement to complete a DUI school course and substance abuse counseling which all costs lots of money.
Anyone who is in a responsible job or requires their own transport to get to work will suffer considerably if convicted of DUI. In this case, it is absolutely essential to hire an experienced Miami DUI defense attorney to fight for a just outcome to such serious charges. Law enforcement officers are not always right when they stop motorists for alleged DUI offences as sometimes the BAC testing devices used are either unreliable, evening light dims the officers observations or the road is so busy that identifying a driver as DUI is difficult. An experienced Miami DUI defense lawyer will ensure the facts surrounding the case are confirmed, can argue motions to exclude evidence illegally obtained, can try the case or can arrange a good plea bargain if the situation warrants it.
Your job and reputation depends on your record, so don’t ever drink and drive. However, if you or a loved one is already in that pickle, hire the best DUI attorney in Miami that you can afford. Hiring the best DUI lawyer you can retain will at least improve your chances of getting your DUI charge dismissed and hopefully, you won’t make that mistake again. Even judges and prosecutors have fallen victim to having drunk a bit too much and have misjudged the situation by getting behind the wheel. But remember, you are innocent until proven guilty. Get the best DUI lawyer on your team for the best results on your DUI case.
Increase your knowledge! If you want to know more about how to resolve the problems you face when charged with a DUI, criminal offense, or traffic ticket in Florida, then you can follow Albert M. Quirantes – Ticket Law Center, A Criminal & DUI Defense Law Firm on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
If you have any questions about this or any other DUI or criminal defense accusation, call Miami DUI Defense Lawyer Albert Quirantes at: 305-644-1800 or visit DUI firm for a direct link to the office or a text message or a map and directions to our office.