Most commonly associated with alcohol, a DUI charge can also result from driving while using an array of prescription medicines. Mixing prescription drugs and alcohol can result in stronger side effects of either substance. One drink while on strong cold medicine could cause impairment equivalent to multiple drinks.

When taking medication prescribed by a doctor, talk with them about how the prescriptions will impact your day-to-day functions. Understanding the dosage prescribed, the time it takes for the drug to work through your system, and how your body will react are all questions you should know the answer to. 

Knowing and following the recommendations associated with all prescription medications is vital to being a safe driver and avoiding a DUI charge.

Although the laws associated with DUI Manslaughter are the same throughout the State of Florida, the way that each county handles these important cases varies from county to county. In fact, many are surprised to learn that the State Attorney in St. Petersburg is a different person than the State Attorney in Tampa. Thus, if you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI Manslaughter in Pinellas County, it would make sense to hire attorneys that regularly handle cases in Pinellas.

Our law firm exclusively handles criminal and DUI cases arising out of Pinellas County. Unlike many firms that handle Personal Injury or Family Law, our team limits our practice to defending people accused of crimes. Likewise, although there are many attorneys in the area that handle cases in Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, and Sarasota, the lawyers in our office only handle cases in Pinellas County. As a result, the judges, prosecutors, clerks and bailiffs are accustomed to seeing our DUI defense team in court.

Bail Fee

After an arrest, the booking deputy will set a bond based upon the Pinellas County Bond Schedule. This bond amount can vary from being released on your own recognizance or “ROR” (you do not need to post any money to get out of jail) to $10,000.00 or more if there are prior DUI convictions or serious injuries.

Court Fines and Costs

The fines and court costs associated with a DUI offense vary depending on a few circumstances. These include your prior record of DUI convictions, you breath or blood alcohol level, and whether or not there were any minors in the vehicle at the time of the offense. If convicted of a DUI offense, the fines and court costs can range from $1,000.00 up to $5,000.00.

Attorney Fee 

There are multiple factors at play when it comes to attorney fees – whether you are a first-time offender, whether you want to take a plea or go to trial, how reputed an attorney you are seeking, etc. Consider a window of $2,500 – $10,000 in attorney fees, which may go up if you are a repeat offender or if there was an accident with injuries or death. 

While showing up in court without an attorney is permissible, we would not recommend it. DUI charges are serious and complicated, but the best DUI attorneys in Clearwater can help defend your case in court. 

Vehicle Towing and Storage fees

While you are getting arrested and taken to jail, your car is often towed away for storage in a secure facility. Depending on how far this storage facility is, expect to be charged anything between $50 to $200 for vehicle towing fees. Additionally, if the arrest was made by the St. Petersburg Police Department, a local ordinance in the City of St. Petersburg allows for an additional penalty of $500.00 to the city in order to secure the release of your vehicle.

Victim Impact Panel

In some cases, the court may order an individual accused of DUI to attend a Victim Impact Panel. These seminars, which may be available online, normally contain 3-4 DUI victims sharing their stories of being affected by a drunk driving accident. The aim is to educate the offender and to deter them from future instances of impaired driving. The offender may be charged around $100 for a Victim Impact Panel in a DUI case in Florida. 

Insurance Cost Increase

Even a single DUI charge can increase your auto insurance by 2 to 3 times, resulting in an annual increase of far over a thousand dollars. Additionally, any discounts or insurance coverage you may have gathered over time will likely be forfeited. There have also been cases when existing insurance providers have dropped clients with DUI charges against them, in which case finding new coverage is both difficult and costly. 

Probation and Monitoring Costs

The offender is required to pay probation costs on their own, which may cost anything between $55 to $3,300 in Florida, based on our experience. This includes regular alcohol/drug testing, which may cost a few hundred dollars, and using wearable monitors which cost $10 per day. Our top-rated DUI defense team will work with you to minimize these costs by completing court expectations in advance of ever appearing in front of a judge.

DUI Traffic School

If the authorities mandate, you may have to attend traffic school at your own cost. While traffic school charges may vary, the typical range is $325-$450. The costs for repeat offenders will be higher because they may have to undergo additional courses like a state-approved driver intervention program. In addition to the school, a corresponding alcohol evaluation is conducted. If ordered to do counseling, the costs generally range from $500-$1,000. 

Driver’s License Reinstatement Fees

Florida’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) charges a penalty upon the suspension or restriction of a license, and further on its reinstatement after you meet the requirements threshold. This will cost you around $250.

Ignition Interlock Costs

Ignition interlock devices check your blood alcohol content before your vehicle starts. The court may mandate you to install such a device in your vehicle after a DUI charge, at your own expense. The equipment also needs to be maintained regularly. Therefore, along with a one-time charge of $150 for purchasing the equipment, you may add up another $150 per month for service. 

If you are planning to have a drink at a Halloween party, always have a designated driver with you who is not drinking during the celebration. If you suspect that your designated driver has been drinking, do not get in the vehicle with them. 

Additionally, you should never carry an open container of alcohol into the vehicle with you. Even if you are not the designated driver behind the wheel, even a passenger in a motor vehicle can be cited for possessing an Open Container.

Speaking with an experienced member of our DUI Defense team immediately after you learn of a possible violation will allow us to craft a plan of action to minimize the effects that a Violation of Probation will have on your life. Our team of lawyers practices in front of each of the County Court judges on a daily basis.

While most people are familiar with the idea that if they are arrested for Driving Under the Influence in St. Petersburg or Clearwater, Florida, the police will request a breath test. Fewer people are aware that law enforcement may also request that you submit to urine testing.

Florida Statute §316.1932(1)(b) provides that any person who has accepted the privilege to drive in the State of Florida has “impliedly consented” to a test of their urine for the purpose of detecting the presence of chemical or controlled substances if the individual has been lawfully arrested for driving under the influence and law enforcement has probable cause to believe that the individual is impaired by a chemical or controlled substance.

While a breath test is the primary method by which law enforcement would determine a person’s blood alcohol level, the testing of a urine specimen is the primary means by which law enforcement would determine if an individual has consumed a controlled substance or chemical substances.

Before we answer the question of whether or not a DUI puts points on your license, let’s discuss a few basics of what the point system is. The point system in Florida is the method in which violations are scored, so to speak. 

Different violations carry different point values – for example, reckless driving conviction would add four points to your license, while speeding can add three to four points depending on how fast you were driving. If you receive too many points within a given period of time, you may be facing suspension of your license. 

To answer the original question, a DUI doesn’t add points to your license, but that’s because your license is likely already being suspended and a conviction for DUI, in and of itself, will cause significant insurance ramifications. Under Florida DUI law, a DUI charge carries the possibility of two different driver license suspensions: an “administrative” suspension which occurs on the night of the arrest, or a “court-ordered” suspension. A court ordered suspension only occurs upon conviction for the DUI offense.

There are a few things out-of-state visitors may need to consider if they’ve been charged with a DUI in Pinellas County. 

The first thing out-of-towners should know is that if you are arrested for a DUI while on vacation, law enforcement may confiscate your out of state driver’s license if you provided a breath or blood alcohol level above .08 or if you refused a breath, urine or blood test. Our experienced team of DWI defense lawyers will counsel you on efforts that you must take to get through TSA security if you are flying. Likewise, our office can advocate on your behalf in an effort to challenge the suspension imposed in Florida.

When it comes to returning home, you may be permitted to travel back to your home state. In some cases, our office will need to file an Emergency Motion to Permit Out of State Travel to allow you to do so. 

The legal definition of a DUI is defined in Florida Statute Florida Statute 316.193, which states that a driver is “under the influence” if they have taken a drug and their “normal faculties are impaired.” 

What does that mean? If a person has taken something that has affected their physical or mental capacities and are unable to safely operate a vehicle, they are driving while impaired. 

For example, if you have been legally prescribed Alprazolam (“Xanax”) for anxiety and need to leave the house for any reason, you may be arrested for driving under the influence of prescription medications. Another common example is driving while under the influence of a high dosage of Adderall. This drug is used to treat ADHD, and although you can drive safely while taking it, if you take too much of it you may become more prone to aggressive or dangerous driving. Of course, if you regularly take these medications, they will always show up in a urine specimen.

In this instance, you could be charged with a DUI even though the medication was legally prescribed to you and you are using it to treat a chronic condition.

The first step after being bailed out of jail is to make a plan for your vehicle. You may be facing a temporarily suspended license, and if your vehicle was being used for a road trip you may be facing frustrating circumstances. 

In many cases, you’ll need to make a plan to retrieve your vehicle from being impounded. Additionally, if your children were with you on your trip, you may need to make alternative arrangements to help them get home. 

If you were driving a rental vehicle, you will likely need to alert the rental company if the vehicle is impounded and you are unable to get it out. As the owners of the vehicle, they may be required to retrieve the rental vehicle.