DUI Defense Attorney in Tavares, Lake County & Florida

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Facing a DUI Charge in Tavares, Lake County, or Central Florida?

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If you have been arrested or charged with DUI in Lake County, Florida, the decisions you make early in the case can have consequences for your driver's license, insurance, employment and criminal record. Jeff Wiggs has practiced criminal law since 1988 and represents clients facing DUI charges in Tavares, Leesburg, Mount Dora, The Villages, Eustis and throughout Lake County.

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A DUI charge can involve more than the criminal case. Depending on the circumstances, a DUI arrest may also involve questions concerning breath or blood testing, field sobriety exercises, the traffic stop, probable cause, driver's license consequences, and the evidence used to establish impairment. An experienced DUI defense attorney can review the circumstances of the arrest and the evidence before determining how to approach the case.

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DUI Charges and Offenses in Florida

 

Florida DUI charges can vary depending on the circumstances of the alleged offense, including impairment, alcohol concentration, prior DUI convictions, property damage, serious bodily injury, or death. Florida law provides different penalties depending on the nature of the charge and the circumstances involved. Jeff Wiggs has practiced criminal law since 1988 and handles DUI defense matters in Tavares, Lake County and surrounding Central Florida communities.

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DUI With Property Damage

A DUI offense involving damage to another person's property can result in additional criminal consequences. Under Florida law, operating a vehicle while committing a DUI and causing damage to the property or person of another is a first-degree misdemeanor. The specific consequences depend on the facts of the case and the applicable law.

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DUI Manslaughter

Florida law provides a specific offense of DUI manslaughter when a person violates the DUI statute and, by reason of operating a vehicle, causes or contributes to causing the death of another person. DUI manslaughter is a felony offense with extremely serious consequences. Cases involving a death can also involve complicated questions concerning impairment, causation, blood or breath testing, accident reconstruction, and other evidence.

 

Misdemeanor and Felony DUI Charges in Florida

Many DUI offenses are misdemeanors, but Florida law provides felony penalties in certain circumstances. For example, DUI resulting in serious bodily injury is a third-degree felony, DUI manslaughter is a felony, and a fourth or subsequent DUI conviction is a third-degree felony regardless of when the prior DUI convictions occurred.

 

Wet Reckless Driving

In some DUI cases, the parties may negotiate a resolution involving reckless driving, sometimes referred to as a "wet reckless." Whether such a resolution is available depends on the circumstances of the case and the applicable prosecutorial and court considerations. It is not an automatic reduction available in every DUI case.

 

Enhanced DUI Penalties

Certain circumstances can result in enhanced DUI penalties under Florida law. These can include a higher blood- or breath-alcohol level, prior DUI convictions, having a person younger than 18 in the vehicle, or circumstances involving property damage, serious bodily injury, or death. The applicable penalties depend on the specific facts and statutory provisions involved.

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DUI Arrests, Breath Tests and Field Sobriety Exercises

A DUI defense case can involve evidence from the traffic stop, field sobriety exercises, breath testing, blood testing, statements made during the investigation, video recordings, and other evidence. The circumstances surrounding each DUI arrest are different, and the evidence should be reviewed based on the specific facts of the case.

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Florida DUI and Driver's License Consequences

A DUI arrest can create driver's-license issues separate from the criminal case. Florida law provides for administrative and conviction-related license consequences, depending on the circumstances, including prior DUI history and issues involving chemical testing. If you have been arrested for DUI, it is important to understand that the driver's-license component of the case may require attention in addition to the criminal charge.

 

What happens after a DUI arrest?

1. DUI arrest

2. Chemical testing / evidence collection

3. Driver's-license consequences may arise

4. The criminal DUI case proceeds

5. The evidence and circumstances of the arrest are evaluated

6. The case may resolve through litigation, negotiation, or trial depending on the circumstances

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DUI Defense in Tavares and Lake County

Jeff Wiggs Law represents clients facing DUI charges in Tavares and throughout Lake County, including Leesburg, Clermont, Mount Dora, The Villages, Lady Lake, Umatilla, and Eustis, as well as surrounding Central Florida communities. The office is located in Tavares at 307 N. Barrow Avenue.