DUI Defense Lawyer
Arrested for DUI? The clock is already running, you have 10 days to save your license. We challenge the stop and the testing, protect your record, and fight for a reduction or dismissal. Free consultation.
Free consultation. No obligation.
Florida DUI laws and penalties
Florida’s legal limit is 0.08 BAC, with penalties that escalate based on your record and case facts. A first DUI may bring fines, probation, license suspension, community service, DUI school, and possible ignition interlock if BAC is high; repeat offenses and crashes with injuries raise stakes significantly. We explain what to expect in Miami-Dade courts and map the fastest path to protecting your record and driving privileges.
How we defend DUI charges
Every case starts with a challenge to the stop, detention, and arrest. We scrutinize bodycam footage, field sobriety instructions, breathalyzer maintenance and operator certification, blood draw chain of custody, and implied consent warnings. When appropriate, we negotiate strategic reductions that limit criminal exposure and collateral fallout for work and travel, especially for cases originating on US-1, Ponce de Leon, or near Miracle Mile.
Protecting your license immediately
You have just 10 days from arrest to request a DMV hearing to contest administrative suspension. We file on time, seek a hardship permit when eligible, and manage both the criminal case and DHSMV process so you’re not sidelined from work or family responsibilities in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, or Brickell. For broader context on criminal cases, see our criminal defense overview.
Experience you can count on
From first offenders to cases with high BAC, accidents, or refusals, we’re trial-ready and prepared to file motions to suppress or dismiss when the facts warrant. When substances other than alcohol are alleged, we coordinate toxicology and challenge observations to avoid unreliable “drugged driving” conclusions, often overlapping with strategies used in drug crimes matters.
Common questions
Can I beat a DUI in Florida?
Often, yes. Many DUIs are defensible. We challenge the traffic stop, the field-sobriety instructions, the breath-test maintenance and calibration, the implied-consent warnings, and any bodycam discrepancies. A weak link in any of those can lead to suppressed evidence, a reduction, or a dismissal.
Will I lose my license after a DUI arrest in Miami?
Not automatically, but you have to act fast: 10 days to request a DHSMV hearing to contest the suspension. We file the request, pursue a hardship permit when you're eligible, and run the court case and the DMV process together so you keep driving.
What are the penalties for a first DUI in Florida?
They can include fines, probation, DUI school, community service, license suspension, and an ignition interlock for a high BAC (0.15+) or a minor in the car. Jail exposure rises with aggravators or priors. We'll explain exactly what applies to your facts and work to limit it.
Should I refuse a breath test in Florida?
Refusing triggers a separate license suspension under the implied-consent law (longer if you've refused before) and can be used against you in court. We'll evaluate whether the refusal helps or hurts your case and challenge the stop and arrest either way.
Can a DUI be reduced to reckless driving?
Sometimes. It depends on your BAC, whether there was an accident or injury, your record, and how strong the evidence is. We negotiate from a trial-ready position, using motions and discovery issues to push for a reduction to reckless driving or another resolution when it fits.
Rooted in Coral Gables.
We were born and built here. We take cases throughout Florida, with our primary focus on South Florida and the Keys. From Miracle Mile to the Biltmore, you get a local team that knows these streets, these courts, and these neighborhoods.
- Coral Gables
- Miami-Dade
- Broward
- Palm Beach
- The Florida Keys
- All of Florida
Talk to a Coral Gables attorney
Tell us what's going on. We'll listen, explain your options in plain language, and be honest about how we can help. Free consultation, no obligation.