If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Boca Raton, Florida, you may be facing serious consequences. Individuals who are convicted of a DUI in Florida may face up to 9 months in jail and have to pay fines up to $2,000. One of the more personally devastating results of being charged with a DUI includes license suspension. In Florida, if you are convicted of a DUI, you may lose your license for up to one year. Additionally, when your license is reinstated, you may be required to use an ignition interlock device for a period of time.
The social consequences of having a criminal record are immense. For instance, individuals may face difficulty finding jobs due to having a criminal record. Additionally, an individual’s insurance can increase because of the state’s requirement that DUI convicts carry high-risk insurance. If you are 21 years or older, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Boca Raton, Florida is 0.08%. However, if you are under 21, the BAC limit is 0.02%. For underage drivers, the low Florida BAC limit for young drivers means that it is highly likely that a person under 21 will be considered to be driving under the influence even after having had only one drink.
If you’ve been arrested for a DUI in Boca Raton, Florida, you need an underage DUI lawyer who understands how DUIs are prosecuted in the state. Attorney Jason Seidman, at Seidman Law, was selected to attend the state wide DUI training program while working as a prosecutor and understands the skills and tactics used by prosecutors to successfully convict in DUI cases.
As a result, Attorney Jason Seidman understands what is required to build a strong underage DUI defense. An underage DUI conviction can have serious life consequences for young drivers. With so much at stake, you need an underage DUI attorney in Boca Raton, Florida who can help you build a successful defense and ensure that your freedom, your future, your reputation, and your rights are protected.
According to Florida law, DUI, or driving under the influence, is defined as when a person is in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For many cases, this is fairly straightforward. A driver is behind the wheel and the car is in motion, or stopped in traffic, when police stop the driver for the DUI.
However, the case becomes less clear in certain situations. Let’s say you leave a party and get in your car. Once you sit behind the wheel, you decide that you are too drunk to drive, so you just decide to lean back and get some sleep in order to sober up. You’re being responsible, safe, and importantly, you’re avoiding the consequences of a DUI, right?
The question then remains: can you get a DUI if you are sleeping in your car? The answer may shock you. If an officer finds you sleeping in your car and decides to ask you to submit to chemical testing, and you are found to be above the legal limit, you can be arrested for a DUI. Will the courts convict you for a DUI for sleeping in a car? It depends on how the court decides to define actual physical control. Some courts will convict a person for a DUI if the keys were in the ignition, even if the person had fallen asleep.
Where a person’s feet were located when the person was discovered may also be important. Were your feet on the gas or brake? Were your hands draped over the wheel? Was the car on? If so, it may be determined that you were under physical control of the vehicle. That said, when it comes to getting a DUI for sleeping in your car, it is up to the prosecutor to prove that you were in actual physical control of the vehicle. If the arresting officer doesn’t remember where your keys were located, if you didn’t have your keys nearby, or if you were sleeping in the back seat, you’ll likely have a stronger case.
If you’re facing a DUI conviction for sleeping in your car, you need a skilled DUI defense attorney to help you build a strong defense. Trying to defend yourself in court can have immense negative consequences, including loss of your license, and even jail time. Attorney Jason Seidman at Seidman Law has experience working as a DUI prosecutor and understands what it takes to convict a person of a DUI in Boca Raton, Florida. When you need a strong defense strategy, you need Seidman Law.
Even if you are not actually driving a vehicle in Boca Raton, Florida, you can be arrested for a DUI. If an officer finds you sleeping in your car, or just sitting in your car, and suspects that you have been drinking, you could be subject to chemical testing and arrest. Whether you will be convicted of a DUI is another story. It is up to the court to prove that you were able to set your car in motion and drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you’re found sitting in the driver’s seat, you can get a DUI, even if you are not driving. It is then up to you and your defense team to show the courts that you had no intention of driving.
But, can you get a DUI even if you are not driving, and sitting in the back seat of a car? Even if you are found in the back seat of a car, it is possible to get a DUI if you are not driving. The courts can always say that a person sitting in the back seat of the car could change his or her mind and choose to drive while impaired. The reality is that courts can charge individuals with a DUI even if they are not driving. If you find yourself facing a DUI in this situation, it is imperative that you seek skilled legal counsel. Seidman Law has years of experience helping individuals who are facing DUI convictions build a strong case. Contact our firm today to learn more about how we can help protect your rights if you’ve been charged with a DUI in Boca Raton.
Whether you’re facing a first-time DUI charge, or require an underage DUI lawyer in Boca Raton, Florida, Seidman Law has the skill and experience to help you fight for your rights and freedom. Every DUI case is unique and you have a right to defend yourself in court. There are many valid DUI defense strategies available to you that could help you reduce your sentence or avoid conviction altogether. Contact Seidman Law today to learn more about how our experience can help you.