Fort Myers Criminal Defense Lawyer

Defense for First Offense DUIs

The Florida law regarding driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is clear:

“Under Florida law, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcoholic beverages, chemical substances, or controlled substances is one offense, proved by impairment of normal faculties or an unlawful blood alcohol or breath alcohol level of .08 or above. The penalties upon conviction are the same, regardless of the manner in which the offense is proven.”

Those penalties for a first DUI offense can cost you $1,000 in fines and up to six months in jail. That is the worst-case scenario outcome. We have successfully helped dozens of previous clients have their fines reduced, their licenses restored, and no jail time.

Although a first-time DUI offense might not be complicated, you don’t want to stand before the judge and next to a prosecutor without the Titan Law team on your side.

Commercial DUI

While the blood alcohol count (BAC) for drivers is .08 or above, it is half that amount for commercial drivers. A commercial DUI conviction can result if the driver is found to have a BAC of .04 or above. It can also mean that truck drivers lose their jobs and jeopardize future employment opportunities.

We have worked with local and out-of-state truck drivers who find themselves in these predicaments. We can present a defense that emphasizes acknowledging mistakes and asking for a second chance. Our success rate proves these are effective approaches.

Drug-related DUIs

A DUI applies to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In Florida, those substances can include the following:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine
• Opioids
• Certain prescription drugs like Xanax and OxyContin

A drug-related DUI can be more complicated because there is no BAC level as with alcohol. It then becomes a matter of what the arresting officer observes and why they suspect you are driving impaired.

Depending on the circumstances, a drug-related DUI can also involve illegal possession charges. We can help resolve those issues, as well. In addition to the Titan attorneys, you’ll have our network of skilled investigators working on your behalf. There are many ways to bring up questions of probable cause and the legality of a search. When we take on a client, we exhaust all the legal options to help them resolve their case.

DUI Felony Charges

When a motorist who is driving under the influence of alcohol causes an accident that leaves other drivers and passengers injured, or worse, you are entering into the realm of DUI Felony charges. These charges receive a lot more direct attention from the state, who often set out to make an example of the accused. That is especially true if there are DUI manslaughter charges involved.

While these are extremely serious charges, they are not insurmountable. Because of our extensive experience with these kinds of cases, we know what the prosecutor will accept as part of a plea bargain agreement that could reduce the charges and the punishment. Your role is not to give up hope. Our role is to defend you with everything we’ve got.

Repeat DUI Offenses

There is a type of “three strikes” rule that applies to repeat DUI offenses. The more offenses that accumulate within a five-year period, the greater the fines and imprisonment can become. There is also the stigma of being labeled a repeat offender that can impact your ability to pass an employment background check.

That is why you want the out-of-the-box legal minds from Titan Law working on your case. For instance, did you know that there is a margin of error with a breathalyzer test? Suppose your results are within that margin of error. It could mean that you were legally not intoxicated, which can mean a reduction or outright dismissal of the charges.

Does that sound like a TV courtroom drama? We don’t need theatrics to defend our clients. We just need to activate our extensive knowledge and experience with these matters.

Boating Under the Influence

The good times in Fort Myers aren’t limited to the nightclub scene. A lot of fun can be had on the water, and with that fun can come the occasional lousy judgment calls. There is a robust number of water authority agents who are on the prowl for any impaired boat operators.

Boating under the influence (BUI) charges come with the same standard of fines and punishment as DUIs. They also present a lot of opportunities to dispute the charge. It is hard to give standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) on the open water. We devote the same skills to BUIs as in every other defense scenario.

Getting Your License Back

When you ace the parallel parking on your driver’s test and get your license, you can sign up to be an organ donor. You also are accepting the Florida law about implied consent. That law means you grant consent to submit to any SFST, blood, urine, or breathalyzer test that is requested of a law enforcement officer. What happens if you don’t comply?

Failure to comply with those tests means you could be put under arrest, and your license will be automatically suspended. However, that would happen if you took the tests and failed. Without the tests, the prosecutors have less evidence to charge you with.

What happens next is that you need to appear before a judge within ten days of the arrest to contest the charge. You should not walk into that courtroom alone. If you bring a Titan Law attorney with you as your criminal defense attorney, we will be laser-focused on getting your license suspension lifted and reinstated.

There might still be pending charges to deal with, but you’ll be able to keep driving. That matters if you commute to work and are taking care of your family.

Additional Criminal Defense Support

The criminal defense support that Titan Law provides extends beyond local folks who are caught up in a DUI situation. We also help tourists who might have taken their fun too far. You don’t have to automatically return to the state to have your DUI charges reduced or dismissed. Let us tell you how it can happen.

Additionally, we provide a rigorous defense for other criminal defense charges such as traffic violations or assault and battery. There are always two sides to every story, and we want to make sure your story is heard.