Defending First Time DUI Charges
The first thing you are going to want to do to protect yourself from DUI charges is teaming up with a trustworthy Panama City DUI lawyer from our firm. With our legal insight into your DUI charges, we can get a clear picture of what led to your arrest and begin identifying any errors that could have been made in police procedure. It is not uncommon for a significant error to have taken place, whether in a rights violation in the initial police stop, conflicting reports from officers or eyewitnesses, or a failure to correctly administer field sobriety tests. Any problem with police procedure could end up rendering consequently collect evidence as inadmissible.
We will also want to consider reasons why you may have failed a field sobriety test that do not involve intoxication. There are many reasons a person could fail the tests, including nervousness, physical problems, an inability to understand the language of the officer correctly, medical issues, or simply fear of the situation. How the tests are administered and the circumstances surrounding your arrest can be of critical importance to your case. Allow our Panama City first time DUI lawyer to review all of the evidence to look for the weak points that could be exploited in a defense case.
Understanding DUI Penalties in Panama City
There are extensive DUI penalties that can be imposed by the court in a first time DUI conviction. The dangers of suffering significant financial losses, lose the ability to drive a vehicle legally, as well as having permanent damage to your criminal record are very real.
The law allows for certain penalties to be imposed in a 1st time DUI. These include:
- Fines – up to $500
- Community Service – 50 hours
- Probation – up to 1 year
- Jail time – up to 6 months
- Jail time if minor in vehicle – up to 9 months
- License revocation – minimum 180 days
- DUI school – 12 hours
Underage drivers charged with DUI will be subject to the state's "zero tolerance" law. A person under the age of 21 will have other penalties imposed if the BAL level is .02 or higher.
At Shepard Law, you can expect to be represented by a highly experienced and qualified criminal defense lawyer with years of success in court. The attorneys at Shepard Law have worked within the criminal justice system in the area, and have established strong relationships with the personnel in the various courts in the area. They are skilled communicators that have the ability to negotiate and seek a favorable reduction in charges when it is appropriate. As a former prosecutors, they possess a great deal of knowledge on how the "other side" operates and what factors could benefit a person accused of a first time DUI.
Having served on over 6,000 criminal cases, you will be hard pressed to find a more experienced defense team. As a first time DUI offense is not minor, you should do everything possible to try to avoid a conviction. The record of your conviction will be easy for any person to discover when doing a background check, whether a potential employer, landlord, business partner or even a relationship partner. These are serious matters, as your personal and professional reputation can be heavily compromised if you are convicted.
What Sets Shepard Law Apart?
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Available 24/7
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Former Prosecutor
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Free Initial Consultation
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Over Two Decades of Experience
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Superb Rating on Avvo
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Handled 5000+ Cases
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“Mr. Rusty Shepard worked diligently and relentlessly on my boyfriends behave for 5 months while he was incarcerated and facing a life sentence. Rusty and Jean are an excellent team and fought for my boyfriends freedom like it was their own.”
- S. M. -
“I could not be more happy with the service offered by Mr Shepard and his entire staff. They treated me with compassion and professionalism from the day I walked into their office. They tirelessly worked and achieved a positive outcome for me.”
- Jeff H. -
“Shepard Law is phenomenal! First class customer service; prompt, onetime and extremely professional. Shepard Law knows the law, navigates the legal system efficiently and are very pleasant people to deal with.
- Harry I.
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