Court Plea Options When You’ve Been Arrested for a DUI

When you have been arrested for a DUI in Miami, your attorney will help you determine the best course of action for handling your charges and your court proceedings. In some instances, the prosecutor’s office may offer different court plea options.

These plea options are more common in large jurisdictions, particularly for first-time offenders. By offering these plea options, the state is able to lessen the burden on the backlog of cases, defray the costs of incarceration by providing alternative penalties, and collect revenue from the probationary and supervisory periods that are imposed when a defendant agrees to a plea arrangement.

 

Arrested for a Driving Under the Influence in Miami

Ideally, if you’ve been arrested for a DUI in Miami, you often want to enter a “not guilty” plea unless your defense attorneys have instructed you otherwise. By doing so, you may have the chance to accept court plea deals or options later on down the road, and you and your lawyer have time to build a defense against the charges that you’re facing.

If you continue to plead not guilty, eventually your case will go to trial and a jury or judge will deliberate on the case.

On the other hand, using a plea bargain is a common strategy implemented by both defense attorneys and prosecutors in order to come to a fast resolution for a DUI case. However, not all plea bargains are alike, and there are often specific considerations that you should speak with your lawyer about in detail before you accept any deals placed offered you.

For example, a plea bargain might eliminate any time spent in jail or prison but include a DUI conviction on your permanent criminal record. Sometimes, however, defendants are not aware of the long-term cost that accompanies such an arrangement. Having a DUI on your record can hurt you later on when you are searching for a job, buying a car, or trying to make other important decisions about your life and your future.

 

Understanding Plea Arrangements

There are some DUI plea arrangements that do not include conviction, but that may include other costs a defendant doesn’t anticipate, such as a long and expensive probationary period. If you violate your probation at any time, you will have committed another and separate crime and you will likely spend some time in jail.

In other cases, your attorney may be able to get your charge reduced to a less serious offense or negotiate other favorable outcomes for you – part of why it’s so important that you retain a DUI attorney as early in the process as possible. The sooner a lawyer is involved after you’ve been arrested for a DUI, the better, as Florida takes DUI offenses very seriously.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for a DUI in Miami, reach out to a team of dedicated criminal defense attorneys who have handled countless DUI cases and know how to work the system in your favor. Choosing the right attorney for your case is a critical aspect of any legal proceeding, particularly when your rights and freedoms are on the line.

 

Contacting a Team of Defense Attorneys

If you are facing DUI charges in Florida, your legal team is your best defense. The defense team you choose to represent you in court, defend your rights, and relentlessly pursue your case could be the difference between jail time and getting on with your life. Contact the Miami DUI defense attorney team at Falk & Ross for a no-cost evaluation of your case – 1-877-663-5110.