Tampa DUI Lawyer

Dealing with a DUI offense is nothing to take lightly. When you are facing DUI charges of this nature, you will have to fight an uphill battle to overcome the prejudice that you are guilty. While legally you are to be considered innocent until proven otherwise, you will unfortunately find that this is not always the case. In fact, in many situations, you will be facing a predisposition to assume your guilt and will be at risk of facing devastating and life-altering penalties.

Understanding the Ignition Interlock Device

In an effort to cut down on multiple DUI offenses, across the country many legislators are putting into practice the penalty of having convicted mandatorily install an ignition interlock device (IID) into all vehicles that they routinely drive. This device works much like a breath test. Upon starting of the vehicle, the driver must breathe into the device – it will then analyze the breath sample to conclude whether or not the BAC of the driver is below the set limit. If it is, the car will start up. While driving, there will continue to be mandatory samples that must be given. If the sample is not given, an alarm will start and will continue to run until the car is either stopped or a clean sample is provided. The event will then be logged and will later be printed out to be reviewed by the proper authorities.

According to Florida statute §316.194, upon a second DUI conviction, a defendant will be required to have the device installed into their vehicle for at least one year. The installation must happen at the expense of the defendant themselves. The device is to not only to be placed in the main vehicle of the defendant, but must also be placed in every single vehicle that is either solely or jointly owned or leased. A third DUI violation will require a mandatory installation in the vehicle for a minimum of two years.

Contact a Tampa DUI defense attorney today!

Due to the harshness of the penalties that you will be facing, having an aggressive Tampa DUI attorney on your side is not only desired, it is necessary. At Thomas & Paulk, our legal team has an intimate understanding of criminal law pertaining to drunken driving charges; we are fully prepared to offer our legal assistance. Should you choose to work with us, you will be able to be confident knowing that we will stop at nothing in our efforts to help you to obtain the just outcome that you fully deserve.

For legal representation that you can trust, please contact a Tampa DUI lawyer from Thomas & Paulk as soon as you possibly can.