DUI Court Processing In Florida

The DUI court criminal process may seem a bit daunting at first. However you must have a limit understand of its process to protect your rights. Of course the surest way to protect your rights is to secure the services of a Florida DUI defense lawyer at your first opportunity soon after arrest. A Florida DUI defense lawyer will know the rulings when it comes to driving under the influence charges. Your lawyer will assist as your case goes to trial. But, it will not hurt to have a basic idea of what will take place after your arrest.

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Getting DUI Legal Representation

After your arrested and booked in Florida, your first priority should be getting legal representation you should be allowed to do this during the booking process. .

At Your Arraignment

Once DUI criminal charges are filed against you, when you appear in court for the first time this is called the arraignment. If jailed, it will typically happen within three days of your arrest.

Entering A Drinking And Driving Plea

At the arraignment, you will be asked to state a plea to the DUI charges that have been filed against you with. Your choices are

• Pleading guilty: this is like saying yes I committed the crime of drunk driving.
• Pleading not guilty: this is you telling the court you did not commit any crime. After this type plea a trial date will be set or a pretrial date.
• Pleading no contest: no contest pleas mean that you are not saying you are guilt but you are not going to put up a defense to the charges.
• Pleading mute: In the state Florida, standing mute means you did not enter a plea. If you do this the court will plea not-guilt for you.

After Your Arraignment

After entering a guilty plea or no-contest plea you will not be going to trial and you will be sentenced. After pleading any of the other pleas the next thing the court will do is set bail for you or release you to return at a later date for court proceedings.

Going To Trial

In Florida as in the rest of the country you have a right to a speedy trial unless you or your representative waives this right to get more time to prepare your DUI defense. In Florida courts speedy trial means the DUI defendant should look forward to having his day in court in about 3 months for misdemeanor drunk driving and for felony DUI in a little under 6 months.

During The Trial

At the trial your guilt or innocence will be decided this is where you will rely on your DUI counsel the most so make sure you hire an experience veteran DUI defense lawyer because you rarely get a second chance at fighting a conviction.