It is my first DUI…..Why not just plead guilty?

December 2019

It is my first DUI…..Why not just plead guilty?

As DUI lawyers here in Lee County we get that question a lot. Most people go through their entire life and never get arrested. The most common first time arrest is driving under the influence. In reality, a lot of the people arrested really are impaired. Many are not real “drinkers” or “alcoholics” but rather an occasional social drinker, a worker leaving an office party or someone coming home from dinner. Two drinks for a non drinker can “buzz” you and if you are also taking anti anxiety medication of pain medication, the effects of alcohol can be dramatically increased. There are sever consequences to a DUI arrest, much less a conviction and even if to yourself you admit you were intoxicated, you should still do everything possible to avoid a conviction.

The Collateral Consequences of Conviction

If you live in Cape Coral, you are all too aware of the fact the police run DUI checkpoints and often sit down the street from bars late at night. They target events that serve alcohol. A couple of drink is not worth losing your license. Your insurance rates will go up and you might get actually “dropped”. Your employer, for insurance reasons, may fire you. If you drive in your job, the six month license suspension can cost you your job. You smiling face will be on the Internet under “Mugshots.com”. Believe it or not, if you have a DUI conviction, you may be barred from entering Canada, even on vacation or on a tour. The same goes for Ft. Myers. Checkpoints are frequent, and the police target the downtown street events and late night drivers. If you drive after midnight, chances are sooner or later you will be stopped, even on a pretext and asked to participate in roadside exercises.

Should I perform the Roadside Exercises?

As a general rule, I would advise you to decline doing these roadside tests. The police don’t call them tests, but they really are. They are tests that are designed for you to fail. The officer makes his or her own subjective opinion about how well you did, and they always fail you. Stone cold sober, most people cannot stand on one foot, walk a perfect straight line or balance themselves with their eyes closed and their heads tilted back. You will fail almost every time. By the time the police have pulled you over, they have already formed their opinion. They deny they are on “quotas” but they get “awards” for DUI convictions. Here at our criminal defense firm, we have defended hundreds, if not thousands of DUI cases. Don’t go to a family lawyer or a friend, go to a lawyer that knows the tricks of the trade when it comes to beating these types of cases. Sean O’Halloran has prosecuted, but more importantly has defended DUI cases for over a decade. He is not some kid just out of law school. He is a seasoned professional handling DUI cases daily. A consultation costs you nothing. Many Bondsmen recommend lawyers. They are not supposed to, so be careful. If you want competent and courageous aggressive defense, call 239 334 8890 today

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