DUI Defense

At the Law Office of Shorstein & Lee, our St. Johns County DUI lawyers are committed to defending the rights of individuals charged with driving under the influence (DUI). We have the experience and knowledge to achieve the best possible outcome for you or your loved one. Our attorneys are licensed in Florida and focus their law practice on serving the needs of clients in the 7th circuit, which includes St. Augustine (St. Johns county), Bunnell/Palm Coast (Flagler County), and Palatka (Putnam County). We are mainly based in St. Johns County/St. Augustine, Florida.

A DUI Charge Is Really Two Separate Cases

Florida DUI laws have two components. The first component is the actual criminal DUI charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated or impaired. The second component is the administrative hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) dealing with your driving privileges. Our St. Johns County DUI attorneys can represent you in both matters.

The DMV portion presents a quick deadline. A DUI defendant only gets 10 days after the arrest to decide whether they want to opt in to an administrative hearing. If it is the first-time arrest for alcohol related driving charges, then you would be eligible to “waive” the administrative hearing to receive a hardship “BPO” (business purpose only) driver’s license. Whether to elect to have a hearing is an important decision that should be discussed with an attorney. We can help you make an educated decision for your situation and submit the proper request forms with all of the required information so that whichever you choose you can rest assured will be done correctly.

We believe it is important for our clients to understand the charges against them, as well as the implications of the charges. We have defended hundreds of clients charged with DUI in Florida. Our experienced St. Augustine DUI attorneys have a unique perspective when it comes to criminal defense cases such as drunk driving. With a former prosecutor and a career defense attorney, we have a unique perspective that many attorneys do not have. The possible penalties and resolutions of your case vary widely depending on what type of DUI charge you are facing. There are 6 types of DUI cases:

• DUI 1st arrest
• DUi 2nd arrest
• DUI 3rd arrest
• DUI 4th or more arrest
• DUI with injury
• DUI with death (DUI Manslaughter)

Each type of DUI carries different penalties with it and some involve mandatory jail time. Our St. Augustine DUI lawyers will explain the possible penalties involved in your particular case along with your own legal defense plan. We will also inform you about how the criminal process works and what you can expect from the legal process. We want to make sure that you understand what is going on and can be more at ease with an already difficult situation.

Call us at 904-829-3035 for a FREE consultation and learn how the law applies to your specific situation. We know potential pitfalls in the investigative process and how to afford you protection under the law. Our education and experience make a difference.