Reader’s Question:

I would have to file SR22 with my auto insurance company because of my DUI conviction here in Boca Ciega, Florida. Will my current auto insurance coverage increase rates with a DUI or SR22?

Fynn

Boca Ciega, FL

Normally, you would see an increase in your auto insurance premiums because of having a DUI conviction in Boca Ciega, Florida. Having driven a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts you now into a high risk class of motorists.

The actual amount that an insurance premium increase because of having a DUI and/or needing an SR22 coverage would depend upon the company that you are dealing with and their rating system. You could also lose your discounts that you already had previously on the auto insurance policy which helped to lower your rates, such as a safe driver discount.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and some state insurance regulators give information on the average insurance increase for a DUI conviction. If you need a new auto insurance company to give you coverage after your DUI, feel free to get an online rate quote from this website to check the best option that you have for your auto insurance.

Tags: auto insurance, DMV, DUI, SR22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

If we plea bargain for my DUI case here in Hialeah, Florida, how can I determine the length of time I would have to spend in a DUI program or school?

Dario

Hialeah, FL

If you will be convicted for your DUI charge in Hialeah, Florida or if you bargain a plea, your sentence would probably include a combination of classes and group therapy. Depending on the type of your DUI conviction, the length of time of the DUI program would vary. But before you agree or request for a program, you must learn more about your options. You have to read your plea bargain or sentencing agreement because you would find most of the information about the length of your program right there. The standard classroom requirements would be 30 to 42 hours and your entire program, including therapy, may stretch more than a year.

You can call the program you’re interested in to find out the length and price of the course. You may be assigned to a particular facility or they’ll let you choose. You can also check with the court or county clerk’s office upon the completion of your DUI program to verify that you completed all the necessary steps, paid any outstanding fees and filed the needed paperwork to close out your program. Aside from the DUI program, you also have to worry about your car insurance so don’t forget to get a quote from this website in case you need a new provider.

Tags: car insurance, DUI, DUI lawyer, DUI school, plea bargain

Reader’s Question:

What do you think is the first thing that I should do to win my case after being arrested for DUI here in Clearwater, Florida?

Chuck

Clearwater, FL

You will immediately feel the effects after being arrested for DUI in Clearwater, Florida. You’ll be required to use a temporary driver’s license for a period of 30 days and during this time, you would have to hire a DUI lawyer and begin building your defense. You have to work with your DUI lawyer and begin building your defense and determine if there are any loopholes in the current law that could benefit your DUI case.

Make sure that the lawyer that you hire specializes in handling DUI cases so that they can find loopholes in your DUI arrest that is specific in the state of Florida. The DUI lawyer would definitely challenge the findings of the breath test and chemical tests for your blood alcohol content. A lot of factors affect a breath test aside from consuming alcohol. Also, urine and blood tests are not a hundred percent accurate. The DUI lawyer will start questioning the testing method when trying to find loopholes in your DUI case. A DUI arrest would also trigger for your car insurance to have higher rates so if you are looking for a better but affordable car insurance, go and get an online rate quote from this website.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance quotes, DUI, DUI lawyer

Reader’s Question:

How many years does the driving under the influence (DUI) remain on your driving record in Orlando, Florida?

James

Orlando, FL

The state of Florida notes specifically that a driving under the influence in Florida remains on your permanent driving record and on your driving history for seventy five (75) years.

The Florida Statutes authorize the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV) to maintain and establish the management of driving records for drivers in the state of Florida.

According to the Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV) convictions reflecting point assessments stays on a customer’s complete driving record for a period of ten years from the date of conviction. But, serious convictions such as DUI, DUI/Manslaughter, Vehicular Homicide, etc. will remain on the driving history for seventy five (75) years.

Tags: auto insurance, DUI

Reader’s Question:

I know that the possible reason for the nonrenewal of my car insurance policy could be my DUI charge here in Deltona, Florida but they didn’t explain it. What can I do for them to explain the reason for the nonrenewal of my policy?

Vicky

Deltona, FL

When your car insurance company decided not to renew your insurance policy, they should have sent you a notice. State laws actually vary but a car insurance company should generally give you between 10 and 30 days’ notice for the nonrenewal of your car insurance policy. The notice of nonrenewal might explain the reason the car insurance company has decided to drop your policy. But in your case, they did not indicate the reason why they will not renew your car insurance policy.

As you know, the possible reason could be your DUI charge in Deltona, Florida but you would still want an explanation why your car insurance policy is not going to be renewed. In this case, you would have to send a written request to the car insurance company to ask for an explanation. Since they already decided not to renew your policy, you might be in search for another car insurance company that will give you coverage. You’re in the right place because you can definitely get an online rate quote now for your car insurance from this website.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance quotes, DUI, DUI insurance

Reader’s Question:

I know that I will have increased car insurance rates after my DUI conviction here in Citrus Park-Fern Lake, Florida but how long will it be, when will it happen and how can I avoid these increase rates?

Marcela

Citrus Park-Fern Lake, FL

There are different laws in every state, but in general, a DUI conviction would affect your car insurance status for at least three years if this is your first DUI offense. For any subsequent DUI convictions, the length of time would be much longer. The increased rates for your car insurance would only come into play if you would want to have your driving privileges restored. You can simply avoid the extra costs that your DUI conviction in Citrus Park-Fern Lake, Florida can bring by walking or taking public transportation.

There are other ways to avoid increased rates or at least lessen the price if you are paying expensive premium rates for your car insurance. Examples of which are maintaining a clean driving record, paying all your bills on time to boost your credit rating, driving a non-sports car and/or an older car, taking safe-driving classes, staying current on your insurance premiums, moving to a safer neighborhood, moving closer to your workplace so that you can shorten the commute or adding safety equipment to your car. You may simply get an online rate quote for a wonderful DUI car insurance at a lesser price by trying the available options from this website.

Tags: car insurance rates, drunk driving insurance, DUI

Reader’s Question:

If I lose my drivers license because of the DUI conviction can I have my new vehicle insured in Brandon, FL while my drivers license is suspended so others may be able to use it?

Carol

Brandon, FL

I do not think it is possible (or may be hard) to have car insurance in Brandon, Florida while your drivers license is suspended. Once an insurance provider finds out that your drivers license is suspended, typically your car insurance policy is canceled.

If there is another individual that has co-owns or registered the new automobile with you, that person might be able to obtain auto insurance under their name for the vehicle until your driver’s license is reinstated. If not then the finance company can put a “force” insurance, in which they take out insurance on the vehicle to protect their asset which is the car but it might not be enough for the coverage of others driving the automobile.

If you are able to obtain a restricted driver’s license, while still serving your penalties for the DUI charge, then an insurance provider normally will be able to insure you and your automobile.

Tags: auto insurance, drunk driving insurance, DUI insurance

Reader’s Question:

I don’t know how serious DUI offense is and I also don’t know its legal definition. If in case I drink and drive here in Sunrise, Florida, how can I be charged with DUI?

Jackie

Sunrise, FL

DUI is a very serious offense that any person charged with it should not take for granted. If you get charged for DUI there in Sunrise, Florida, you are risking your driver’s license, your freedom and possibly, your job and future job opportunities. To define DUI, it is unlawful for any person to drive or operate any motor vehicle if a person has a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or more or while a person is under the influence of alcohol, any narcotic drug or any other self administered intoxicant.

You can be found guilty of driving under the influence if your blood alcohol level when you were driving was 0.08 or higher, as determined by a chemical test and this is called the “per se” statute. You can also be found guilty or DUI if you are proven to be under the influence of alcohol or under the influence of drugs and this is called a presumption statute. If there is no chemical evidence, the prosecutor can use your driving behavior and the field sobriety tests to establish you were under the influence.

Tags: blood alcohol content, drunk driving laws, DUI, DUI lawyer

Reader’s Question:

I heard my parents talking that the reason why my father got arrested for DUI in Kendale Lakes, Florida is that he has vigilance problems. What does it mean if you say that a driver has vigilance problems and could you give some examples?

Laken

Kendale Lakes, FL

Vigilance simply refers to a person’s ability to notice changes in his surroundings or pay attention to a task. If we relate it to driving, a driver whose vigilance has been impaired by alcohol may forget to turn his/her headlights on when required. On a similar note, drivers who are impaired often forget to signal a turn or lane change, or their signal is inconsistent with their maneuver. An example of this is if the driver is signalling left, but turning right. Alcohol-impaired vigilance could also result in drivers going into opposing or crossing traffic, and turning in front of oncoming vehicles with insufficient headway.

Driving is a very complex task that would require accurate information about surrounding traffic conditions. Failure to yield the right of way and driving the wrong way on a one way street are dangerous examples of vigilance problems. One of these things or any other vigilance problems of a driver probably caused your father to be arrested for DUI in Kendale Lakes, Florida.

Tags: DUI, DUI arrest, DUI lawyer

Reader’s Question:

My cousin was charged with DUI here in Central Pasco, Florida and she told me that according to the officer, she failed the field sobriety tests, especially the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. What is this test, how is it being conducted and how can this be inclined to problems?

Elle

Central Pasco, FL

The horizontal gaze nystagmus test is a very popular field sobriety test (FST) that is used by the police officers in a DUI investigation. When administering this test, the police officer would estimate the angle of eye jerking when following a standing point (such as a finger or light). If the jerking of the eye motion occurs prior to an angle of 45 degrees, it would be an indication of a blood alcohol level of approximately .05%. Two important factors are the smooth motion of the eye tracking the standing point and the eye jerking when aimed fully to one side.

An experienced DUI lawyer could prove in court that your cousin was not under the influence when she was arrested for DUI in Central Pasco, Florida. That’s because this test is inclined to a lot of problems such as if the officer is not medically, or even properly, trained to recognize a proper nystagmus or to properly estimate the angles. In addition to that, the medical community has yet to fully accept this kind of test as an indicator of intoxication. Another thing is that some states have yet to allow this test to be admissible as evidence in trial although it is one of the standardized FST’s. Regardless of these pitfalls, law enforcement officers still use this test.

Tags: DUI, DUI lawyer, field sobriety tests