I think all lawyers are expensive, so why do I need to hire one for my DUI case here in Florida?

Margarette

Orlando, FL

There are particular legal formalities to be embarked since you are charged with DUI in Florida. For that reason, you need the help of a lawyer who specializes in these cases. A DUI lawyer can give you assistance in knowing your legal rights from the time of your DUI arrest. He/she can go over the details of the DUI case, take care of court procedures and find out your status on the case. The DUI lawyer can also negotiate on your behalf for a case settlement and aid you by going over the driver’s license suspension a few days following your DUI arrest. He/she can also aid you with taking rehabilitation programs and even request the court for leniency since you are changing your ways.

DUI lawyers in Florida are typically knowledgeable in all the procedures such as the breath test, chemical tests, etc. Your entire defense could be based on the results of these tests if they are favorable for you. They can also build your defense by studying the environment and road conditions at the time and place of your DUI arrest and any other things that could have an effect on your field sobriety tests. Lawyers could efficiently study your DUI case to see any loopholes, run independent chemical analysis of your blood sample, inspect the calibration and maintenance records of the breath-analyzing machine, get reliable witnesses and suppress evidence to give you the best defense on your DUI case.

What are the penalties for second offense DUI in Florida? Do I need a lawyer for this?

June

Thank you for asking June.

In Florida, driving under the influence (DUI) is defined as driving a motor vehicle while impaired with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .08 or higher, a controlled substance or chemical substance. A DUI stays on your driving record for 75 years.

Below are penalties that you may face for second offense in DUI in Florida:

* Fines of $500 to $1,000 and a minimum $1,000 to $2,000 for BAC of .20 or higher, or a minor in the car,

* Jail time of not more than nine months. A BAC of .20 or higher, or operating a vehicle with a minor in the vehicle, will require a jail time of up to 12 months. If it’s your second conviction in five years, a mandatory 10-day jail sentence will be required.

* impoundment of vehicle(if a second conviction in five years) for 30 days.

* suspension of drivers license for six months minimum. If it’s your second conviction in five years, you’ll lose your drivers license for five years (but will be eligible to apply for a hardship license after a year).

Deciding whether or not to hire an attorney in Florida is a personal choice and the answer depends on your personal and financial situation and your ability to handle the process on your own.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

I can’t seem to find a good car insurance provider here in Kendall, Florida, everyone’s either too expensive or too complicated. What can I do to make it easier to find the best car insurance deal?

Willie

Kendall, FL

You’re not alone. There are a lot of people out there who feels that looking for a suitable car insurance policy is as fun and exciting as getting a sore tooth pulled out. It doesn’t have to be that way though. We believe that consumers should be empowered and guided with appropriate information to help them choose the best car insurance for their needs. Here’s a list of questions you can ask yourself, and a prospective insurance agent there in Kendal, Florida, to land that car insurance policy you’ve been looking for:

Questions to ask yourself:

1.What kind of protection do I want for my car?
2.Would I have teenagers driving that I would want to add under my insurance coverage?
3.Would I prefer to have minor cosmetic damages on an older vehicle fixed myself or would I want those covered as well?
4.Would I be renting cars in the foreseeable future? If so, would I want to pay insurance for that now?
5.How much am I willing to spend on car insurance annually?

Questions to ask an auto insurance agent:

1.What kind of discounts do you have for someone who has taken safe driving courses, have a good driving record or is interested in putting home insurance under the same company as well?
2.Do you give discounts for additional safety features installed in the vehicle?
3.What kind of coverages do you offer and how flexible are you about allowing me to choose what insurance I want and don’t want to have on my policy?

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance quotes, car insurance, car insurance rate

My car insurance coverage here in Cape Coral, Florida is about to end and I am quite drawn in not to get it for a while to save a bit. Will this be a good idea or am I making a big mistake here?

Bennett

Cape Coral, FL

Not getting automobile insurance coverage in Cape Coral, Florida can be enticing especially in these very hard times. We are all suffering the consequences but passing over auto insurance can be a very big mistake. Every state has minimum auto insurance laws and this is just one of the reasons for you not to drive without auto insurance. You could think that you can get away with it if you don’t get into any accident, but you could not be sure. Driving without auto insurance is a crime and majority of the states mandate you to show proof of insurance if it is being asked. Most of the time, this consists of random checkpoints that would catch you whether you have done something wrong or not.

In a lot of states, they even have this surprise automobile insurance check up. This is like an unannounced auto insurance verification wherein you have to mail a copy of your proof of insurance. The form you will send must show that you have insurance on the day that they sent the letter. It will be very late if they discover that you are driving without auto insurance.

Tags: car insurance, driving without insurance

It’s actually my first time to get a car insurance here in Lakeland, Florida and I don’t know how to choose the best one. Should I have to consider only the cost of the car insurance I’m going to take?

Jam

Lakeland, FL

Here in Florida, there are many insurance companies to choose from, so it is really confusing with which one will you get. Frankly speaking, cost is not the most important thing to consider. There are few tips on how to choose the Car Insurance you need in Lakeland, Florida. Like for example, you have to see if the company is actually in good standing and you have to see to it that it provides a good customer service. And you also have to check if the company is licensed for you to be protected if it goes bankrupt.

And if you are still considering the cost, you can compare premiums from the rate guides you have gotten. If you are talking to insurance agents you have to tell them that you are looking for cheaper car insurance for the agents have a variety of quotes. But you also have to check if the insurance agent you are to buy from is licensed which you can inquire from your state insurance department. Everybody is actually looking for cheaper car insurance that most Insurance Companies have lots to offer for your need. You just need to choose the best and outstanding company for you to have the cheapest and best insurance policy.

Tags: car insurance rate

I have just moved here in Clearwater, Florida. I am wondering if the population here in Florida can affect getting cheap car insurance. Will I be able to get cheap car insurance in this city?

Jade

Clearwater, FL

It is not impossible for driver’s population to get bigger and of course this will make the street more crowded. And as you can see the population of Florida started to get bigger on the year 2000. Florida’s surface area is not big enough for the people moving in here. And with this situation everybody can guess that the Car Insurance is more likely to get high, for there are more accidents in cities that are crowded.

Many different states has been discussing on how to construct a way to get a minimum insurance requirement in order for citizens to afford them. Since living in a crowded city like Clearwater, Florida can cause a lot of accidents as well as crimes due to more people will be on the road, getting a Car Insurance is a must. But of course there are still ways and chance to get a cheaper car insurance if you know where to look and to do the right things for it is a necessity for citizens who are living in a certain area to get a Car Insurance that they can afford. Like other states, Florida can offer Car Insurance minimums to anybody who wants to drive and whoever wants to have a protection.

Tags: car insurance discounts

I’m currently under my older brother’s car insurance and I’m moving soon so I’ll probably just get my own car insurance. How would I know the liability limits of his car insurance here in Tallahassee, Florida?

Nautica

Tallahassee, FL

Car insurance, property damage and bodily injury coverage would give you protection in case you cause injury to others or damage other people’s property. To determine the car insurance liability limits of your brother’s car insurance in Tallahassee, Florida, you must first know the minimum liability limits mandated in the state of Florida. You also have to find out his assets and know that his insurance is supposed to guard what could be lost in a lawsuit. You also have to consider the ages of the motorists in the household because young motorists are more prone to accidents that result in lawsuits.

Be more conscious as well that your brother shares liability for his kids until they arrive at a certain age. Also take into account his profession; if he works in the public eye or in a profession that is recognized to have high earnings, he is expected to face bigger lawsuits. Be aware that a lot of vehicles in the road have a value more than the $25,000 property damage limits that are allowed by a basic car insurance policy. He may also be liable for damage to more than one automobile if he causes a chain reaction accident.

Tags: auto insurance

I want to get the best quote as possible for my auto insurance here in Kendale Lakes-Lindgren Acres, Florida. How do you think I can be able to get the best possible quote?

Tad

Kendale Lakes-Lindgren Acres, FL

Anyone can be qualified for applying for discounts for you to be able to get the best quote for your auto insurance in Kendale Lakes-Lindgren Acres, Florida. If you fit certain criteria like being a member of a specific organization, being a mature driver or having a degree from a particular college, you may get the discounts that auto insurance companies offer to be able to save and have the best auto insurance. The premium rate that you would have to pay would also depend on your driving and credit history.

Auto insurance providers generally have certain way to determine your credit score. The score they come up with would help them find the type of credit risk you are and that would be very important in figuring out the premium rate you would have to pay. One more very useful tool that you need to get the best quote for your auto insurance is to seek the help of an insurance agent. He/she will find out everything he/she can about you and your automobile to figure out the discounts that you qualify for.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance quotes

Hi, I am from Lakeland, Florida and someone told me that since I don’t have an automobile registered in my name, I can be qualified for SR22 insurance at a rate of about $100 per month. If this is true, why wouldn’t a lot of people take advantage and fewer individuals in a household register automobiles?

Candice

Lakeland, FL

The person who told you that is not right in their idea about an SR22 insurance. SR22 in not an insurance policy, rather it is a form that shows that an individual has accomplished their financial responsibility. Normally, SR22 is mandated by the court or the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) after certain traffic violations or if the individual doesn’t have insurance coverage and got into an accident, so SR22 would not be the kind insurance you may want to carry.

Every state has their own parameters for an SR22 and some states even don’t require SR22 at all. Since you live in Lakeland, Florida, SR22 will be ordered if your driver’s license is suspended because of a major conviction such as DUI offense in the state of Florida. A non-owners policy is available for motorists who don’t own an automobile. Normally, this policy is only for liability coverage and don’t cover automobiles that are owned by a family member or other members of the household.

Tags: auto insurance, DMV, non owner’s auto insurance, SR22 insurance

How many years does the driving under the influence (DUI) remain on your driving record in  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.