Felony DUI Defense Lawyer in Palm Beach County FL

Facing felony DUI charges in Florida is a terrifying, overwhelming, and nerve-racking experience—to say the least. A felony conviction can radically change the course of your life for years to come. Hiring a focused, resourceful felony DUI defense lawyer in Palm Beach County FL is the best way to protect your rights, your freedom, and your future.

As a former Florida prosecutor, our felony DUI defense lawyer Andrew Simko has years of successful experience taking DUI cases to trial. This makes him uniquely familiar with what it takes to construct a successful felony DUI defense strategy.

If you’ve been charged with felony DUI in Florida, contact Simko Law Group today at (561) 951-1264 for your free consultation.

How Florida Defines Misdemeanor Vs Felony

Like other US states, Florida classifies misdemeanors as minor crimes while felonies are far more serious. A felony conviction also carries much more severe consequences as a result.

A misdemeanor in Florida is punishable by probation, fines, and, in certain situations, up to one year in jail. You retain all of your civil liberties when convicted of a misdemeanor, like the right to vote, own a gun, or hold public office.

But a felony can cause ripples across your life for years to come. Felony charges are often associated with violent crimes like arson, kidnapping, robbery, and aggravated assault.

If you’re convicted of a felony, your rights and future freedom will shift dramatically. You’ll lose the right to vote at least until every aspect of your sentence is completed, plus the right to own a gun. Your future job and housing opportunities may also be severely limited depending on the nature of your felony conviction.

What Makes a DUI a Felony in Florida?

A DUI will typically be charged as a felony in Florida if any of these conditions are met:

The DUI resulted in the death of another person
The DUI caused serious bodily injury to another person
It is your third (or fourth) DUI charge within 10 years

In most cases, you’ll face misdemeanor charges for your first or second DUI in Florida. However, it’s also possible to be hit with felony charges if, for example, your first DUI resulted in someone’s death.

Penalties for Felony DUI in Palm Beach County FL

The penalties for felony DUI in Palm Beach County FL depend on the specific details of your charges, per Florida law.

For your third DUI conviction within 10 years, the potential penalties include:

Fines of at least $2,000, up to $5,000
Minimum 30-day jail sentence, up to a 5-year prison sentence
Up to 5 years of probation
Minimum 10-year revocation of your driver’s license
Community service

If this is your fourth DUI conviction, the consequences are:

Fines of at least $2,000, up to $5,000
Prison sentence for a maximum of 5 years
Up to 5 years of probation
Lifetime revocation of your driver’s license
Community service

For a conviction of DUI with serious bodily injury in Florida, you may be sentenced to:

Fines of at least $1,000, up to $5,000
Prison sentence for a maximum of 5 years
Up to 5 years of probation
Minimum 3-year revocation of your driver’s license
Community service

If you’re convicted of DUI manslaughter in Palm Beach County FL, the penalties you may face are:

Fines up to $10,000
Minimum 4-year prison sentence, up to 15 years
Up to 15 years of probation
Lifetime revocation of your driver’s license
Community service

If you or a loved one are facing felony DUI charges, the best thing you can do is hire an experienced felony DUI defense lawyer in Palm Beach County FL like Andrew Simko of Simko Law Group.

As a former Florida prosecutor, he has years of experience on both sides of the courtroom. This gives him a unique insight into how the state might build the case against you. More importantly, it also means he knows exactly how to build a strong defense against their tactics.

Work with an Honest, Reliable Felony DUI Defense Lawyer in Palm Beach County FL

Alarmingly, data reveals that 78% of people charged with DUI in Florida are ultimately convicted. This is because Florida judges and prosecutors take a very severe stance on DUI, especially at the felony level.

You need a reliable, honest felony DUI lawyer who has successful trial experience, a deep understanding of how to challenge the evidence against you, and who keeps you in the loop every step of the way. That’s exactly what you get when you choose Simko Law Group.

Florida Felony DUI FAQs

Can a felony DUI be expunged in Florida?

No, a felony DUI can never be expunged in Florida. Once you’ve been convicted of felony DUI in Palm Beach County, it will permanently stay on your record.

Furthermore, this conviction can follow you to almost any US state. Thanks to the Driver License Compact, the vast majority of states share driving records with one another—which means there’s no way to hide your felony DUI conviction.

This is why it’s so crucial to hire an attentive, knowledgeable felony DUI defense lawyer in Palm Beach County FL like Andrew Simko.

The earlier you start constructing your felony DUI defense strategy, the better your odds of walking away from this without a conviction.

What are the long-term consequences of a felony DUI conviction on one’s record?

The potential long-term consequences of a felony DUI conviction on your record include:

The conviction will be visible anytime you undergo a background check for the rest of your life
You’ll be unable to vote, hold public office, or obtain certain licenses until completion of your sentence and probation
Your insurance rates may be higher for years to come
A felony DUI conviction in Florida comes with an extremely lengthy prison sentence
Hefty fines can forever change the course of your financial options and goals
You may be unable to hold certain jobs which require operating a vehicle
Higher education options may be severely limited with a felony conviction on your record
Your loved ones may look at you in a negative light or struggle to rely on you

How can a lawyer defend against a felony DUI charge in Palm Beach County?

There are four common ways that a skilled felony DUI lawyer can defend against a felony DUI charge in Palm Beach County:

Suppressing incriminating statements if they were obtained illegitimately
Challenging the officer’s original reason for stopping you if it was unlawful
Challenging the testimony regarding any field sobriety tests you performed
Challenging the validity of your breathalyzer results

You see, when a law enforcement official suspects you of DUI, they have to follow specific legal procedures. Everything from the initial reason for pulling you over to the way your breath test was administered must be done according to these protocols.

If mistakes are made or corners are cut, many aspects of the evidence against you can be called into question. This is typically the foundation of a strong felony DUI defense.

But your lawyer can’t just raise an objection to every little thing and hope for the best.

You need a skilled felony DUI defense lawyer in Palm Beach County FL like Andrew Simko who knows exactly where to look for these issues, and how to leverage them in your favor. If you or a loved one are facing felony DUI charges in Florida, call Simko Law Group now at (561) 951-1264 for your free case evaluation.