Personal Injury Lawyer in Lutz, FL

After a DUI arrest in Land O' Lakes, you will typically be processed at a Pasco County facility and may face an administrative driver's license suspension through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) separate from any criminal court proceedings. You have only 10 days from the date of arrest to request a formal review hearing to contest that suspension. Criminal charges are then handled through the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pasco County. Contacting a DUI defense attorney immediately helps preserve critical deadlines and defense options.

Yes, depending on the specific facts of your case, a DUI charge may be reduced to a lesser offense such as reckless driving, or potentially dismissed altogether. Common grounds include an unlawful traffic stop, improperly administered field sobriety tests, or issues with breathalyzer calibration and maintenance records. An attorney with knowledge of Pasco County courts and prosecutors can evaluate the strength of the evidence and identify the most viable defense strategies for your situation.

Under Florida Statute §316.193, the standard legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08% for drivers 21 and older. However, Florida applies a stricter limit of 0.02% for drivers under 21 under the state's zero-tolerance law, and a limit of 0.04% for commercial vehicle operators. It is also important to note that a person can be charged with DUI even if their BAC is below 0.08% if law enforcement determines their normal faculties were impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Field sobriety tests - also called Field Sobriety Exercises (FSEs) in Florida - are not legally mandatory, and you have the right to decline them without automatic criminal penalty, though refusal may still be noted by the officer. These tests, which include the walk-and-turn, one-leg stand, and horizontal gaze nystagmus, must be administered according to standardized protocols established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Deviations from those protocols can provide grounds to challenge the validity of the results in court.

A first-time DUI conviction in Florida can result in fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 (higher if BAC was 0.15% or above, or a minor was in the vehicle), up to six months in jail, up to one year of probation, 50 hours of community service, mandatory DUI school, and a driver's license revocation of 180 days to one year. Enhanced penalties apply if aggravating factors are present. These consequences underscore the importance of mounting a thorough defense rather than simply accepting a plea without legal counsel.

Butash Law Group's main office is located at 23554 S.R. 54 in Lutz, placing the firm just minutes from Land O' Lakes and the Pasco County court system. This proximity means the firm's attorneys are familiar with the local roads where DUI stops commonly occur, the law enforcement agencies that patrol the area, and the procedural practices of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. That local knowledge, combined with Attorney Mike Butash's background as a former prosecutor, allows the firm to craft defense strategies tailored to the specific realities of Pasco County DUI cases.