Driving Under the Influence in Clearwater, FL Clearwater DUI Attorney

DUI cases are handled differently in Clearwater, Florida. It is important to hire an experienced and aggressive Pinellas County DUI Lawyer to fight the charges against you. At the Sammis Law Firm, P.A., we focus on DUI cases. Call 813-250-0500 to speak directly with an attorney to find out what you need to do today to protect all of your rights.

Hiring an experienced attorney early in your case allows you to preserve all avenues of attacking the criminal charge. Contact an attorney to find out more about the best ways to fight a DUI in Clearwater, FL. If you have been arrested for DUI in Pinellas County, FL, after either taking a breath test or allegedly refusing a breath test your criminal case will be prosecuted at one of the following locations:

1. The Criminal Justice Center Courthouse in Clearwater, FL;
2. One of the traffic divisions in North Pinellas Traffic Court in Clearwater (if you do not request a jury trial); or
3. South Pinellas County Traffic Court in St. Petersburg (if you do not request a jury trial).

In addition to the criminal case, you should also fight the DUI administrative suspension of your driver's license initiated by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).

After Your Arrest You Only Have 10 Days to Demand a Formal Review Hearing to Protect Your Driver's License

Remember that you only have 10 days after your arrest to file a request for a formal review hearing with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS REQUEST A FORMAL REVIEW HEARING, because it extends your driving privileges for another 30-45 days, and it gives your attorney a chance to cross-examine all of the witnesses against you under oath. 

If you fail to request the 10 day hearing, then your driver's license will be automatically suspended for a period of at least six (6) months for a breath test reading over the legal limit of 0.08 or for a period of at least one year if you refused to submit to the the breath or urine test. If your license has previously been suspended after a DUI arrest, you may be facing a driver's license suspension of twelve (12) to eighteen (18) months.

The formal review hearing is held at the following location:

Clearwater Bureau of Administrative Review

4585 140th Ave. N.

Suite 1002

Clearwater, FL 33762

(727) 507-4404

If your driver's license is administratively suspended after a DUI arrest in Clearwater, Florida, you may be apply for a business purpose only or hardship license after serving out a "hard suspension" period during which you can not drive for any reason.

If you took the breath test and blew over the legal limit, then a 30 day hard suspension will result, meaning that you can not drive for any reason for 30 days. If you allegedly refused to take the breath test, then your hard suspension will be for 90 days for a first offense. The only way to avoid this suspension is to fight and win your Formal Review Hearing with the DMV. Call us to find out ways to protect your driver's license after a DUI arrest in Clearwater, FL.

The Benefits of Hiring an Attorney Early in the Process to Fight your DUI Arrest in Clearwater

Hiring an Criminal Lawyer for Pinellas County, FL early in the process allows you to fight the administrative suspension of your driver's license. At the formal review hearing your attorney can subpoena of the law enforcement officers that were involved in your arrest to provide testimony under oath that is recorded.

That testimony from the formal review hearing can later be used during the motion to dismiss or motion to suppress hearing. This formal review hearing is particularly important in misdemeanor DUI cases because your DUI attorney does not normally have the opportunity to take a deposition of the officers involved in your arrest before a motion hearing or trial.

Wining your Clearwater DUI case through Motions to Suppress and Motions to Dismiss

In many DUI cases in which a viable motion can be filed, the best results occur after your attorney has filed a motion to suppress or exclude evidence, or a motion to dismiss the DUI charge. Learn more about potential defenses that may apply to your DUI prosecution by contacting an experienced DUI lawyer who is experienced in fighting cases in Clearwater, Pinellas County, FL.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Over the Phone or in the Office Today

Contact the Sammis Law Firm today to fight out what steps you must take in the 10 days after your arrest to preserved all of your options for the best result in your Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, driving under the influence or drunk driving (DUI) case. Call 813-250-0500 today to speak with a Criminal Attorney for Clearwater, FL.

Clearwater Links

Clearwater Police Department - The stated mission of the Clearwater Police Department Traffic Section is to promote traffic safety through a combination of proactive enforcement and education programs aimed at reducing the number of drunk and impaired drivers.

645 Pierce St.

Clearwater, FL 33756

(727) 562-4455

Fax: 727-562-4221

Clearwater Beach Daily Photo Blog - Great blog with pictures and photographs of Clearwater Beach updated daily.

Regional Chamber of Commerce for Clearwater - Website for the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce.

City Of Clearwater Tourism Website - Find tourism information for the City of Clearwater.

City Of Clearwater - Official website for the City of Clearwater.

DUI Information Center

Florida DUI Penalties and Punishments - Find out more about the specific punishments and sentences that follow a DUI conviction following a conviction for DUI in Clearwater under Florida DUI laws.

DUI Refusal Cases - If the DUI officer said that you "refused" the DUI breath test, learn more about the "good news" and the "bad news" following an alleged refusal for DUI in Clearwater, FL.

DUI Administrative Hearings - Find out more about protecting your driver's license administrative suspension that can otherwise occur after your arrest in Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, even if you are not ultimately convicted of DUI.

Defending Women Against DUI - If you are a woman arrested for DUI in Clearwater, Pinellas County, FL, visit this page for more information about special defenses and considerations that can apply to defending women charged with DUI.

DUI Roadblock or Checkpoint Cases - Where you arrested during a roadblock or checkpoint for DUI in Clearwater, Florida? Visit this page for more information about filing and litigating a motion to suppress all evidence that occurred after a roadblock or checkpoint case.

FR-44 Insurance - What are the real costs of a DUI conviction after an arrest for DUI in Clearwater, FL? Find out about how much your insurance will go up after a DUI conviction.

Felony DUI with Serious Bodily Injury - Where you arrested for the felony DUI charge of DUI with serious bodily injury in Clearwater or Pinellas County, FL? If so, visit this page to find out more information about defenses that can exist to Felony DUI for serious bodily injury charges.