Ave Maria Felony DUI Lawyer

Ave Maria Felony DUI Attorney

Florida takes driving under the influence seriously, which is why some DUIs are elevated to felony charges. Felony DUI penalties can be steep, so you need an Ave Maria felony DUI lawyer on your side to fight for your freedom and help you avoid the worst potential consequences of this serious crime.

Trust the Law Office of Donald P. Day

If you’re looking for an Ave Maria felony DUI attorney to take your case, trust the Law Office of Donald P. Day. We’ve been handling felony DUI cases for years, and in that time, we’ve developed an intimate familiarity with felony DUI laws, and we know how to use them to protect our clients’ rights. Ask any of our countless former clients; we have what it takes to represent you in your felony DUI case.

Why Hire a Felony DUI Lawyer?

While Florida ranks 34th for drunk driving in 2025, its alcohol-impaired driving fatality rate is higher than the national average at 1.6 per 100,000 people. The CDC estimates that 32 people are killed each day in alcohol-involved car crashes across the United States. It should come as no surprise that the State of Florida takes DUI charges very seriously, given these potentially deadly consequences.

Some people may be wondering whether they should hire a felony DUI lawyer to begin with. The answer to this question is always a resounding “yes.” Felony DUI lawyers can do everything from negotiating plea bargains and having charges reduced to representing you in court and arguing for reduced sentencing. Even if you’re convinced that there’s no way to avoid a guilty verdict, you should still hire a felony DUI attorney to negotiate on your behalf.

What Makes a DUI a Felony in Florida?

DUIs can be classified as either misdemeanors or felonies depending on the circumstances. First-time and second-time DUI offenses that don’t involve injuries will be tried as misdemeanors. However, if you’re arrested for a third DUI, Florida law requires it to be tried as a felony DUI case, as should any subsequent arrests.

You may also be arrested for a felony DUI if your driving under the influence caused serious bodily injury to another person or the death of any human being or unborn child. Other factors can also come into play when determining whether a DUI is a misdemeanor or a felony, including:

• Extremely elevated blood alcohol content
• Child endangerment
• Significant property damage
• Refusal to submit to testing
• Other prior convictions.

Generally speaking, your blood alcohol content is considered unacceptably high when it reaches 0.08. The highest blood alcohol content ever recorded was an astonishing 1.374, but anything over 0.4 could be fatal and is considered a very high blood alcohol level.

Consequences of a Felony DUI in Florida

Felony DUI convictions come with serious consequences in the Sunshine State. If you’re convicted by the 20th Judicial Circuit Court, you could face the following penalties:

• A long prison sentence. Felony DUI convictions have the potential for sentences of up to five years in prison. If you killed someone while driving under the influence, that’s considered DUI manslaughter or vehicular homicide, and it could leave you with a decades-long prison term.
• Steep fines. Felony DUI convictions are almost always accompanied by substantial fines. Depending on the circumstances, they could reach anywhere from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.
• License suspension. Felony DUI convictions typically lead to the suspension or revocation of your license for a long period.
• Ignition interlock. In most cases, the court will require those convicted of felony DUIs to have an ignition interlock installed in their vehicles at their own expense.
• Alcohol education and treatment. Those convicted of felony DUIs must typically attend alcohol education and treatment programs.

These are just the direct consequences of a felony DUI. There are also collateral consequences due to the fact that your conviction will remain on your record for the rest of your life.

FAQs

Are There Instances Where a Felony DUI Can Be Expunged in Florida?

There are no instances where a felony DUI can be expunged in Florida. State law explicitly bans expunging or sealing of all DUI convictions, which is part of why it’s so important to do everything you can to avoid DUI charges, to begin with. Your felony DUI lawyer may be able to have the charges reduced so they won’t remain on your record forever.

How Many DUI Cases Get Dismissed in Florida?

A significant minority of DUI cases get dismissed in Florida. There are several reasons this happens, including constitutional violations or procedural errors made by law enforcement, insufficient evidence, and mishandled evidence. Hiring a felony DUI lawyer is a good way to increase your chances of having your case thrown out.

What Is the Plea Bargain for a DUI in Florida?

A plea bargain for a DUI in Florida involves the defendant pleading guilty in return for more amenable terms. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to get lower fines and less jail time or even have the felony DUI charge itself reduced to a misdemeanor. Always speak with a lawyer before accepting a plea bargain.

How Do You Beat a DUI Case in Florida?

You can increase your chances of beating a DUI case in Florida by hiring a DUI lawyer with experience successfully representing clients in similar cases. DUI lawyers know DUI law and how it can be used to reduce the impact of your arrest on your life, whether that means having the charges thrown out or requesting reduced sentencing.

Your Ave Maria Felony DUI Lawyer

Felony DUIs can come with some very serious consequences, which is why it’s so important to have a skilled Ave Maria felony DUI lawyer on your side. You can trust the team at the Law Office of Donald P. Day to fight aggressively for your freedom following a felony DUI. Our team has over 60 years of combined legal experience, and we’ll bring all of it to bear on your case. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.