Pumphrey Law Florida Leon County Criminal Defense Lawyers Leon County DUIs

Leon County DUIs

Florida and Leon County have some of the strictest drinking and driving laws. A DUI conviction comes with serious penalties like jail time, fines, and restrictions. Civil repercussions can also ensue, including a driver’s license suspension or revocation.

Under Florida Statutes § 316.193, drivers can be considered under the influence when they are driving or even when they are not actually driving but merely in “actual physical control” of a vehicle.

Actual physical control means that the accused must be physically in the vehicle and have the capability to operate the vehicle, regardless of whether the accused is actually operating the vehicle at the time. Florida courts look at various factors, some of these factors are the location of the keys, the location of the driver in the car, etc. A DUI also requires showing that at the time, the person was under the influence of drugs or alcohol to the point that the person’s normal faculties were impaired. Florida’s DUI laws define the term “normal faculties” to mean the ability to perform the mental and physical acts of daily life, such as driving, seeing, hearing, balancing, or talking.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement keeps track of the total arrests in a given year. In 2019, 434 people were arrested for DUI in Leon county out of 7382 total arrests.  This means that approximately one out of every 20 arrests in Leon County is a DUI. There were fewer arrests in 2019 than in 2018. In 2018, there were 426 people arrested for DUI out of 8601 total arrests made that year. In Leon County, most DUI arrests come from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

Back to top

Leon County DUI Enforcement Officers

The officers in the Traffic Unit with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office receive specialized training in DUI enforcement to detect and deter drivers impaired by drugs or alcoholic beverages. Members of the unit work in roving patrols, DUI saturation patrols, and stationary DUI checkpoints (often called a “DUI roadblock”). Leon County DUI enforcement officers on the traffic unit work in conjunction with other local agencies to perform saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints.

These DUI checkpoints are advertised ahead of time by law enforcement, and the local news reports these before they occur. For example, the Tallahassee Police Department announced that they were going to conduct a DUI checkpoint on March 7, 2019.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that an arrest in Leon County does not necessarily mean that you will be convicted of DUI. Although driving under the influence is a serious offense, having the right DUI attorney in Tallahassee, FL, at your side can help you defend your good name and move on with your life.

After the arrest, you only have ten (10) days to protect your driver’s license by demanding a formal review hearing here in Leon County. Do NOT just waive your rights by seeking immediate reinstatement of hardship privileges.

Hiring a DUI attorney during that ten-day window is the most important decision you will make. Before you decide, you should schedule a free and confidential consultation to speak with an attorney at Pumphrey Law.

Don Pumphrey and the other attorneys in his office are experienced in the tactics used by DUI enforcement officers throughout Tallahassee and Leon County.

Call (850) 681-7777 or send an online message to schedule a free consultation. Let an experienced Tallahassee criminal defense attorney put their experience to work for you.

See Past Leon County DUI Case Results

Take a look at some outcomes and case results in Leon County DUI cases we have handled recently.

• DUI: CHARGES DISMISSED
• DUI: NOT GUILTY
• DUI: NOT GUILTY
• DUI AND RESISTING ARREST WITHOUT VIOLENCE: NOT GUILTY

Back to top

DUI Resources

• Definition of Driving Under the Influence in Florida
• Can I Be Charged With DUI in Florida if the Car Was Parked?
• Is it Illegal to Sleep in Your Car?
• Implied Consent Laws in Florida
• Punishments and Penalties for DUI under Florida Law
• Fighting to Exclude or Suppress DUI Evidence
• Felony DUI
• Florida DUI Manslaughter
• Florida DUI FAQ

Finding a DUI Defense Lawyer in Tallahassee, FL

An arrest for a DUI does not mean you will be convicted of this serious crime. The right Tallahassee DUI defense lawyers can frame a strong defense strategy while making sure your rights are protected, giving you the greatest chance at a reduction or dismissal of charges. Contact Pumphrey Law today at (850) 681-7777 to schedule a free and confidential consultation to discuss the details of your case.

Page updated on May 23rd, 2022