Dashcam video released this week shows a van striking the back of a stopped Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office cruiser near Northwest 32nd Avenue and 79th Street. According to the arrest report, the 72-year-old driver then tried to hide an open alcohol container, and deputies ended the field sobriety exercises for his safety. He is charged with driving under the influence, DUI with property damage and driving with a suspended license. No injuries were reported. Like every defendant, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Whatever the facts turn out to be, a case like this shows how fast a DUI arrest in Miami turns into several problems at once. As a Miami DUI lawyer will tell you, a DUI arrest in Florida starts two separate tracks.
- The criminal case. A DUI with property damage is charged more seriously than a basic DUI, and a suspended license charge adds a separate count. Penalties can include fines, probation, community service, license consequences and, in some cases, jail.
- The license case. Separate from criminal court, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles can suspend a driver’s license after a DUI arrest. The deadline to request a review of that administrative suspension is short, generally 10 days from the arrest. Missing it can cost you your driving privileges even before your criminal case is resolved.
What to do after a DUI arrest in Miami
Do not discuss the case with anyone except your lawyer. Write down what you remember: where you were stopped, what the officer said, what tests were requested and whether you were given a chance to call someone. Field sobriety exercises are generally voluntary in Florida, and refusing a breath test has its own license consequences, so the choices made at the roadside matter.
A Miami criminal defense lawyer can look at whether the stop was lawful, whether the tests were given properly, whether the evidence supports each charge and whether any diversion program may be available. Every DUI case is different, and the right strategy depends on the facts, your record and the specific charges.
If you or someone you love was arrested for DUI in Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Doral or anywhere in Miami-Dade County, call Albert Quirantes, Esq., a Miami criminal defense attorney, at 305-644-1800. We also handle DUI related license suspensions and Miami traffic ticket cases, including driving with a suspended license. Call early at 305-644-1800. The first days after an arrest are the most important.
