St. Leo DUI Lawyer

A DUI arrest near St. Leo almost always starts on a road that carries a mix of local traffic and through traffic: State Road 52, U.S. 301, and the county roads that connect the college area to Dade City and Zephyrhills. Those arrests are handled in Pasco County, where misdemeanor and criminal traffic cases go to County Court and felony cases go to Circuit Court. King Law Group is a criminal defense firm that defends St. Leo DUI lawyer cases for adults and juveniles across Pasco County, Pinellas County, and the wider Tampa Bay area, with a practice focused solely on criminal defense.

A DUI case in Florida is really two cases running at once. One is the criminal prosecution, which can end in jail, fines, probation, and a record. The other is the license consequence, which begins with an administrative suspension and can continue long after the criminal case ends. A refusal to submit to a breath test adds a third problem. The decisions you make in the first days, including whether to speak to anyone and how you handle the license deadline, shape everything that follows.

What a Florida DUI Conviction Actually Costs

The statute sets penalty ranges that increase with each conviction, and they are worth knowing precisely. A first conviction carries a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000, with imprisonment of up to 6 months. A second conviction raises the maximum jail exposure to 9 months. A third conviction that comes more than 10 years after a prior conviction carries a fine between $2,000 and $5,000 and up to 12 months of imprisonment. A DUI that causes or contributes to causing damage to another person or their property is a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Beyond the sentence itself, the court must place every DUI offender on monthly reporting probation and require completion of a DUI program course that includes a psychosocial evaluation. If your breath or blood alcohol level was .08 or higher at the time of the offense, the court may order an ignition interlock device on your vehicle for at least 6 continuous months.

The license consequences are often what disrupt a life most. A first conviction brings a revocation of at least 180 days and up to one year. A second conviction within five years of a prior one means revocation of at least five years, though hardship reinstatement may be possible after one year. A third offense within ten years of the second conviction carries a minimum ten-year revocation, and a fourth conviction results in permanent revocation no matter how far apart the prior convictions were. For anyone who drives to work in the Dade City, Zephyrhills, or Land O’ Lakes area, losing a license for months or years can cost a job before the criminal case is even resolved.

Why Choose King Law Group for a DUI Charge Near St. Leo

King Law Group is led by Cameron King, a former felony prosecutor for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which covers Pasco and Pinellas Counties. As a prosecutor he handled thousands of cases, from murder, manslaughter, and armed robbery to DUI, drug possession, and domestic violence. He later practiced criminal defense at a prominent litigation firm before building a practice devoted entirely to criminal defense. He earned both his undergraduate business degree and his law degree from Florida State University, where he focused on criminal law.

That background matters in a DUI case because DUI prosecutions are built on a chain of discrete steps: the reason for the stop, the officer’s observations, the roadside exercises, the arrest, the breath or blood evidence, and the paperwork that ties it together. Someone who has reviewed arrests from the State’s side knows which links tend to be thin. The firm handles cases from pre-arrest investigation through trial and record sealing, and the phone is answered 24/7, which matters when the license deadline starts running right after an arrest.

Clients describe Cameron as honest, straightforward, and tireless. They mention fast callbacks, clear answers, and being kept informed at every step, and several report that their charges were ultimately dropped. The firm offers a free consultation and a complimentary case evaluation. Not every DUI is about proving innocence; sometimes the right result is a reduced charge, a withheld adjudication, or a diversion outcome, and the firm will look for the best realistic option while preparing to litigate the evidence if the case calls for it.

DUI-Related Charges and Situations We Defend

• First-Offense DUI: The most common DUI filing in Pasco County, prosecuted under s. 316.193 in County Court. Exposure includes the $500 to $1,000 fine, up to 6 months in jail, probation, a DUI program, and a license revocation of 180 days to one year.
• Repeat DUI: Second and third offenses trigger longer jail maximums and much longer revocations, and how the prior convictions are counted and when they occurred can change the penalty tier, which makes the prior records worth scrutinizing.
• Breath Test Refusal: A first refusal means a one-year license suspension, or 18 months if the privilege was previously suspended or the driver was previously fined for a refusal. Updated implied consent provisions now make even a first refusal of a breath or urine test a second-degree misdemeanor.
• DUI With Property Damage or Injury: A DUI that causes or contributes to damage to another person or their property is a first-degree misdemeanor, and a crash scene adds witnesses, reports, and photographs to the State’s evidence.
• DUI Manslaughter: A death, including the death of an unborn child, makes the offense at least a second-degree felony, handled in Circuit Court, with revocation and sentencing consequences that dwarf a standard DUI.
• Vehicular Manslaughter and Serious Bodily Injury: Convictions for manslaughter, DUI serious bodily injury, or vehicular homicide carry a three-year license revocation on top of the criminal sentence.
• Juvenile DUI: Younger drivers can face DUI-related allegations that follow separate juvenile procedures, and the firm represents juveniles as well as adults.
• Driving on a Suspended License After a DUI: Driving during a revocation or suspension creates a separate charge that compounds the original case.

What to Do in the Days After a DUI Arrest

The first priority is the license. A DUI arrest typically triggers an administrative suspension that is separate from the criminal case, and the window to challenge it is short. Do not assume the criminal case timeline controls it. Call a lawyer quickly so the deadline is handled rather than missed, and so the firm can look at whether a hardship or restricted-driving option is realistic for you.

Second, stop talking about the arrest. What you say to an officer, to the jail staff, in a text, or on social media can be used by the State. Politely decline to discuss the events, and do not agree to additional searches or interviews. If you were released after first appearance, follow every release condition exactly, because a violation can create a new problem on top of the original charge.

Third, understand where your case will be heard. In Pasco County, misdemeanor and criminal traffic cases, which includes a standard DUI, are handled in County Court, while felony cases such as DUI manslaughter go to Circuit Court. Pasco proceedings take place at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey and the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. For an arrest around St. Leo, Dade City is the likelier setting for hearings, but your notice will say where to appear, and the firm handles cases at both locations. Missing a court date creates a far bigger problem than the DUI itself.

Finally, write down everything you remember while it is fresh: where you were stopped, why the officer said he pulled you over, what you ate and drank and when, what the officer asked you to do, and whether you were offered a breath test. Note any witnesses, nearby businesses with cameras, and the condition of the road and weather. Those details are what a defense lawyer uses to test the stop and the testing procedures.

How DUI Cases Are Actually Challenged

A DUI prosecution rests on lawful steps in sequence, and a flaw early in the chain can affect everything after it. The stop itself must be supported by a legitimate reason, such as a traffic violation or reasonable suspicion of impairment. If it was not, a motion to suppress can put the entire case at risk. The same scrutiny applies to the roadside exercises, which are subjective, affected by footing, lighting, medical conditions, and nerves, and often recorded on body camera or dash camera video that can be compared against the officer’s report.

Chemical test evidence has its own vulnerabilities. Breath testing devices must be maintained and operated according to set procedures, and the testing process has requirements the State has to meet. Blood evidence raises questions about collection, handling, storage, and lab analysis. Where a refusal is alleged, the details of what the officer said, whether the warnings were given correctly, and what the driver actually did all matter, particularly now that a first refusal can itself be charged as a crime.

Not every case turns on suppression. Sometimes the evidence is solid and the work shifts to the outcome: whether the charge can be reduced, whether adjudication can be withheld, whether a diversion option exists, and how to protect your driving privileges, your employment, and any immigration status. The firm builds the strategy around what you actually need to protect.

Questions About DUI Charges Near St. Leo

Is a first DUI in Florida a felony?

No. A standard first DUI is a misdemeanor. It becomes more serious when it involves damage or injury to another person, which is a first-degree misdemeanor, and a DUI that causes a death is at least a second-degree felony. A DUI can also become a felony based on certain repeat-offense circumstances.

How long will I lose my license after a first DUI conviction?

A first conviction carries a revocation of at least 180 days and not more than one year. This is separate from, and often overlaps with, the administrative suspension that begins after the arrest.

What happens if I refuse the breath test?

A first refusal brings a one-year license suspension, or 18 months if your privilege was previously suspended or you were previously fined for a refusal. Under the updated implied consent law, a first refusal of a breath or urine test is also a second-degree misdemeanor, and a refusal after a prior suspension or refusal fine is a first-degree misdemeanor.

Will I go to jail for a first DUI?

The statute allows up to 6 months of imprisonment for a first conviction, but that is a ceiling, not an automatic sentence. Outcomes depend on the facts, your record, whether anyone was hurt, and what can be negotiated or won in court.

Do I have to use an ignition interlock device?

A court may order one for at least 6 continuous months when your blood or breath alcohol level at the time of the offense was .08 or higher. Whether it applies to you depends on the test results and the court’s order.

Can a DUI be reduced to a lesser charge?

Sometimes. A reduction, a withheld adjudication, or a diversion outcome is sometimes possible depending on the evidence and the circumstances. That is one reason it helps to have a lawyer who has evaluated these cases from the prosecution side.

Should I talk to the officer or answer questions at the station?

You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer. Politely decline to answer questions about drinking or the events of the night, and call the firm before agreeing to any interview.

Can a DUI arrest be sealed or expunged?

Possibly, but eligibility is narrow. A person can generally seal or expunge only one arrest record in a proceeding, and must first obtain a certificate of eligibility from FDLE. Sealing or expunging requires that you have never previously had a record sealed or expunged in Florida. A conviction is not eligible, and a withheld adjudication still counts as a conviction for penalty purposes under the fine statute, so we review your record before saying what is available.

I am not a U.S. citizen. Can a DUI affect my immigration status?

It can. Criminal convictions can carry immigration consequences, and the effect depends on the charge, the outcome, and your status. These consequences should be weighed before any plea is considered.

How long does a DUI case take in Pasco County courts?

There is no fixed timeline. A case with a motion to suppress, lab testing, or a trial setting takes longer than one resolved early. What matters is that deadlines tied to your license run on their own clock, regardless of how long the criminal case takes.

Is it worth hiring a lawyer for a first-time DUI?

Because a conviction carries a revocation, probation, a DUI course, and a permanent record even on a first offense, the case is rarely as minor as it looks. A lawyer can examine the stop and the testing and look for outcomes that protect your license and your record.

Serving DUI Clients Around St. Leo and Pasco County

From St. Leo and nearby Saint Leo, Lake Jovita, and San Antonio, King Law Group defends people charged with DUI across Pasco County. We represent clients arrested in Dade City, Zephyrhills, and Land O’ Lakes, and in the western part of the county in New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson, Bayonet Point, Holiday, Trinity, Elfers, Jasmine Estates, and Beacon Square. Arrests in these communities are made by a range of agencies, and the cases are heard in Pasco’s County Court and Circuit Court.

Because Pasco and Pinellas share the Sixth Judicial Circuit, the firm also defends DUI cases across Pinellas County, including Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, and St. Petersburg, as well as throughout the greater Tampa Bay area.

Speak With a St. Leo DUI Attorney About Your Case

If you have been arrested for DUI, the license deadline and your first court date are already moving. A St. Leo DUI attorney at King Law Group can review the stop, the testing, and your options, and explain what the charge and the license consequences mean for your situation. Call any time, day or night, for a free consultation and complimentary case evaluation.