San Antonio DUI Lawyer
Type “San Antonio DUI lawyer” into a search bar and you will be looking at Texas law, where driving while intoxicated is prosecuted under a different name, with different license procedures and different court systems than the ones King Law Group works in every day. King Law Group is a criminal defense firm that defends adults and juveniles charged with DUI and other offenses across Pasco County, Pinellas County and the greater Tampa Bay area of Florida, and its practice is focused solely on criminal defense.
That distinction matters more than most people expect. A Florida DUI is a case you answer in a Florida county court, and the license consequences come from Florida, not from the state on your driver’s license. A conviction can bring a revocation of at least 180 days, probation with mandatory treatment components, fines, and in some situations an ignition interlock device. Florida has also changed how breath test refusals are treated, and the details below can change the entire strategy of a case.
Why Choose King Law Group for a DUI Charge Across the Tampa Bay Area
King Law Group is led by Cameron King, the firm’s founder and a former felony prosecutor for Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, which covers Pasco and Pinellas Counties. The firm represents clients throughout Pasco County, Pinellas County and the wider Tampa Bay area, including West Pasco communities such as New Port Richey, Hudson, Holiday and Trinity, and Pinellas communities such as Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg. Its practice is limited to criminal defense, and it handles cases from pre-arrest investigation through trial and record sealing, for both adults and juveniles.
For a DUI case, the prosecutor background is the most relevant credential. Cameron King handled thousands of cases in the State Attorney’s Office, ranging from murder, manslaughter and armed robbery to DUI, drug possession and domestic violence. He earned both his undergraduate business degree and his law degree at Florida State University and later practiced criminal defense at a prominent litigation firm before opening his own practice. That history means he has sat on the side of the table that decides whether a breath result, a field sobriety evaluation or a traffic stop will hold up, and he knows what it takes to persuade the State to reduce or dismiss a charge.
Clients describe the firm as responsive and thorough. Reviews on the firm’s site mention fast returned calls, patient explanations at every step, and a lawyer who listens to the details. One client wrote that his charges were dropped in the end. The firm’s phone is answered around the clock, and the first consultation and case evaluation are free. A DUI arrest rarely happens at a convenient hour, and the decisions in the first days, including the license issue and what you say to anyone, are time-sensitive.
Florida DUI Charges and Penalties That Shape Your Case
- First-Offense DUI: A first conviction carries a fine of $500 to $1,000 and up to 6 months of jail, with a license revocation of at least 180 days and up to one year. Courts also place every DUI offender on monthly reporting probation and require a DUI program course that includes a psychosocial evaluation.
- Ignition Interlock Devices: When the breath or blood alcohol level at the time of the offense was .08 or higher, a Florida court may order an ignition interlock device for at least 6 continuous months. The device is a practical burden that affects daily driving and cost.
- Repeat DUI Convictions: A second conviction carries up to 9 months of jail, and if it falls within 5 years of a prior conviction, the license is revoked for at least 5 years, with a possible hardship reinstatement after one year. A third offense within 10 years of the second means at least a 10-year revocation, and a fourth conviction brings permanent revocation no matter how old the earlier ones are.
- DUI With Property Damage or Injury: A DUI that causes or contributes to damage to another person’s property or to a person is a first-degree misdemeanor, which can mean up to a year in jail and a fine up to $1,000 under Florida’s general misdemeanor limits.
- DUI Manslaughter: When a death of a person or unborn child results, the offense is at least a second-degree felony. Second-degree felonies carry up to 15 years in prison, and a manslaughter, serious bodily injury or vehicular homicide conviction brings a three-year license revocation.
- Breath Test Refusal: Refusing a breath test brings a one-year license suspension for a first refusal and 18 months if the privilege was previously suspended or a prior refusal fine was imposed. A first refusal of a breath or urine test is now itself a second-degree misdemeanor, a change from the earlier rule that only repeat refusals were crimes.
- Underage and Commercial Drivers: Drivers under 21 and those who hold commercial licenses face separate, lower thresholds and harsher employment consequences, which makes early legal review particularly important for them.
What to Do After a DUI Arrest in Pasco or Pinellas County
The first step is to say as little as possible. You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer, and anything you tell an officer, a jail employee or a friend on a recorded line can end up in the State’s file. Do not explain how many drinks you had, do not argue about the stop, and do not agree to any interview before speaking with counsel. Calling King Law Group early lets a lawyer start preserving evidence while it still exists, including requesting video from the stop and the booking process.
After an arrest in Pasco County, you are generally booked at the county jail in Land O’ Lakes and appear before a judge for first appearance within roughly 24 hours. That hearing decides whether you are released and under what conditions. A lawyer can argue for release terms that do not leave you stuck in custody, and the conditions set there, such as no-alcohol terms or monitoring, will follow you into the case, so they are worth contesting. In Pasco, misdemeanor and criminal traffic cases, which includes most DUI charges, are heard in county court, while felony DUI cases such as DUI manslaughter are heard in circuit court. These matters are handled at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey or the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City, depending on where the case arose. Pinellas County cases are handled in the Pinellas courts under the same Sixth Judicial Circuit.
Pay close attention to your license from the first day. A DUI arrest can trigger an administrative suspension that runs separately from the criminal case, and the deadline to challenge it is short, so ask about it in your first call. Also gather the paperwork you were given at the stop: the citation, any notice of suspension, the bond or release papers and the court date. If you are visiting from out of state, tell your lawyer right away so that appearances, travel and your home-state license can be coordinated. The most common mistakes are missing the license deadline, discussing the case with anyone other than your lawyer, ignoring the court date and assuming a first offense is routine.
How a Florida DUI Case Is Built and Where It Can Break Down
A DUI prosecution usually rests on three things: the reason for the stop, the officer’s observations and field sobriety exercises, and the chemical test. Each is a point where a case can be challenged. The traffic stop must have a lawful basis, and if it did not, evidence that followed may be suppressed. Field sobriety exercises are subjective and affected by medical conditions, footwear, lighting and road surface. Breath instruments must be properly maintained and operated, and blood draws raise chain-of-custody and handling questions. A lawyer who has reviewed how prosecutors evaluate these cases can tell which weaknesses actually move the State’s position.
Not every case ends in a trial or an acquittal, and the firm says so plainly. Sometimes the right outcome is a reduced charge, a withheld adjudication, or entry into a diversion program. Keep in mind that Florida treats a plea of guilty or no contest as a conviction for fine purposes even when adjudication is withheld, so the details of any resolution matter. A lawyer should walk through the license, insurance, employment and immigration consequences before you accept anything, and a non-citizen should raise the immigration question immediately because certain convictions can affect status.
Your arrest record is also worth planning for. Florida generally allows one arrest record to be sealed or expunged, and an applicant must first obtain a certificate of eligibility from the state law enforcement agency. Whether that route is open depends on how the case ends, which is another reason the plea terms matter. The firm helps with sealing and expunging records after a case concludes when a client qualifies.
DUI Questions People in the Tampa Bay Area Ask
I live in San Antonio but was arrested in Florida. Which state’s law applies?
Florida’s. The criminal case proceeds in the Florida county where the arrest happened, and Florida decides the license consequences for driving in Florida. Your home state may also learn of the conviction and take its own action on your license, so coordinate that with your lawyer.
What is the penalty for a first DUI in Florida?
A first conviction carries a fine between $500 and $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail, a license revocation of at least 180 days and up to one year, monthly reporting probation, and completion of a DUI program with a psychosocial evaluation. The actual sentence depends on the facts and the resolution.
Do I have to take a breath test?
Florida’s implied consent law attaches consequences to refusing. A first refusal means a one-year license suspension, 18 months if you had a prior suspension or refusal fine, and a first refusal of a breath or urine test is now a second-degree misdemeanor. Whether to submit is a decision to be made in the moment, and whether the officer followed the required steps afterward can be examined by your lawyer.
Will I go to jail for a first offense?
The statute allows up to 6 months for a first conviction, but many first-offense cases are resolved with probation and other conditions. Cases involving injury, property damage or a high test result carry more risk, so the specifics of your arrest matter.
Can a DUI be reduced?
Sometimes. Depending on the evidence and the State’s view of the case, a reduction or dismissal may be possible, and weaknesses in the stop or the testing give a lawyer leverage in those discussions. No one can promise a particular outcome.
Will I lose my license?
A conviction brings revocation, at least 180 days for a first offense, and the arrest itself can trigger an administrative suspension that runs on a separate track. Hardship reinstatement is possible in some situations, which a lawyer can explain.
What is an ignition interlock device and will I need one?
It is a breath-testing device wired to a car’s ignition that prevents starting the vehicle if alcohol is detected. A court may order one for at least 6 continuous months when the alcohol level at the time of the offense was .08 or higher.
How long does a DUI case take in Pasco or Pinellas County?
It varies with the evidence, motions and court calendar. A case with suppression issues or lab testing can stretch for months, while a simple resolution can move faster. Your lawyer can give you a realistic range after reviewing the file.
Does a DUI affect a professional license or job?
It can. Many licensing boards and employers require reporting of arrests or convictions, and commercial drivers face particular exposure. Raise your profession with your lawyer at the first meeting so the plea strategy accounts for it.
Can I get a DUI sealed or expunged later?
Possibly, depending on the outcome. Florida generally allows one arrest record to be sealed or expunged, an applicant must have never sealed or expunged a record before, and a certificate of eligibility is required first. Whether you qualify depends on whether adjudication was withheld or the charge was dismissed.
What if the DUI involved a crash and someone was hurt?
The charge level rises. Damage or injury to another makes the offense a first-degree misdemeanor, and a death makes it at least a second-degree felony. These cases need a defense lawyer immediately.
Serving DUI Clients Across Pasco, Pinellas and Greater Tampa Bay
King Law Group defends DUI charges throughout the Tampa Bay region. In Pasco County, that includes New Port Richey and Port Richey, Hudson and Bayonet Point to the north, and Holiday, Trinity, Elfers, Jasmine Estates and Beacon Square across West Pasco, along with cases heard in Dade City. In Pinellas County, the firm represents people arrested in Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg. Because both counties share the Sixth Judicial Circuit and the same State Attorney’s Office, the firm’s familiarity with how DUI cases are charged and negotiated carries across the county line. Visitors and recent arrivals from San Antonio and elsewhere who were arrested in these areas are welcome to call.
Talk With a San Antonio DUI Attorney Who Defends Florida Arrests
The phone is answered 24/7, and your first consultation is free. Call today, before a license deadline passes or a statement is made that cannot be taken back.
