After a DUI arrest, an experienced criminal defense attorney in Florida understands the timeliness required to ensure that their clients do not lose their license due to an administrative suspension. That is an automatic suspension carried out by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles if a driver: Refuses a blood, urine, or breath alcohol test in violation of implied consent; Submits a blood, urine, or breath alcohol test that exceeds the driver’s legal limit (which varies depending on age and whether or not the defendant was operating a commercial vehicle at the time of the arrest).
It is important to connect with a lawyer as soon as possible after your arrest to ensure that all proper steps are taken to avoid any unnecessary disruptions to your ability to drive, irrelevant to whether or not you are convicted. This administrative suspension will go into effect ten days after your arrest, meaning that you will need to act quickly to request a Formal Review Hearing.
If you let this grace period lapse, even the most experienced criminal defense lawyer will not be able to help you rectify this matter, which is entirely separate from your actual DUI license suspension.
Aside from the potential of an administrative license suspension, you still may face a license suspension for the criminal charge of DUI. Working with an attorney who understands the legal process and has a history of success defending similar criminal cases is one of the best ways to identify alternatives and work towards a fair and reasonable outcome that may not include losing your license.