Being accused of and arrested for driving under the influence in Pensacola and across Florida can have wide-ranging consequences on a person’s life personally, professionally and financially. Since law enforcement is constantly on the lookout for drivers who might be under the influence and people who are convicted can be confronted with jail, fines and personal challenges, it is imperative to have legal assistance to combat the charges from the start. This is especially important for a person whose job might be negatively impacted by a DUI conviction.
Teacher arrested for DUI after crashing into patrol vehicle
A 51-year-old woman is facing DUI allegations after she crashed her car into a deputy’s patrol car. She has taught in the school system for three decades. According to the investigation, the woman was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro and hit the deputy’s vehicle. Other officers were called to the scene to investigate. When they spoke to the woman, she was said to have smelled of alcohol. She had trouble standing up without swaying and had watery, bloodshot eyes. She took a field sobriety test and performed poorly. After taking two breath tests and registering .055 and .059, she was subsequently arrested.
The penalties for a DUI conviction can be severe
Depending on the situation and what happened in the incident, a person can face myriad harsh penalties for a DUI conviction. This may include jail time, fines, lost driving privileges and the need to have an ignition interlock device placed on the vehicle. Even after the case is completed and the penalties have been served, a DUI can still cause challenges. This could be worrisome for a city worker as there could be employment ramifications. Before saying or doing anything to make the situation more difficult, it is important to understand the value of a strong legal defense.
Fighting DUI charges with help from an experienced legal professional
In this case, the woman was arrested after she collided with a deputy’s vehicle. Despite the stated evidence, it is important to note that her BAC was lower than the state legal limit of .008. While that level is not fundamentally necessary for an arrest and to get a DUI conviction, it could be used when formulating a defense to make the case that the person was not really under the influence. There might be other options available. To begin preparing for the case, having legal assistance from an experienced DUI defense legal professional may be essential.