Broward DUI defense

October 9, 2024

How a Broward DUI Conviction Can Impact Your Professional License

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

If you’re a licensed professional in Florida and have been charged with driving under the influence (DUI), the potential consequences extend far beyond fines, license suspension, or jail time. One of the most significant impacts you may face is the threat to your professional license, which can directly affect your livelihood. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, lawyer, teacher, or hold another type of professional certification, a Broward DUI conviction can trigger disciplinary actions by your licensing board.

As a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney experienced in handling DUI cases, I understand how vital your professional license is to your career and future. Here, we’ll explore how a DUI charge or conviction can impact your professional standing in Florida and the strategies that can be employed to minimize these adverse effects.

How Does a DUI Impact Professional Licenses?

In Florida, many professions are regulated by licensing boards, which set strict ethical and legal standards for their members. When a licensed professional is charged with or convicted of a DUI, it’s common for these boards to conduct their own investigation to determine if the offense constitutes a violation of their regulations. The severity of the impact depends on several factors:

Type of Profession. Different licensing boards have varying levels of scrutiny when it comes to DUI charges. For example, healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, are often held to particularly high standards, and a DUI may be seen as a risk to patient safety. Lawyers, educators, real estate agents, and financial professionals may also face disciplinary action after a DUI.
Type of DUI Charge. A first-time misdemeanor DUI may lead to lesser consequences compared to a felony DUI. A felony DUI is typically charged when the offense involves repeat offenses, injury, or death, and carries more severe penalties, both in criminal court and with licensing boards.
Aggravating Factors. Certain circumstances can increase the severity of the DUI charge and the likelihood of professional consequences. For instance, a DUI with a high blood alcohol content (BAC), a minor in the vehicle, or an accident resulting in injury can have a more substantial impact on your professional license.
License Renewal and Disclosure. Most professional boards require licensees to disclose any criminal convictions, including DUIs, when renewing their license. Failing to report a conviction can result in even more severe penalties than the DUI itself, including license revocation.

Potential Consequences from Licensing Boards

If you’re convicted of a DUI in Broward County, you could face several types of disciplinary action from your professional licensing board, including: Continue reading

September 15, 2024

Misdemeanor vs. Felony DUI in Florida: What’s the Difference?

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Fort Lauderdale, you may be wondering whether you are facing a misdemeanor or felony charge. The distinction between the two is crucial, as it can greatly impact the penalties you face and the long-term consequences on your life. As a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney, I often get asked about this difference and how it affects the defense strategy.

What Is a Misdemeanor DUI?

In Florida, most DUI charges are classified as misdemeanors. This is especially true for first-time offenders. A misdemeanor DUI generally occurs when someone is caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher or is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination, without causing significant harm to others.

January 15, 2024

Broward DUI Lawyer: Proposed Florida DUI Law Sidesteps Defendant Due Process

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

Twin bills in the Florida House and Senate threaten to undercut the due process rights of defendants facing Broward DUI charges. HB 39 and SB 260 would require drivers who refuse to take a breathalyzer to install ignition interlock devices at their own expense – regardless of whether they are ultimately found guilty of violating F.S. 316.193, Florida’s DUI statute.

As a Broward DUI lawyer can explain, the proposed statute is aligned the existing implied consent law, F.S. 316.1932. Essentially, this law establishes that driving is a state-extended privilege, as opposed to a right. Therefore, by operating such a vehicle, the state has the right to impose certain requirements. One of those is that drivers agree to the condition that if they are going to drive, they have impliedly given their consent to submit to approved chemical or physical testing (namely breathalyzer tests) for the purposes of determining whether he/she was driving under the influence of alcohol. Such tests must be incidental to a lawful arrest and administered by a law enforcement officer who has reasonable cause to believe the driver is under the influence.

If a driver in these circumstances refuses to submit to a breathalyzer test, their driver’s license is automatically suspended for one year. This is true regardless of whether they are ultimately convicted of a DUI. For second or subsequent refusals, the suspension is 18 months. Continue reading

July 15, 2022

3 South Florida DUI Myths Busted by Broward DUI Defense Lawyers

By The Law Offices of Richard Ansara, P.A.

More than 32,000 people are arrested for DUI in Florida every year, with about 2,100 of those being in Broward County. But despite its frequency, many Broward DUI defense lawyers will tell you that misconceptions about drunk driving arrests are rampant. Unfortunately, few people know their rights and what they should (and should not) do if they’re stopped in traffic for suspected drunk driving.

Here, our Broward DUI defense lawyers bust some of the most common South Florida DUI myths.

Myth 1: Refusing to Answer Police Questions Can Make You Look Guilty.