Fort Lauderdale DUI arrest

March 17, 2025

St. Patrick’s Day DUIs in Fort Lauderdale: What You Need to Know

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

Every March 17th, Fort Lauderdale comes alive with shades of green, Irish tunes and the clink of celebratory drinks. St. Patricks’ Day is a time for fun and festivities here in South Florida, complete with parades and parties. However, St. Patrick’s Day also typically sees a sharp rise in drunk driving arrests. If you or someone you love is now facing a DUI charge after a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, it’s unwise to count on a stroke of good luck to protect your future.

At The Ansara Law Firm, our Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorneys believe your future is worth protecting, and we won’t let you face the criminal justice system alone. We’ve seen firsthand how a single DUI arrest can impact a person’s life. But we’ve also helped many individuals navigate Florida’s legal system, preserve their rights, and move forward with strength and dignity.

The Reality of St. Patrick’s Day DUIs in Fort Lauderdale

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), St. Patrick’s Day consistently ranks among the top holidays for alcohol-related crashes. Nationally, there were 290 people killed in alcohol-impaired crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday – from 6 p.m. March 16th to 6 a.m. March 18th – between 2018 and 2022. Drivers who are young (21 to 34), male, and driving at night were overrepresented in the crash statistics.

Florida is no exception to this troubling trend. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reports March consistently sees a spike in DUI arrests and alcohol-related crashes, especially mid-month during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. (Spring break festivities undoubtedly play a role as well.)

Law enforcement agencies across the state, including those in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Broward County, ramp up DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols around this time of year specifically for that reason. So even if you aren’t involved in a crash, you’re more likely to get arrested for a DUI around this time simply because police are specifically on the lookout for impaired drivers.

Florida DUI Laws and Penalties

If you’re arrested for DUI in Fort Lauderdale, it’s essential to understand the legal definitions and potential penalties. Under Florida Statute F.S. 316.193, a driver can be charged with a DUI if they:

Have a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, or
Are under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the extent that their normal faculties are impaired.

That last bit is somewhat subjective. As a DUI defense lawyer can explain, law enforcement officers will use their own personal observations, as well as information gleaned from field sobriety tests, in determining whether one’s “normal faculties are impaired.” Unlike breathalyzer tests, field sobriety tests (such as the walk-and-turn and the horizontal gas nystagmus test) are not mandatory and you can decline to submit to them.

For a first-time DUI in Fort Lauderdale, penalties include:
Up to 6 months in jail (or up to 9 months if your BAC is 0.015% or higher OR if a minor child was in the vehicle at the time of your arrest)
Fines between $500 and $1000 (or up to $2,000 if your BAC is 0.15% or higher)
License suspension for 6 months to 1 year
Probation for up to 1 year
50 hours of community service
Vehicle impoundment for 10 days

Beyond the clear legal consequences, a DUI conviction can have other lasting repercussions on your life. These include: Continue reading

December 3, 2024

Protecting Your Rights After DUI Arrest in Fort Lauderdale Festival Season

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

South Florida’s festival season is a time of celebration, drawing thousands to events like the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the Riptide Music Festival, Tortuga Music Festival, and The Big Easy Cruise. While these events offer unforgettable experiences, they also bring heightened law enforcement activity, particularly targeting DUI offenses. If you are arrested for DUI in Fort Lauderdale during this festive season, understanding your rights and the unique legal issues at play is crucial to mounting an effective defense. Hiring a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer can make all the difference when it comes to minimizing the potential and severity of consequences.

Festival Season in Florida Means More Law Enforcement Presence

Prime festival season in South Florida runs from fall to spring, with January, February, and March typically being the peak.

Specifically in Southeast Florida, upcoming festivals include Art Basel in Miami Beach, the Winterfest Boat Parade in Fort Lauderdale, Art Deco Weekend in Miami Beach, the Big Easy Cruise in Fort Lauderdale, the Country Music Cruise in Fort Lauderdale, Groundup Music Festival in Miami Beach, and Ultra Music Festival in Miami.

These festivals take a lot of planning – and there’s a fair amount of coordination with local law enforcement agencies.

As our Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorneys can explain, police departments recognize that these festivals tend to result in an uptick of alcohol consumption and drug use. Don’t be surprised if you see an uptick in DUI sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and the use of mobile breathalyzer units to identify and apprehend suspected impaired drivers. Such measures are designed to promote public safety, but they’re also going to increase the likelihood of DUI arrests. Keep in mind, though, that an arrest does not necessarily equal a conviction. A criminal defense lawyer can help you fight the charges, or at the very least, argue for reduced penalties.

Are DUI Checkpoints Legal in Florida?

Short answer: Yes.

This is a question that comes up a lot during festival season because we have so many visiting from out-of-state, and each state has slightly different ways of doing things. It’s worth noting that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the legality of sobriety checkpoints under the Fourth Amendment in the 1990 case of Michigan Dept. of State Police v. Sitz, albeit with some protocols aimed at minimizing arbitrary enforcement and intrusiveness. 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.