Being charged with a DUI can impact many areas of your life. When a DUI is on your record, it can add challenges to getting hired or keeping a job. This is even more of a consideration for a career in the military. The military does not tolerate DUIs. Because the military holds service members to a higher standard than civilians, being convicted of a DUI could severely impact your military career.
Getting a DUI as a Service Member
For military service members, DUIs are punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Each branch of military service also has its own requirements for dealing with DUI cases. Getting charged with a DUI while in the military could carry more serious consequences than it might for a civilian. For example, if you are found guilty of a DUI while serving in the military, you might experience the following:
- A reduction in pay
- Monetary fines
- Rank reduction
- Loss of security clearance
- A dishonorable discharge
- Imprisonment
Before ever pleading guilty or going to court, you must know how a DUI conviction can impact your military career. You need to find an attorney who will proactively try to get the charge dropped before you end up in military court.
Criminal Consequences for a DUI
Aside from repercussions from the military, if you get a DUI conviction, there are also criminal penalties you might have to face. In Florida, the most common DUI penalties include:
- Jail time
- License suspension or loss
- Impoundment of your vehicle
- Probation of at least one year
These penalties increase if it isn’t your first DUI offense or if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above a certain level.
DUI Defense in Daytona Beach
If you are facing a DUI or have one already on your record, you have options. For military service members, one defense for a DUI is challenging the arrest. An early arrest review can help get the DUI dismissed without it impacting your military career. An arrest review can also help you avoid the case progressing to the military court. Daytona Beach DUI attorneys can assist you in going over your DUI charge to see if the arrest was valid. A lawyer experienced with
DUI cases will know how to review whether the arresting officer followed correct procedures. There are strict rules as to how an officer must handle a DUI, and if the sobriety test was not performed to exact legal standards, there might be grounds for getting your case dismissed. Additionally, breathalyzer tests are not always conducted accurately and can be challenged in court as a way to get your charge dismissed.
Daytona Beach DUI Attorneys
Your military career is worth protecting. If you are facing a DUI, it is crucial to connect with a lawyer experienced with DUI cases who can assist you in salvaging your military standing. You have the right to civilian counsel to represent you in several matters after being charged with a DUI. Daytona Beach DUI attorneys will review your case to see if the charges can be dropped before it ever goes to court. If that isn’t possible, a
DUI lawyer can represent you in criminal proceedings. An attorney can also help you contest the on-base suspension of your driving privileges following a DUI.
