Chad Jackson, a Polk County Florida Sheriff’s deputy, was taken into custody and charged with DUI in Winter Haven. The sheriff’s deputy was arrested after he was observed driving erratically in his GMC pick-up truck. He was pulled over by another deputy sheriff who observed Johnson’s erratic driving. Jackson, who was off-duty, admitted that he had been drinking. Jackson was asked to perform field sobriety tests, which he reportedly failed. Jackson’s blood alcohol level was measured at .144 almost twice the legal limit under which Florida law presumes a driver to be impaired while driving. Jackson was booked into Polk County Jail and released on bond. He has been employed with the Polk County Sheriff’s office since 2008. The sheriff’s deputy has been suspended pending the results of an internal investigation.
A DUI conviction is a very serious offense particularly for someone whose job is as a law enforcement officer charged with the responsibility of enforcing Florida DUI laws. Many people arrested and charged with DUI are embarrassed and feel as if the DUI arrest makes them a “bad person.” In reality, many good law abiding people find themselves in bad situations. A DUI conviction can impact one’s freedom, financial well being, current employment and future career opportunities.
Even a first time conviction of a Florida DUI, like that faced by Jackson, can result in significant penalties including the following:
- Substantial Fines: Fine of $500-1000 which is increased to a fine of $1000-2000 if a minor is in the vehicle or the driver’s blood alcohol level exceeds 0.15 percent
- Community Service: Fifty hours of community service or additional fine of $10 for each hour of community service
- Probation: Maximum combined time of incarceration and probation not to exceed one year
- Incarceration: A first offense may result in a maximum of six (6) months in jail. The court may permit a person to serve one’s confinement in a residential alcoholism or drug abuse treatment program. An experienced Florida DUI attorney will often attempt to persuade the judge to consider this alternative.
- Impoundment of Vehicle: Your car will be impounded for ten (10) days unless your family has no other mode of transportation.
- Driver’s License Revocation: A conviction will result in your driver’s license being revoked for a minimum of 180 days and maximum of one year. If you complete DUI school, you may get a hardship reinstatement allowing you limited driving privileges to and from work.
The bottom line is that a DUI conviction results in very serious penalties as well as long-term consequences that can seriously impact your personal and professional life. If you find yourself facing DUI related charges in Florida, you should seek immediate legal advice from an experienced Florida DUI attorney. A Florida DUI attorney will carefully investigate such issues as the legal basis for your initial DUI stop and for conducting a DUI investigation during the stop, the procedures and accuracy of any field sobriety and blood alcohol chemical testing as well as other facts and circumstances that may form a basis for your Florida DUI defense strategy.
