We have previously written about the significant long-term impact that a Florida DUI conviction can have on one’s career and professional reputation. A front runner for leadership in the Florida GOP is now experiencing how an old DUI conviction can follow someone for years. Deborah Cox-Roush was convicted of DUI in 2004, and her conviction is now being raised in the context of her proposed role as the leader of the Florida GOP. This issue has become enough of an impediment to her political aspirations that she wrote a letter in an attempt to diffuse the issue. Although she has no other history of problems with the law or prior driving under the influence arrests, this single conviction which occurred over six years ago continues to be a thorn in her side. As Ms. Cox-Roush is learning, a Florida DUI conviction can have serious negative consequences for one’s future even beyond the immediate criminal sentence which may include incarceration, fines, suspension of one’s driving privileges, drunk driving classes, probation and more. Because of the serious consequences of a Florida DUI conviction, it is critical to retain an experienced Florida DUI defense attorney as soon as you are arrested for DUI in Florida.
Ms. Cox-Roush issued a statement regarding the incident explaining that she was returning home from the St. Pete Times Forum, after watching the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team win the Stanley Cup. She indicated that on her way home she was stopped at a sobriety checkpoint. This case shows how troubling a DUI conviction can be because the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s website clearly indicates that Ms. Cox-Roush’s blood alcohol level (BAL) was .163 percent, which is double the legal limit in Florida. As Ms. Cox-Roush discovered, anyone can discover information about a Florida DUI conviction and sentence as well as more specific details, such as one’s blood alcohol level at the time of the arrest with a quick and simple search on the Internet. In fact, more cities and law enforcement agencies are proposing publishing this information to create a sort of “Wall of Shame” on the web.
It is not just the disclosure of a DUI arrest or conviction that is problematic for Ms. Cox Roush or others that find themselves similarly situated, but the fact that minute details regarding the Florida DUI case are made available to the public. Some credit reporting agencies even include DUI convictions on credit reports making it even more difficult to protect one’s reputation and career. A .163 percent blood alcohol level is so high that under Florida DUI law it results in a more severe penalty that is triggered by a blood alcohol level that exceeds .15 percent. This type of disclosure is even more damaging than the mere fact of a prior Florida DUI arrest or conviction. Florida DUI convictions will remain on your record for years and will lead to more severe sentencing in subsequent cases. Even if you are arrested for a DUI many years later in another state, a prosecutor may try to use a relatively ancient DUI conviction to enhance your penalty.
The potential negative consequences of a Florida DUI conviction to one’s reputation and career can hardly be overstated. If you have been arrested and/or charged with a Florida DUI, it is very important to indicate that you do not wish to speak to anyone until you have a Florida DUI attorney present for any questioning. Your Florida DUI defense attorney will carefully investigate the facts of your case and analyze potential defense strategies designed to reduce your charges or seek a dismissal of the charges.
Call 1 (800) 687-2252 For a Free Consultation With a Florida DUI Lawyer In Your Area
Hiring a Florida DUI attorney to aggressively defend you can help you obtain the best possible result in your case. Call our toll-free, Florida DUI Helpline at 1 (800) 687-2252 or search our Florida DUI Lawyer directory for a law firm near you (by appointment only).
Free eBook – How To Beat a DUI in Florida:
Florida DUI lawyer discusses the ways in which someone charged with a DUI in Florida can fight their DUI charges and possibly win their a DUI trial in Florida. Click Here For How To Beat A DUI in Florida.
