One Arrest.
Ten Days To Act.
A DUI arrest in Miami-Dade isn't a single problem — it's a criminal charge headed to court and, at the same moment, a license suspension that started the night you were stopped. Connect with a Florida DUI defense attorney who can examine the stop, the testing, and the paperwork, and meet the 10-day deadline that protects your license.
Florida Law
Proving Impairment.
Not Just A Bad Night.
The state must prove its case on impairment or an unlawful alcohol level, and the stop, the testing, and the paperwork behind it can all be challenged — while a separate license case runs on its own clock. Here's how Florida law generally applies.
After an arrest, the officer issues a notice of suspension that doubles as a 10-day temporary permit. A driver generally has 10 days from that notice to request a DHSMV review — miss it, and a six-month suspension (first test failure) or one-year suspension (first refusal) takes effect.
Under §316.193, a driver can be charged if alcohol or another substance impairs normal faculties, or if a breath or blood alcohol level reaches 0.08. A first offense is a misdemeanor — up to six months in jail and a $500–$1,000 fine, rising to nine months and $1,000–$2,000 at 0.15 or with a passenger under 18.
A connected Miami DUI defense attorney can walk through how the stop and arrest unfolded, what testing was done, and which deadlines are already running — confidential, and at no cost to you.
"A DUI case isn't just about a number on a breath test — it's about why the car was stopped, how the test was given, and a license clock that starts the night of the arrest."
How DUI Cases Start
The Stop.
The Test.
The Charge.
DUI arrests in Miami-Dade tend to follow a few recurring patterns — after a night out in South Beach or Brickell, on the causeways and expressways, and after crashes where police arrive and start asking questions.
Nightlife & Event Stops
Traffic stops near South Beach, Brickell, Wynwood, and Coconut Grove after dinner, a concert, or a game are a familiar way a DUI investigation begins.
Crash-Related Arrests
When officers respond to a collision, the focus can shift quickly from the crash itself to whether a driver was impaired — sometimes after a trip to the hospital.
Checkpoint & Routine Stops
Sobriety checkpoints and stops for speeding, lane drift, or a broken taillight can start an investigation — and whether the stop itself was lawful is often the first question an attorney asks.
Breath, Blood & Urine Testing
A result is only as reliable as the equipment, the procedure, and the person administering it — and a refusal carries its own license consequences under Florida's implied consent law.
Drug & Prescription Cases
DUI isn't limited to alcohol. A charge can rest on prescription medication, marijuana, or other substances, and those cases often turn on officer observations rather than a simple number.
Repeat & Felony Charges
A prior conviction, a serious injury, or a death changes everything. A third DUI within ten years, a fourth at any point, or a crash causing serious bodily injury can be charged as a felony.
Is This You?
A Call Might
Make Sense If You...
There's no single kind of DUI arrest that calls for a lawyer — these are some of the situations Miami-Dade defense attorneys hear about in a first conversation.
You were stopped and asked to do roadside exercises
Walking a line or following a pen with your eyes is judged on the officer's observations, and lighting, footwear, or a medical issue can change how it looks.
You took a breath, blood, or urine test
Results depend on how the equipment was maintained, how the officer observed you, and how a sample was handled — details worth a second look.
You refused the breath test at the station
A refusal triggers a separate license suspension under Florida's implied consent law, with its own deadline and its own hearing.
You were handed a notice of suspension
That paper is both your temporary permit and a ten-day countdown to request a DHSMV review, so it's worth keeping somewhere safe.
Your arrest followed a crash or an injury
When a collision is involved, the DUI charge can sit alongside traffic citations, a civil claim, or — if someone was seriously hurt — felony exposure.
Your first court date is coming up
An arraignment is the first formal step in the criminal case, and what happens before it, including deadlines already running, can shape the options afterward.
How It Works
From the Arrest
to a Resolved Case.
A Florida DUI case runs on two tracks, the criminal charge and the license — but the process itself follows a clear sequence.
Free Case Review
A connected Florida attorney discusses how the stop and arrest happened, what testing was done, which charges and paperwork you have, and which deadlines are already running.
License Hearing & Evidence Requests
Your attorney can request the DHSMV review within 10 days of the notice, and move quickly to request dash camera, body camera, and breath test records before they are lost.
Negotiation & Strategy
The evidence is reviewed with the prosecutor in mind, raising problems with the stop, the testing, or the paperwork, and weighing whether a negotiated outcome or a motion makes sense.
Trial, If Necessary
If the case can't be resolved on acceptable terms, your attorney can take it to a motion hearing or trial in county court, or circuit court for felony charges.
In Their Words
What Callers Say
"I had no idea the license side of my arrest had its own ten-day deadline. Having both tracks explained in plain language made a stressful week manageable."
"The call was confidential and nobody lectured me. I came away knowing what the notice I'd been handed actually meant."
"Straightforward from the first call. I knew which dates mattered and what to expect at the first hearing."
Quick Answers
Answers Before You Call
Generally, yes. Under Florida Statute §322.2615, the officer issues a notice of suspension that works as a temporary permit for 10 days, and a driver has 10 days from that notice to request a formal or informal review with the DHSMV. If the deadline passes, the suspension takes effect — six months for a first breath or blood result at 0.08 or higher, one year for a first refusal, and 18 months for later refusals. This is separate from the criminal case. Start the conversation now so the deadline isn't the first thing you find out about.
Florida's implied consent law, §316.1932, treats a refusal of a lawful test as grounds for an administrative suspension, one year for a first refusal and 18 months for a later one. A refusal can also be raised as evidence in the criminal case, and a refusal after a prior refusal-based suspension can bring its own charge under §316.1939. The 10-day review window still applies. A connected attorney can explain your options based on how the test request was made.
A first conviction under §316.193 is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to six months in jail, up to one year of probation, 50 hours of community service, and DUI school. At a breath or blood level of 0.15 or higher, or with a passenger under 18, the range rises to $1,000 to $2,000 and up to nine months. The license must also be revoked for at least 180 days and no more than one year under §322.28. A connected attorney can walk through what applies to you, since actual outcomes depend on the facts.
Sometimes the facts support a different outcome, but Florida law puts firm limits on what a court can do. Under §316.656, a judge cannot withhold adjudication on a DUI conviction, and cannot accept a plea to a lesser offense when the breath or blood result was 0.15 or higher. Whether the stop, the testing, or the paperwork leaves room to negotiate depends on the specifics. A connected attorney can review the arrest records and tell you what is realistic.
Florida lawyers are not allowed to take a criminal defense case on contingency (Rule 4-1.5(f)(3)(B) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar), so a DUI defense fee is not tied to the result. Fees are often structured as a flat fee or an hourly rate, and they vary by attorney and by how serious the charge is. A connected attorney can walk through fee arrangements during your free case review.
Once you are released, keep your paperwork together, especially the notice of suspension, which also serves as your temporary permit, and any bond or release documents. While it is fresh, write down where you were stopped, what the officer said and asked, and which tests you were given. Avoid discussing the arrest on social media. Body camera, dash camera, and nearby business video is often kept only for a limited time. Talk through your specific situation with a connected attorney as early as possible.
You Were Arrested.
Learn Your Options.
A confidential case review about your DUI arrest — no judgment, no obligation.