Five Reasons Your DUI Attorney Wants To Get Your Charges Reduced to Reckless Driving

Often, clients ask our Tampa DUI Lawyers about the possibility of getting their pending DUI reduced to a reckless driving charge. The reduced charge of reckless driving is often a possibility. However, while people often ask for the reduction, they are often unsure what the actual benefits are to receiving such a sentence. There are five main reasons that a Tampa DUI Attorney seeks to get your DUI charge reduced to the charge of reckless driving as part of a plea bargain.

1. It’s cheaper

DUI’s are expensive. The legislature has decided to impose massive fines on those convicted of DUI. The fines and court costs for a first time DUI are upwards of $1K. If the breath test was taken and the result was over a .15, the costs go up to $1.5K. A second DUI within 5 years of a prior DUI conviction will result in a 2.5K fine. And a third DUI within 10 years can result in a court costs in excess of 4K! These costs do not include probationary costs, which are between $50-$60 monthly.

A reckless driving charge does not carry with it these ridiculous costs. The fine is often as low as $500.

2. Less Social Stigma

Arguably the most painful part of being arrested for a DUI is the potential social stigma that it carries. MADD, or Mothers Against Drunk Driving, have helped spearhead a national movement vilifying drunk driving. Now, employers often ask specifically in employment applications if the applicant has ever been convicted of DUI, or driving under the influence.

A reduction of the charge to a reckless driving is a way to resolve the criminal matter without assuming the intense social stigma and ramifications that accompany a DUI conviction.

3. No mandatory license suspension

A DUI conviction requires the DMV to suspend your license for a minimum of 6 months for a first offense. But repeat offenders suffer harsher penalties. A second DUI conviction within 5 years a prior conviction requires a minimum five year suspension. A third DUI conviction within 10 years a prior conviction requires a minimum 10 year suspension. And a fourth conviction for DUI, regardless of the date of the prior convictions, is a lifetime revocation. This is required by law; a Judge must impose these sanctions.

A reckless driving conviction, however, does not require a license suspension. That means regardless of the number of DUI’s in your past, a reduction of your DUI charge to a reckless driving may keep you on the road.

4. No mandatory jail time

Jail time often accompanies enhanced DUI’s. In fact, a second DUI within 5 years of a previous DUI conviction requires ten days in jail. A third DUI conviction within ten years of a previous DUI conviction requires 30 days in jail. A felony DUI can be punished by up to five years in prison!

If your DUI s reduced to a reckless driving, no jail is required under the law, regardless of how many DUI’s are in your past.

5. No insurance premium increases

A DUI conviction will increase your insurance premiums. Florida Law, for example, requires every driver convicted of a DUI in the State of Florida to increase the amount of bodily injury coverage hey carry. This is known as a FR-44 form. This can get quite costly. A reduction of the DUI charge to a reckless driving may help you avoid being required to obtain these costly insurance premiums.

Call a DUI Attorney today

If you have been charged with a DUI in Tampa, New Port Richey, Clearwater, or St. Petersburg, contact a DUI Attorney today at 813-554-3232 (Hillsborough) or 727-753-0049 (Pasco and Pinellas). Ask to speak directly to a DUI Attorney. We are located at 918 W Kennedy Blvd. , Tampa, FL, 33606