Tampa DUI Defense Attorney

A DUI charge can have serious and lasting consequences, including jail time, drivers license suspension, hefty fines, increased insurance costs, and a permanent criminal record. If you have been arrested for Driving Under the Influence, it is critical to speak with a local, experienced Tampa DUI Defense Attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and begin building a strong defense.

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What is Driving Under the Influence in Florida?

Section 316.193, Florida Statutes

A person is guilty of the offense of driving under the influence if the person is driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle within this state and: (a) the person is under the influence of alcoholic beverages, any chemical substance set forth in section 877.11, or any substance controlled under chapter 893, when affected to the extent that the person's normal faculties are impaired; (b) the person has a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or (c) the person has a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

Potential Jail Time

Driving Under the Influence is a hybrid misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 6 months in the county jail.
If your BAC was 0.15 or higher, or if a minor was in the vehicle, Driving Under the Influence is punishable by up to 9 months in the county jail.
If your Driving Under the Influence causes or contributes to causing property damage, the offense is a 1st degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in the county jail.

Potential Fine

A conviction for Driving Under the Influence can result in a fine of up to $1,000.
If your BAC was 0.15 or higher, or if a minor was in the vehicle, a conviction can result in a fine of up to $2,000.

Driver's License Suspension

A conviction for Driving Under the Influence will result in your driver's license being suspended. The length of the suspension will be a minimum of 6 months, but no more than 1 year.

J. Ruffin Hunt
Managing Member, Hunt Law, PLLC.

Attorney J. Ruffin Hunt is a Tampa criminal defense attorney and founder of Hunt Law, a firm focused exclusively on criminal and DUI defense throughout the Tampa Bay area. Born and raised in Tampa, Mr. Hunt earned his degree from the University of Florida before attending Stetson University College of Law. He began his legal career at the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, where he gained extensive courtroom and trial experience handling misdemeanor, felony, and DUI cases. Over the course of his career, he rose to leadership positions within the office, serving as a Division Chief in multiple divisions.

Mr. Hunt has dedicated his entire legal career to criminal defense and understands the serious consequences that criminal charges can carry. He represents clients facing a wide range of charges, including DUI, drug offenses, sex crimes, domestic violence allegations, theft crimes, violent offenses, probation violations, and other serious criminal matters. As a former board member of the Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Mr. Hunt remains committed to protecting the constitutional rights of individuals accused of crimes and providing aggressive, strategic representation for clients throughout Tampa Bay.