Panama City DUI Attorney

Former Prosecutor. 6,000 Cases. Fighting for Bay County Residents & Visitors.

A DUI arrest doesn’t just threaten your driver’s license. It can cost you your job, your professional license, and your reputation. At Shepard Law, Rusty Shepard brings something most DUI attorneys can’t: years as a former Assistant State Attorney, which means he knows exactly how prosecutors build these cases and where those cases can fall apart.

Whether you live in Bay County or were arrested while visiting Panama City’s beaches, the clock starts moving the moment you’re in handcuffs. We’ve handled more than 6,000 criminal cases and offer free consultations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The sooner we get involved, the more options we may have to protect your case.

Entrust your case to a former prosecutor with a 6,000-case track record. We are available 24/7! Get started with a FREE consultation by calling (850) 290-2505 today.

What Florida Law Actually Says About DUI

Florida Statute 316.193 defines DUI as operating or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while impaired or while having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. The phrase “actual physical control” has real consequences: you can be charged even if the car was parked and you were sitting in the driver’s seat. For drivers under 21, the legal limit drops to 0.02%.

Bay County DUI cases are heard in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, with proceedings at the Bay County Courthouse in Panama City. Bay County recorded approximately 8,024 arrests per 100,000 residents in 2020, ranking highest among Florida counties with populations over 100,000, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement data. That volume means local prosecutors and judges see these cases constantly. Knowing how this circuit handles DUI charges isn’t optional. It’s the baseline.

The 10-Day Deadline You Can’t Miss

Most people focus entirely on the criminal case after a DUI arrest, but a second process runs simultaneously: the administrative suspension of your driver’s license through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). After a DUI arrest, you typically have only 10 days to request a formal review hearing to challenge that suspension. Miss that window and you generally forfeit your right to contest it entirely.

The DHSMV hearing and the criminal proceeding are separate. Winning one doesn’t automatically affect the other. We can manage the formal review hearing request on your behalf while building your criminal defense at the same time. This is exactly why contacting a drunk driving attorney immediately after arrest matters so much. We’re available around the clock precisely for situations like this.

Field Sobriety Tests & Where They Break Down

If you were pulled over on suspicion of DUI, the officer likely administered one or more of the three NHTSA-standardized field sobriety tests. Understanding what each test actually requires is the first step toward identifying where the officer may have deviated from protocol.

The three standardized tests are:

• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN): The officer moves a stimulus horizontally and observes your eyes for involuntary jerking movements that can indicate impairment. Lighting conditions, medical conditions, and improper stimulus speed can all affect results.
• Walk-and-Turn: Nine heel-to-toe steps in a straight line, a specific turn, and nine steps back. Officers note balance, timing, and whether instructions were followed. Uneven pavement, footwear, or a failure to demonstrate the test properly can all undermine the result.
• One-Leg Stand: Stand on one foot for approximately 30 seconds while the officer looks for swaying, hopping, or arm use. Age, weight, and pre-existing physical conditions can affect performance independent of alcohol.

Each of these tests has strict administration criteria, and any deviation from those standards can be challenged. Errors in how an officer explains, demonstrates, or scores a test can create real openings in the state’s case.

DUI Penalties in Florida by Offense Level

The consequences of a DUI conviction in Florida scale sharply with BAC level and prior offenses. Penalties for a DUI in Panama City can include the following:

• First DUI (BAC 0.08% or higher): Fines of $500 to $1,000, up to 6 months in jail, up to 1 year of probation, 50 hours of community service, license suspension of 180 days to 1 year, and 10-day vehicle impoundment.
• First DUI with BAC 0.15% or higher: Fines up to $2,000, up to 9 months in jail, and mandatory ignition interlock device installation for at least 6 months.
• Third DUI within 10 years: Charged as a third-degree felony, fines of $2,000 to $5,000, and up to 5 years in prison.
• Fourth or subsequent DUI: Third-degree felony with mandatory permanent license revocation (a hardship license may be available after 5 years).
• DUI manslaughter: DUI manslaughter: Second-degree felony, fines up to $10,000, and up to 15 years in prison.

Consequences Beyond the Courtroom

A DUI conviction can affect professional licenses, employment background checks, and your ability to find affordable car insurance. Florida also requires DUI-convicted drivers to obtain an FR-44 certificate of financial responsibility, which mandates higher minimum liability coverage than a standard policy and remains in place for three years after conviction. Defendants in Bay County must also complete the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit DUI Program: Level 1 for first-time offenders (12 hours of class plus evaluation) or Level 2 for repeat offenders (21 hours plus evaluation).

Defense Strategies for DUI Charges in Panama City

Rusty Shepard approaches every DUI case with the goal of having the charge dismissed, reduced to a lesser offense such as reckless driving, or resolved with a not-guilty verdict at jury trial. His years as a former Assistant State Attorney give him a direct view into how the state builds and presents these cases, which shapes how we defend them.

With more than 6,000 criminal cases handled, including cases involving breath test challenges, traffic stop legality, and field sobriety test defenses, our approach to a drunk driving charge involves:

• Challenging the traffic stop: If the officer lacked probable cause to pull you over, evidence gathered after that stop may be inadmissible. This is typically the first issue we examine.
• Intoxilyzer 8000 calibration: The breath test machine used in Florida has specific maintenance and calibration requirements. A machine that was out of calibration or improperly maintained at the time of your test produces unreliable results that can be challenged.
• Field sobriety test administration: Officer errors in explaining or administering the standardized tests can undermine the state’s evidence of impairment.
• Dashcam and bodycam review: Video evidence often tells a different story than an officer’s report. Inconsistencies between footage and written documentation can support a motion to suppress evidence.
• Reckless driving reduction: Where the evidence doesn’t support a DUI conviction, the state may agree to reduce the charge to reckless driving, which carries less severe penalties and consequences.

Every arrest has its own facts, and those facts determine the strongest available defense. We examine every detail before any decision is made. Learn more about our approach to challenging DUI evidence.

DUI Charge Types We Handle

Whether you’re a Bay County resident or were arrested while visiting the area, our 24/7 availability means you can reach us the moment you need help. Early involvement can protect your options and give us the best chance to build a defense before evidence disappears.

We handle various types of DUI charges, including:

• First Offenses
• Multiple Offenses
• Underage DUI
• Aggravated DUI
• Drug DUI