Our Panama City Firm Has Much to Offer. Learn Why People Choose Shepard Law.
First Time DUI Charges in Panama City
Charged with a 1st Time DUI? Take action to fight back.
A first time DUI is an extremely frightening experience. This is often the first interaction that the accused person has ever had with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Whether your charges took place at a sobriety checkpoint or you were pulled over due to some alleged unsafe driving behavior or another minor infraction, the situation is extremely dangerous legally.
There are many people who don't realize that there could be real options to resolve the case favorably, whether in a full dismissal, reduced charge or an acquittal. The first action to take after an arrest is to contact Shepard Law in Panama City. The firm has a reputation for excellent defense work and should review your situation on an immediate basis.
Defending First Time DUI Charges
The first thing you are going to want to do to protect yourself from DUI charges is teaming up with a trustworthy Panama City DUI lawyer from our firm. With our legal insight into your DUI charges, we can get a clear picture of what led to your arrest and begin identifying any errors that could have been made in police procedure. It is not uncommon for a significant error to have taken place, whether in a rights violation in the initial police stop, conflicting reports from officers or eyewitnesses, or a failure to correctly administer field sobriety tests. Any problem with police procedure could end up rendering consequently collect evidence as inadmissible.
We will also want to consider reasons why you may have failed a field sobriety test that do not involve intoxication. There are many reasons a person could fail the tests, including nervousness, physical problems, an inability to understand the language of the officer correctly, medical issues, or simply fear of the situation. How the tests are administered and the circumstances surrounding your arrest can be of critical importance to your case. Allow our Panama City first time DUI lawyer to review all of the evidence to look for the weak points that could be exploited in a defense case.
Understanding DUI Penalties in Panama City
There are extensive DUI penalties that can be imposed by the court in a first time DUI conviction. The dangers of suffering significant financial losses, lose the ability to drive a vehicle legally, as well as having permanent damage to your criminal record are very real.
The law allows for certain penalties to be imposed in a 1st time DUI. These include:
- Fines – up to $500
- Community Service – 50 hours
- Probation – up to 1 year
- Jail time – up to 6 months
- Jail time if minor in vehicle – up to 9 months
- License revocation – minimum 180 days
- DUI school – 12 hours
What Sets Shepard Law Apart?
Your case is our priority. We aim for the best outcome.
We understand the complexities of the legal system and the impact on your life. Our focus is on securing your future.
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Available 24/7
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Former Prosecutors
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Free Initial Consultation
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Over Four Decades of Experience
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Superb Rating on Avvo
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Handled 10,000+ Cases
cLIENT fEEDBACK
Our clients' voices matter. Read about real cases and the positive outcomes achieved with our legal guidance.
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“Rusty is very personable and accommodating. He made himself available on short notice and met with me after hours. He told me not to worry and got everything dismissed in court this morning! Thank you Rusty and Lisa!!!”- Lauren
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“Mr. Shepard and his staff are amazing! They went above and beyond to help me. I would not want anyone else on my team! I am young and despite that, he made sure that the judge saw me as a person and not just a young person. He and his office even spent extra time with me and attended to every single thousand question that I had. They could not get a better rating 10 stars!!”- Jessica
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“Shepard Law is truly one of a kind!!! Their team of attorneys and support staff knows criminal law inside and out. They will take a case to trial with no fear and are a force to be seen in the courtroom!!!! They are compassionate and make their clients feel supported every single step of the way. They are flexible with payment options, which allows everyone to be able to receive TOP QUALITY representation. I would absolutely recommend Shepherd Law to any of my friends or family members without hesitation.”- Vanessa M.
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“Shepard Law is truly one of a kind!!! Their team of attorneys and support staff knows criminal law inside and out. They will take a case to trial with no fear and are a force to be seen in the courtroom!!!! They are compassionate and make their clients feel supported every single step of the way. They are flexible with payment options, which allows everyone to be able to receive TOP QUALITY representation. I would absolutely recommend Shepherd Law to any of my friends or family members without hesitation.”- Vanessa M.
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“My wife and I found out on a Monday that we needed a Defense Attorney on Tuesday for a family situation. I called the office and Megan quickly contacted Rusty and he reassured us that he would be at court on Tuesday and he would take care of everything. Those words were the most comforting we've heard as this came up not long after Hurricane Michael. Rusty and his office has no idea how much he helped us and how much we appreciate their quick response. Thank you will never cover how much you guys mean to us.”- Craig E.