Bradenton Felony DUI Lawyer

DUI crimes in the State of Florida are a very serious offense, and they have the potential to lead to felony charges, depending on the severity of the incident. The State of Florida does not tolerate driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and there are harsh punishments set in place for DUI offenders.

An extreme DUI offense can result in a third-degree felony charge, which carries a fine as high as $2,000 or even $5,000. The risk for a DUI offense is usually when your blood alcohol content (BAC) level reaches 0.08% or more. Furthermore, if you are found guilty of multiple DUI offenses within a certain period, then you will receive even harsher punishments. In this case, you will need to hire skilled representation if you wish to protect your legal rights in Bradenton.

The Law Place has over seventy-five years of collective experience helping clients in Bradenton and across the State of Florida beat their driving under the influence charges. Our law firm understands the complexities that come with tackling DUI crimes, and we have the necessary knowledge to handle your case with efficiency.

A felony DUI charge means serious business, and you will need the most qualified legal representation to handle your case. However, the good news is that we have a team of skilled Bradenton criminal defense lawyers who are willing to take on your case and fight for your future together.

If you call today to set up a free consultation, then a DUI attorney will discuss your case, answer all of your questions, and explain the process to you. We will work hard as a team to reduce your charges and decrease the severity of the consequences for your felony DUI charge in Bradenton.

Do not hesitate to call The Law Place today. Our phone lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. A DUI attorney will be waiting to hear from you.

Contact us now at (941) 444-4444 for a free consultation, and we will fight your felony DUI charges together in Bradenton.

Bradenton Misdemeanor DUI Lawyer – Florida DUI Law Updates 2025
Last updated October 2025

Florida’s HB 687 (“Trenton’s Law”), effective October 1, 2025, has made substantial changes to how misdemeanor DUI cases are handled in Bradenton and across Manatee County. While first and second DUIs remain misdemeanors in most cases, the new law adds a first-test-refusal criminal charge, increases penalties for repeat offenses, and tightens sentencing guidelines. These changes are being actively applied in cases filed at the Manatee County Judicial Center and enforced by the Bradenton Police Department, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Highway Patrol Troop F.

HB 687 – New First-Test-Refusal Misdemeanor

Under HB 687, refusing a lawful breath or blood test for the first time is now a misdemeanor crime, not just a civil license violation. Drivers who decline testing can face both a criminal charge and a one-year license suspension under Florida’s implied-consent law. Law enforcement agencies in Bradenton now use body cameras and digital implied-consent recordings to verify that drivers were properly advised before refusal. These recordings are being used in both court and DHSMV hearings.

Enhanced Penalties for Repeat Offenses

The law also increases penalties for second-offense DUI convictions, including:

• Higher minimum jail time and fines.

• Longer vehicle impoundment periods (up to 30 days).

• Expanded ignition interlock installation requirements (at least one year in most second DUIs).
  Prosecutors in Manatee County now have greater authority to pursue enhanced penalties when a prior DUI conviction occurred anywhere in Florida within ten years.

Local Enforcement in Bradenton

Bradenton has remained one of the busiest jurisdictions for DUI enforcement in Southwest Florida, particularly along Cortez Road, U.S. 301, and Manatee Avenue, where saturation patrols are routinely deployed during weekends and holidays. Following HB 687, officers are required to provide written and recorded evidence of lawful stop justification, field sobriety procedures, and breath-test calibration. These procedural requirements give defense attorneys additional opportunities to challenge whether every element of the arrest complied with the new statute.

Sentencing Trends in Manatee County

Judges in Bradenton are already applying the 2025 DUI sentencing updates, with an emphasis on mandatory DUI school, treatment programs, and longer probation terms for repeat offenders. For first-time offenders, the new law limits access to diversion programs unless certain eligibility criteria are met.

How The Law Place Can Help

The attorneys at The Law Place have defended hundreds of misdemeanor DUI cases in Manatee County and throughout Florida. The firm’s team includes former prosecutors who understand how HB 687 is being applied locally and how to challenge procedural errors, calibration issues, and implied-consent violations.

If you were arrested for DUI in Bradenton after October 1, 2025, you are subject to the new penalties under HB 687. The Law Place can review your case, identify weaknesses in the State’s evidence, and help protect your license and criminal record.

Definition of Driving Under the Influence Charges in Bradenton, FL.

There are a variety of charges that an individual may face if they are arrested for driving under the influence in Bradenton. Florida Statute 316.193 states than an individual will face DUI charges if the following is true:

• The individual was operating a vehicle or was in physical control of a vehicle in the State of Florida.
• The individual was under the influence of alcohol or any type of chemical substance.
• The individual’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was at 0.08% or more.

 

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Laws and Penalties in Bradenton, FL.

The penalties for a conviction of DUI will vary depending on the seriousness of the crime and whether the individual has prior convictions on their criminal record.

An individual who has received one or two DUI convictions will face the following penalties:

• Fines – An individual who is convicted the first time for DUI will receive a fine between $500 and $1,000. However, a second DUI conviction will mean that they receive a fine between $1,000 and $2,000.
• Jail time – An individual who is convicted the first time for DUI will be sent to jail for up to 6 months. However, a second DUI conviction will result in spending up to 9 months in jail.
• Driver’s license suspension or revocation – An individual who is convicted the first time for DUI could possibly have their driver’s license suspended for up to 180 days, according to Florida Statute 322.28. However, if the individual commits a second DUI within a period of 5 years, then a conviction will result in the revocation of their driver’s license for up to 5 years.
• Ignition interlock device – An individual who is convicted the first time for DUI could possibly result in the installation of an ignition interlock device for up to 6 months at the court’s request – if the individual’s blood alcohol content (BAC) level was at 0.08% or more. However, if the individual’s BAC level was .15% or above, then a first time DUI conviction will mean that the ignition interlock device will be mandatory for a time period of up to 6 months. Furthermore, a second DUI conviction will result in a mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device for up to one year, which the individual will have to pay for when they qualify to receive a restricted or permanent license.

An individual who has received three or subsequent DUI convictions will face the following penalties:

• Fines – An individual who is convicted for a third DUI within a period of 10 years will be charged with a third-degree felony, and they will receive a fine as high as $5,000. However, if a third DUI conviction occurs more than 10 years after the last DUI conviction, then it could potentially result in a fine of between $2,000 and $5,000. A fourth or subsequent DUI conviction will be charged as a third-degree felony, which results in a fine as high as $2,000 or more – regardless of the time that it occurred.
• Jail time – An individual who is convicted for a third DUI within the same time period of 10 years could result in spending up to 5 years in jail. However, a third DUI conviction that occurs more than 10 years after the last DUI conviction could potentially result in spending up to 12 months in jail. A fourth or subsequent DUI conviction could potentially result in spending up to 5 years in jail – regardless of the time that it occurred.
• Driver’s license suspended or revocation – A individual who is convicted for a third DUI within a period of 10 years since the last DUI will result in the revocation of their driver’s license for up to 10 years. A fourth or subsequent DUI conviction will result in the revocation of their driver’s license permanently.
• Ignition interlock device – An individual who is convicted for a third DUI conviction will result in the mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device for up to 2 years, which the individual must pay for when they qualify for a restricted or permanent license.

Enhanced Penalties for DUI Accident Involving Property Damage or Bodily Injury in Bradenton, FL.

An individual who is caught driving under the influence and causes an accident that results in property damage or serious bodily injury will face enhanced penalties, separate from the penalties that they will receive from the standard DUI conviction.

An individual who is convicted of a DUI offense that caused or contributed to the damage of any property or resulted in physical harm to another individual will be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries up to $1,000 in fines and a one-year jail sentence.

An individual who is convicted of a DUI offense that caused or contributed to serious bodily injury of another individual will be charged with a third-degree felony, which carries up to $5,000 in fines and a 5-year jail sentence.

An individual who is convicted of a DUI offense that caused or contributed to the wrongful death of another individual or an unborn child will be charged with DUI manslaughter, which is classed as a second-degree felony. The penalties include spending up to 15 years in jail and receiving up to $10,000 in fines.

If the individual knew or should have been aware that an accident occurred, and they willfully chose to flee the scene, which left the injured individual to subsequently die, then they are guilty of committing DUI manslaughter, which is classed as a first-degree felony. The penalties include spending up to 30 years in jail and receiving up to $10,000 in fines.

Underage DUI Charges and Penalties in Bradenton, FL.

Florida’s Zero Tolerance Law outlines the strict underage driving under the influence laws in the United States. In this case, law enforcement has the authority to initiate a breathalyzer test for minors who are under the suspicion of underage drinking. In addition, law enforcement does not have to have a suspicion that the minor is driving under the influence in order to get them to take a breathalyzer test in the State of Florida.

Law enforcement is given full authority to request any driver who is under the age of 21 to take a breathalyzer test if the officer is convinced that the minor has consumed any amount of alcohol in Bradenton.

DUI Crimes in Florida

Driving under the influence (also referred to as impaired driving) occurs when an individual attempts to operate their vehicle while they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the Florida Department of Transpiration (FDOT). It is worth noting that DUI cases are the cause for up to 25% of motor vehicle accidents in the State of Florida.

A DUI offense can occur when an individual consumes one or more of these substances:

• Illegal substances, such as heroin or cocaine.
• Alcohol.
• Prescription medication, such as benzodiazepines or opioid painkillers.

Understanding the Severity of DUI in Bradenton, FL.

Florida Statute 316.1934 states that it is illegal for an individual to consume alcohol or drugs that results in an impaired judgment or a lack of control over their motor vehicle on the road.

A list of normal faculties that could result in impaired judgment due to usage of alcohol or drugs include:

• Walking and coordination
• Depth perception.
• Quick judgment and logic.
• Speaking and general comprehension.
• Sight.
• Hearing.

Committing a DUI Offense in Bradenton, FL.

An individual who is found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other harmful controlled substances while in physical control of a motor vehicle will be charged with a DUI offense in the State of Florida.

In order to be convicted of a first time DUI:

• The individual consumed alcohol, drugs, or other controlled substances, which impaired their judgment and rationality.
• The individual’s blood alcohol content (BAC) level was at 0.08% or above.

Steps of a Florida DUI Charge

Once you have been arrested and charged with driving under the influence, there are a series of steps that you must follow. Firstly, you might have been pulled over by a law enforcement officer for a variety of reasons. For example, you could have been speeding, running a red light, swerving and weaving in and out of lanes, failing to signal, or other kinds of suspicious behavior. After you were pulled over, the law enforcement officer might request that you take a field sobriety test and a breathalyzer test if they have a valid reason to believe that you were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

However, if you fail to take the field sobriety test or the breathalyzer test, then you might be arrested and taken into custody in Bradenton. At this point, a prosecutor will analyze the facts of your arrest and determine whether criminal charges should be pressed against you. In this case, you will most likely be charged for driving under the influence. At this point, it is imperative for you to contact a criminal defense lawyer who has a complete understanding of DUI laws in the State of Florida.

Meet the Bradenton Felony DUI Lawyer Team

David Haenel is recognized as a leader in DUI defense across Florida. Darren Finebloom is known for negotiating aggressively to limit felony consequences. AnneMarie Rizzo reassures clients by explaining complex DUI laws in simple terms.

Client Reviews

• “David Haenel dismantled the prosecutor’s DUI case against me.” – J.A.

• “AnneMarie Rizzo was patient and supportive.” – R.N.

• “Darren Finebloom fought tirelessly to protect my future.” – M.B.

• “The Law Place believed in me when no one else did.” – S.R.

• “They helped me through the worst time of my life.” – T.K.

Local Resources in Bradenton

• Licensed Bail Bond Agents – Assist with release after DUI arrests.

• Alcoholics Anonymous – Local meetings in Bradenton.

• Centerstone Bradenton – Substance abuse treatment and evaluation.

• Step Up Suncoast – Family assistance services.

FAQs

What makes a DUI a felony in Florida?

Felony DUI charges arise after multiple prior DUIs, or if the DUI involves serious injury or death.

What penalties can I face?

Penalties include years in prison, long license suspensions, heavy fines, and permanent felony records.

Can a lawyer reduce felony DUI charges?

Yes, attorneys may negotiate for lesser charges like reckless driving, depending on the facts.

Why act quickly?

Because administrative penalties begin immediately. Early defense increases the chance of a better outcome.

Contact The Law Place Today

If you are facing Florida criminal charges for driving under the influence, then you might be feeling uncertain about what to do next following your arrest. Luckily for you, The Law Place has managed hundreds of cases exactly like yours with great success.

The Law Place has over seventy-five years of combined experience in fighting DUI charges and achieving reasonable outcomes for each and every case across the State of Florida. Our law firm has a dedicated team of DUI lawyers who understand the intricacies of DUI cases like yours and who have an in-depth knowledge of the legal system in the State of Florida.

If you are looking for the best law firm in town, then you have come to the right place – The Law Place. A DUI defense lawyer will begin by conducting an investigation into your charges, gathering evidence and facts, negotiating with the prosecutor, and working hard to develop an strong defense strategy to take into the courtroom.

Rest assured that a DUI defense lawyer from The Law Place will target the weaknesses in the prosecutor’s arguments and ensure your victory in Bradenton. There is no need to be concerned when you have a criminal defense attorney from The Law Place fighting for your rights. Our top priority is always the client, and anything you share with us will be held in confidence under the attorney-client relationship privilege.

Do not hesitate to reach out and call The Law Place today. Our phone lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. A criminal defense lawyer will be waiting to hear from you.

Contact us now at (941) 444-4444 for a free consultation, and we will fight your felony DUI charges together in Bradenton.