Do I have to go to court for my drunk driving case in Tampa Bay, Florida?

Posted in: DUI  |  Nov 14 at 9:04 am
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Do I have to go to court for my drunk driving case?

A DUI case takes several months to resolve in court. The last thing you need is to have to come and sit in a packed courtroom several times over those months before your case is resolved. If you hire an experienced DUI defense attorney, you will usually not have to appear in court.

The Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure allow the attorney to waive your presence by you signing a written document which we prepare for you. Some counties do not even require the written waiver form and the attorney can just simply waive your presence by showing up to court on your behalf. Essentially, you will really only have to show up for the final hearing or if your case goes to trial.

Part of the reason you hire a DUI attorney is to have some peace of mind and not worry about what may happen in court. This is part of what you are paying for. If you don’t want to have to appear in court on your drunk driving case, you need an experienced DUI attorney to appear on your behalf.

Written by

Ray Lopez has practiced since 1990, with prior experience as a Hillsborough County assistant State attorney and lawyer for the Tampa Police Department. He handles all criminal charges, from traffic violations and misdemeanors to serious felonies and federal drug charges. He practices in all state and federal courts of the Tampa Bay area and throughout Florida, as well as criminal appeals, juvenile court, administrative hearings, and civil forfeiture proceedings.

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