A DUI charge can make it feel like your entire life has been thrown into reverse—your job, your license, and your reputation all hanging in the balance. But this moment doesn’t have to define your future. With the right response, you can take control of what happens next.
Attorney Dave Simmons brings more than 27 years of courtroom experience to your DUI defense. Having served as both a Broward County State Attorney and a Public Defender, he understands how prosecutors build their cases—and how to dismantle them. What follows isn’t just legal theory; it’s a practical roadmap drawn from years inside Broward County courtrooms.
Use the checklist and local insights below to make smart moves in the hours and days after your arrest—because every decision you make from this point forward matters.
Step 1: Protect Yourself in the First 24 Hours
If you want to ensure the best possible outcome, the hours right after a DUI arrest are critical. What you do now affects the progression of your entire case.
- Stay calm and keep quiet. You have the right to remain silent beyond basic identification. Avoid explaining or justifying what happened, since those statements will be in the police report.
- Write everything down. As soon as you can, record what you remember—where you were stopped, what was said, and how tests were conducted.
- Save all documents. Keep citations, tow slips, and receipts from that night. Even a timestamped restaurant bill or Uber receipt could help establish a timeline.
In many Broward County cases, small inconsistencies in the officer’s report—like unclear instructions during field sobriety tests—become the turning point in your defense.
Step 2: Call a Fort Lauderdale DUI Defense Lawyer Immediately
Florida law gives you just 10 days after a DUI arrest to challenge your license suspension. That’s not much time, but it’s enough when you act fast.
As your DUI defense lawyer, Dave will:
- Request a formal review hearing. This critical step helps protect your driver’s license and challenges any immediate suspension.
- Preserve video evidence. Bodycam and dashcam footage can disappear quickly—your attorney will secure it before it’s deleted.
- Examine the legality of the stop. If the officer lacked proper cause to pull you over, your lawyer can file motions to suppress key evidence.
“The sooner your defense starts, the more options you have—and the stronger your position becomes.”
Step 3: Scrutinize the Testing Process
Breath and blood tests are not foolproof. Florida requires strict maintenance, calibration, and certification for these devices—and any break in that chain can undermine the results.
Our office will analyze:
- Calibration logs. If the breathalyzer wasn’t maintained correctly, results may be thrown out.
- Officer qualifications. Only trained, certified officers can legally administer sobriety tests.
- Medical conditions. Acid reflux, diabetes, and certain medications can cause falsely elevated blood-alcohol readings.
These aren’t loopholes; they’re legal standards meant to ensure accuracy and fairness.
Step 4: Build a Tailored Defense Strategy
Working with our office, you’ll explore several possible paths forward:
- Challenging probable cause. If the officer didn’t have a clear, lawful reason to stop you, the entire case may weaken.
- Examining police conduct. Missteps during arrest—such as not reading your rights—can affect the admissibility of evidence.
- Exploring plea or diversion programs. In some Broward County courts, first-time offenders may qualify for programs that prevent a permanent record.
“A great DUI defense is proactive, not reactive—it’s built on insight, timing, and local experience.”
Step 5: Protect Your Future Beyond the Case
Even after your court case ends, there’s more to safeguard.
- Ask about record sealing or expungement. If eligible, this can prevent the charge from showing up in future background checks.
- Handle license reinstatement early. Florida’s administrative process can be confusing; your attorney can ensure paperwork and timing are correct.
- Rebuild with intention. Whether through an ignition interlock program, defensive driving course, or personal reflection, taking visible steps forward shows responsibility—to the court and to yourself.
When the case is over, you want more than a dismissal—you want your life back. At the Law Offices of Dave L. Simmons, P.A., we’re committed to helping you resolve your DUI charge and face the future with confidence.
