If you needed to have a heart operation, who would you rather perform the surgery: a general practitioner, or a cardiac surgeon?
The answer is obvious. Even though both of them went to the same school and received much of the same medical training, there’s a world of difference between the doctor who does “a little bit of everything” and the doctor who focuses on heart patients all day, every day.
The same is true with a DUI. It doesn’t mean that an attorney who handles all types of criminal defense cases can’t help you. But it does mean that an attorney who focuses on DUI’s all day, every day, probably knows more about the intricacies of DUI defense and won’t overlook the technical defenses that can often mean the difference between getting your license back or riding the bus to go to work for an entire year.
THE TRUTH is that DUI defense is too complex to just “dabble” in. At a bare minimum, your attorney should be familiar with the problems in the breath testing equipment, the technical defenses that win DMV hearings, and the issues that can affect the reliability of field sobriety testing.
Your attorney shouldn’t need to re-invent the wheel for your case, and should have pre-prepared motions to suppress for issues like unlawful stops, improper requests for field sobriety exercises, the horizontal gaze nystagmus, “Meador” issues, “Crooks” failure to maintain single lane issues, and other common DUI defenses. Ask the attorney if you can see motions that he or she has argued in cases similar to yours.
Finally, check the bookshelf in your attorney’s office to see what types of DUI related books he or she reads. At a minimum, here are some the important books that a DUI lawyer should have in their office:
- Florida DUI Handbook, by Judge David Demers
- DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Course (Student and teacher manuals), by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration
- Florida DUI Defense, by Flem Whited
- Drunk Driving and Related Vehicular Offenses, by Robert Reiff
- Breath Test Operator Course, by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
- Agency Operator Course, by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
- Drunk Driving Defense, by Lawrence Taylor
Effective DUI defense requires the lawyer to make a large investment of time, energy, and, yes, finances. Does your lawyer’s library demonstrate that they are committed to DUI defense, or are they merely dabbling?
At the Florida DUI Defense Law Firm, the firm’s entire practice is dedicated to defending drivers accused of driving under the influence. In addition to the books listed above, the firm maintains a large collection of continuing legal education materials, audio recordings, videos, live lecture recordings, and other materials dedicated to successfully defending Tampa DUI cases.
To contact a Tampa DUI lawyer who focuses exclusively on DUI defense to help you with your Tampa DUI case, call (855) THE-DUI-GUY (855-843-3844) TODAY.
Here are more questions you MUST ask before choosing your Tampa DUI attorney:
"Are You a Member of the National College for DUI Defense?"
"How many cases have you taken to jury trial?"
"How many years have you been in practice?"
"What percentage of your practice focuses on DUI defense?"
"Who will REALLY be handling my case?"
"What was the last DUI defense seminar you attended?"
"Have you ever been a DUI prosecutor?"
"Do you limit the number of DUI clients you represent?"
"Have you ever been disciplined by the Florida Bar?"
"What are the potential costs (experts, trial, etc) for my DUI ?"
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NEXT STEP: Speak with a DUI Lawyer Today
If you’ve been arrested for DUI, no matter how bad the case looks, don’t ever plead guilty without first talking to a Tampa DUI lawyer. There may even be a way that can get your charges dismissed, but you’ll never know unless you fight your charges by talking to a Tampa DUI lawyer as soon as possible. Many of the issues in DUI cases are very time sensitive. DUI cases are serious, with harsher penalties than many felony cases, and the “hidden cost” of DUI insurance that can easily climb past $25,000! (Good news: You can avoid almost all of that if your DUI lawyer gets the DUI dropped or gets the charge reduced!)

Click above to get your FREE DUI survival guides by Tampa DUI Lawyer Elliott Wilcox
Tampa DUI Attorney Elliott Wilcox has handled thousands of DUI cases. He is a member of the National College for DUI Defense, a founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association, and a life member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Elliott exclusively helps drivers accused of Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
If you want your best chance for avoiding a DUI, you should call an experienced Tampa DUI attorney today. To talk to Elliott about the different options for saving your license and defending your DUI case, call toll-free at (855) THE-DUI-GUY (855-843-3844) or (813) 699-5517 today!