DUI Probation: Community Service Hours
If you accept a guilty or no contest plea to a charge of DUI or even a reduced charge of reckless driving, you will be required to complete community service hours.
For first-time DUI offenders, the statutory requirement for community service hours is 50. For
enhanced DUI offenders (.15 breath reading or higher), the number is 100.
However, Florida law permits community service hours to be "bought out" at a rate of $10 per hour.
This buyout provision places discretion in the hands of the court, but if work obligations severely impact your ability to successfully perform 50-100 community service hours, it may be in your best interest to simply pay a fine.
Community service hours are time-consuming. Many people find themselves with
probation violations due to failure to complete community service hours.
I practice
DUI defense in Miami-Dade and Broward. I am a
former prosecutor who has handled DUI cases, both as an attorney for the State of Florida, and as an attorney for many accused DUI offenders.
I never urge clients to accept guilty or no contest pleas until a complete investigation of the case has been completed by me. It is only when the evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of the State that I persuade a client to accept a plea.
But a good criminal defense attorney will make sure that any conditions of a plea are beneficial to the client. Especially if probation is ordered by the court.
If you or a loved one is facing DUI charges,
call me to discuss your options.