DUI

Coral Gables DUI Lawyer

If you have been arrested for DUI in Coral Gables, FL, it is important to act quickly. For one, you only have ten days to request your formal review hearing and try to defend your license. Additionally, a DUI criminal defense takes time to build. Contact Coral Gables DUI defense attorney Jonathan Blecher. He defends clients, whether it is their first DUI or they have multiple past convictions. Call today for immediate, professional representation.

Potential Consequences of a Florida DUI

The state of Florida has particularly harsh penalties when it comes to drunk driving. If you are convicted, penalties can include jail time, license revocation, vehicle impoundment, points on your license, installation of an ignition interlock device, and more.

You can also face consequences before any trial takes place. Refusing a lawful breath, blood, or urine test carries an administrative license suspension of one year, and since October 1, 2025, a first refusal is also a criminal offense in its own right. That is why it is essential to have a criminal defense attorney on your side from the start.

Call to speak to attorney Blecher about your DUI case.

Refusing a Breath Test Is Now a Crime in Florida

Florida law changed on October 1, 2025. Under section 316.1939 of the Florida Statutes, as amended that year, refusing a lawful test of your breath, blood, or urine is a criminal charge, not just a license penalty.

A first refusal is a second degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. That is in addition to the one year administrative suspension of your license.

A second or subsequent refusal is a first degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, along with an 18 month suspension.

There is an important detail in how this charge works. The law requires that you were actually told refusal is a criminal offense. If the officer did not give you that warning properly, that failure goes to an element of the charge itself, and it is one of the first things a defense attorney will examine.

If you have been charged with refusal, call attorney Blecher to discuss what the officer did and did not tell you at the roadside.

Drunk Driving Convictions

There are enhanced penalties for DUI with a BAC result of .15 or higher, a DUI with a minor in the vehicle, and a DUI crash with injuries. The following penalties apply to a DUI where your BAC was above .08 but below .15, and where you did not have any other aggravating factors.

First Conviction: You face up to six months in jail, $500 to $1,000 in fines, 180 days to one year license revocation, 50 hours of community service, a 10 day vehicle impoundment, and up to one year of probation.
Second Conviction: You face up to nine months in jail, $1,000 to $2,000 in fines, 180 days to one year license revocation, and an ignition interlock device installed at your expense for two years. If your second conviction comes within five years of a prior conviction, there are additional penalties, including a mandatory 10 day jail sentence, a five year revocation, and a 30 day vehicle impoundment.
Third Conviction: You face up to one year in county jail and $2,000 to $5,000 in fines. If the third conviction comes within ten years of a prior conviction, it is charged as a third degree felony, and the penalties increase to a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail and up to five years in prison. You will also face a 90 day vehicle impoundment and a ten year license revocation.
A fourth or subsequent DUI is charged as a third degree felony regardless of how long ago the prior convictions occurred.

All convictions also go on your criminal history, which will show up on a background check. This can be a bar to employment, particularly if you need to drive as part of the job requirements.

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Trusted When It Matters Most.

See What Our Clients Say

“Jonathan went way above and beyond”
Jonathan went way above and beyond to assist in a difficult scenario. His proactive approach to the situation including late night and early morning phone calls was outstanding and provided a level of calm during the storm.

- Matt
“Answered phone immediately”
Answered phone immediately. Professional, knowledgeable and polite. Provided great service. Highly recommend.

- Anna
“Proven track record of getting great results”
Mr. Blecher is a wonderful attorney. He is particularly knowledgeable in the DUI laws and has a proven track record of getting great results. I highly recommend his services.

- Jeffery
“If there was a 100 star rating he would be 100/100”
Jonathan was amazing. He answered a late evening call and helped assist me with a very troubling set of circumstaces. He worked on related matters for several hours thereafter. If there was a 100 star rating he would be 100/100. Thanks again Jonathan!

- Tim
“Jonathan provided helpful advice, expertise and assistance when I was dealing with an unfamiliar legal issue for a client.”
I am also an attorney and Jonathan provided helpful advice, expertise and assistance when I was dealing with an unfamiliar legal issue for a client. He is extremely knowledgeable, and I would definitely recommend him.

- Melanie
“He did everything he promised”
He did everything he promised and was able to complete everything within the timeframe promised. I was very satisfied with his work. I would highly recommend him.

- Barbara
“I highly recommend him”
I am super pleased with Mr Blecher’s handling of my DUI case. I highly recommend him. He is professional and did a great job advocating for me.
Update: I just finished my case. Mr Blecher did a great job representing me and advocating for me.

- Jamie
“Mr. Blecher has been an immense help”
From the initial court hearings to many instances of record retrieval and document assistance, Mr. Blecher has been an immense help and was responsible for helping me get through my case as quickly and easily as possible.

- Mark
“Professional & Knowledgeable”
“Jonathan was professional, knowledgeable, and took the time to really listen to my concerns. He made sure I understood every step of the process. His calm and thoughtful approach made a challenging situation much easier to handle.”

- Jennifer S.

What Defenses are Available in DUI Cases?

A professional DUI attorney can review all phases of the DUI investigation to determine whether the police followed proper procedure. While most DUI arrests are for misdemeanor charges, the investigations are incredibly nuanced. One misstep by the police can unravel the entire case.

The Stop

Law enforcement officers must be able to show that they had a valid reason to stop you, such as a traffic violation or a driving pattern consistent with impairment. In the absence of a valid reason, the court may throw out the entire DUI case.

Physical Indicators

It is not enough for law enforcement to claim that they believed you were drunk. They must state why it seemed like you were drunk. For example, they might document that your speech was slurred and that you smelled like an alcoholic beverage. These are two physical indicators typically associated with drunken behavior. However, a diligent defense lawyer will also point out that alcohol is not the only possible explanation.

Field Sobriety Exercises

In Florida, roadside exercises are voluntary. If the police suggest that they are required, your criminal defense lawyer can file a motion to suppress this portion of the investigation.

Implied Consent and Refusal

After arresting you, the police should read you Florida’s implied consent warning. That warning has two parts, and both matter. It tells you that by driving in Florida you have already consented to provide a breath, blood, or urine sample on lawful request, and it must also tell you that refusing is a criminal offense as well as a license penalty.

If the officer misstated either part, for example by telling you that you were legally required to provide a sample, or by failing to warn you that refusal is a crime, that can support a motion to suppress the results or challenge a refusal charge.

These are just a few aspects of the DUI investigation that your attorney will review. There are, of course, other valid criminal defense strategies for DUI cases.

How We Can Help You

As a Coral Gables criminal defense lawyer with over forty years of experience, Jonathan Blecher is extremely familiar with all aspects of DUI arrests. If you have been arrested for DUI, you need a criminal defense attorney who knows how to properly question police officers and can find flaws in their evidence. Jonathan Blecher has an unparalleled success rate when it comes to getting DUI charges reduced or dropped.

Call today to discuss your case with one of the top DUI defense lawyers in Coral Gables.

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