Orlando Attorney Skilled at DUI Defense

Lawyer well-versed in dealing with Florida drunk-driving prosecutions

Being convicted of operating a motor vehicle while impaired or intoxicated (DUI) can have serious consequences, including loss of your driver’s license, higher insurance costs, heavy fines and jail time. If you are arrested for a DUI offense, contact an attorney immediately.  Florida law imposes strict deadlines for filing crucial documents that could affect your driving rights. With 27 years of experience in handling DUI cases, Tad A. Yates has the knowledge necessary to help attain the best possible outcome in your case.

Knowledgeable advocate avails you of full range of available defenses

There are numerous bases for defending against DUI charges. They include challenges to:

  • Legality of the initial traffic stop — If there was no reasonable suspicion to pull you over, any evidence collected afterwards would not be admissible.
  • Demonstration of probable cause — Even if the stop was legal, the police officer may not have had probable cause to place you under arrest.
  • Administration of field sobriety tests — The procedures used to check for outward appearance of intoxication may have been improperly conducted and the results are open to interpretation.
  • Validity of breath, blood or urine tests — Breathalyzer machines may not have been properly maintained, officers may not have been properly trained and tests have been administered incorrectly. There may also be problems with the timing of the tests and the storing and preserving of the results.

Legal challenges such as these may result in a court order excluding evidence from the prosecutor’s case. Mr. Yates fully investigates the circumstances of your arrest and the validity of all the evidence brought against you.

Florida penalties for DUI convictions

DUI in Florida is defined as operating a vehicle while having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or greater. The penalties for a conviction can be severe, especially if aggravating factors are involved. The punishments include fines, jail, probation, community service, vehicle impoundment and license suspension. The basic range of penalties is:

  • First offense — Fines of $500 to $2,000, up to six months in jail and license suspension of 180 days to one year.
  • Second offense — Fines of $1,000 to $4,000, up to nine months in jail and license suspension of one to five years
  • Third and subsequent offenses — Fines of $2,000 to $5,000, up to five years in jail and license suspension of two to 10 years

Second and subsequent convictions also require installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) on your vehicle and court-ordered alcohol treatment and attendance of DUI school.

Aggravating factors increase punishment for DU

The following circumstances are viewed by the law, the court and prosecutors as aggravating factors that call for increased penalties:

  • Previous convictions for DUI
  • BAC of 0.15 percent or higher
  • A minor in the vehicle
  • DUI involving an accident with property damage
  • DUI involving an accident with serious bodily injuries
  • DUI manslaughter
  • Leaving the scene of an accident

Your right to a hearing on automatic license suspension

As a condition of holding a Florida driver’s license, you are required to submit to a breath test at the request of law enforcement, if that officer has probable cause that you are DUI. If you refuse, your driver’s license will be automatically suspended for one year (18 months for a second refusal), regardless of the outcome of your DUI case. Likewise, if you submit to a breath test and the result is higher than a 0.08 reading, your driving privileges will be automatically suspended for 180 days. These suspensions may be challenged but you must act within 10 days of your arrest. Mr. Yates immediately takes the steps necessary to challenge these suspensions by filing a request for a hearing before the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. You should contact Mr. Yates immediately after your arrest for help in restoring your driving privileges.

Contact an aggressive Orlando DUI attorney for a consultation.

If you have been charged with a DUI offense in Central Florida, call The Law Offices of Tad A. Yates, P.A. at 407-608-7777 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.

attorney

Mr. Yates is a past-President of the Orange County Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association. He previously served as Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the 9th Judicial Circuit. 

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Testimonials

  • When I met Tad Yates, I was frantic, scared and misinformed about the legalities of my case. He quickly reassured me that everything was going to be alright and started at once preparing my defense. Every time I needed to speak with him, he was there to give advice and inform me the status of my case. As a result of his hard work, he managed to get my case dismissed and this blemish off my record. If you’re thinking of hiring or consulting with Mr. Yates, your in great hands.

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  • Tad is an excellent attorney. Due to a momentary lapse in judgement, I was put in a bad position and could not be more grateful that I hired Tad. From the moment I met Tad, I knew that I was in great hands! Tad explained to me all possible outcomes of the case and really helped put my mind at ease. In the end, I wound up with a very positive outcome and I owe it all to him. Tad was always available when I needed to speak with him and I couldn’t be happier that I hired him. Without the help and guidance of Tad, I’m not sure where I would be today. Tad is not only an amazing attorney, but an all-around great person!

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  • I do not have enough words to describe how amazing the experience with this attorney was. He works very hard to obtain the best results for his clients. I could not have asked for better services. I had exceptional fast results, I highly recommend this attorney. Thank you again, Tad Yates.

  • After consulting with several different highly recommended lawyers, I decided to hire Tad. It was a decision that would truly effect my life in a very profound way. Tad never promised results, he did however layout his experience and give me his word he would put all his effort into my case. I felt that was the honesty I deserved. He was sincere, honest, and reliable. Every time we attended court he seemed to hold a very good relationship with all the court's people. My case with Tad lasted about 9 months. There were many times I wanted to break down, not knowing what the results would ultimately be; however Tad always personalized my case and would constantly provide me with assurance of his efforts. He was always extremely accessible. This gave me a lot of peace. The results of my case ended up being extremely satisfying. I was looking at losing everything, for good. I now have my peace, my freedom, and I am currently very successful. Even after my case, Tad kept tabs with me and ensured I was doing as I should. There is a handful of people God put in my life of whom helped me get to the next level, there is no denying Tad is one of them.

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  • Tad came highly recommended. Set up a consultation and after meeting him, hired him immediately. Tad is extremely knowledgeable, efficient and truly cares. He was always available to speak and support during a very difficult situation. Although he has many clients, he always made us feel important and took the time necessary to ensure our questions were answered and that we were comfortable with strategy and next steps. He ultimately achieved the desired result and we are forever grateful.

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  • When I met Tad Yates, I was frantic, scared and misinformed about the legalities of my case. He quickly reassured me that everything was going to be alright and started at once preparing my defense. Every time I needed to speak with him, he was there to give advice and inform me the status of my case. As a result of his hard work, he managed to get my case dismissed and this blemish off my record. If you’re thinking of hiring or consulting with Mr. Yates, your in great hands.- A.

    I was referred to Tad by a friend of the family. They told me what he did for them and assured me that he would do the same for me. He exceeded my expectations from start to finish. He used his knowledge of the law, professionalism and relationship skills to have my case completely dropped. No plea deals what so ever. He never once doubted me however he did explain exactly what we had to overcome. If you find yourself in a situation that could impact you for the rest of your life, whether you did anything wrong or not I would encourage you to give him a call.

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Ratings & Reviews

  • google
    5.0/5.0

    Strongly recommend Tad Yates as an attorney as well as his office staff, Kathy. They are absolutely on top of their game. Very attentive, astute and courteous. The kindness and understanding shown by their office is incomparable. They have ...
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    — Louis .Tsantes

  • lawyers
    5.0/5.0

    Time spent in any legal process can be stressful. Tad is a great communicator and put me at ease with the process. His knowledge and plan of action where exactly what I needed. I would definitely recommend giving his office a call if you ar...
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    — Client

  • google
    5.0/5.0

    I was highly recommended by a former Circuit Judge in Orlando to contact Mr Yates. He immediately took my call and put me at ease immediately. After his investigation into the matter he agreed to take my case. I never met him in person and ...
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    — Farrell Gordon

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    5.0/5.0

    If you're reading this and you have a case pending, you need to stop immediately and call Tad's office. Take it from someone who has been there, Tad is a consummate professional and highly skilled tactician who will get you the best possibl...
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    — Brenden McDaniels

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    5.0/5.0

    Tad is fantastic. Not only did he get my case dismissed in a timely manner, but he also made himself available over the holidays to provide advice and refer me to another law firm. He truly cares about his clients. I would highly recommend ...
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    — Leah