An arrest for driving under the influence can turn your life upside down in a single night. Your driver’s license, your job, your reputation, and even your freedom are suddenly on the line—and the clock starts ticking immediately. At Bozanic Law, we know that good people make mistakes, and that an arrest is not a conviction. Led by attorney Zeljka Bozanic, a former prosecutor and Board Certified criminal trial lawyer, our team defends clients against DUI charges in Ft. Lauderdale, Broward County and Miami, Miami-Dade County.

Whether this is your first arrest or you are facing enhanced charges, you deserve a defense built on strategy, not judgment. We examine every detail of your stop, your arrest, and the evidence against you—because in DUI cases, the details are where cases are won.

Understanding Florida DUI Law

Under Florida Statute 316.193, you commit a DUI if you drive—or are in actual physical control of—a vehicle while your normal faculties are impaired by alcohol or drugs, or while your blood or breath alcohol level is .08 or higher. “Actual physical control” matters: you can be charged even if the car never moved, simply for being behind the wheel with the ability to drive.

Penalties for a DUI Conviction in Florida

Even a first conviction carries serious consequences:

• First offense: fines of $500 to $1,000, up to six months in jail, license revocation of at least 180 days, DUI school, 50 hours of community service, and a 10-day vehicle impound
• BAC of .15 or higher, or a minor in the vehicle: fines increase to $1,000 to $2,000, up to nine months in jail, and a mandatory ignition interlock device
• Second offense within five years: mandatory 10 days in jail, five-year license revocation, and at least one year with an ignition interlock
• Third offense within ten years: a third-degree felony with a mandatory 30 days in jail and ten-year revocation
• DUI involving serious bodily injury: a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison
• DUI manslaughter: a second-degree felony carrying a four-year mandatory minimum prison sentence

A conviction also means dramatically higher insurance rates and a permanent criminal record—a DUI conviction in Florida can never be sealed or expunged.

The 10-Day Rule: Act Fast to Save Your License

Most people don’t realize that the fight for your driver’s license begins immediately. When you are arrested for DUI, your license is administratively suspended on the spot. You have only 10 days from the date of your arrest to request a formal review hearing with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles—or to secure a hardship permit so you can keep driving to work. Miss the deadline, and you lose the chance to challenge the suspension—so it is important to act quickly.

How We Defend DUI Cases

DUI cases are far more defensible than most people believe. As a former prosecutor, Zeljka Bozanic knows exactly how the State builds these cases—and where they fall apart. Our defense may focus on:

• The traffic stop itself: if the officer lacked reasonable suspicion to stop you, the evidence that followed may be suppressed
• Field sobriety exercises: these are subjective tests, often administered on uneven pavement, at night, to nervous or fatigued drivers
• Breath test reliability: breath testing machines must be properly calibrated, maintained, and operated—and the records often show they weren’t
• Rising blood alcohol: your BAC at the time of testing is not necessarily your BAC at the time of driving
• Medical conditions: acid reflux, diabetes, and neurological conditions can mimic impairment or skew breath results
• Refusal cases: without a breath number, the State’s case often rests on subjective observations we can challenge

Why Choose Bozanic Law for Your DUI Defense

Zeljka Bozanic is a Board Certified criminal trial lawyer—a distinction held by a small fraction of Florida attorneys—and a former prosecutor who has handled these cases from both sides of the courtroom. We treat every client with respect, keep you informed at every stage, and fight for the best possible outcome, whether that means a reduction to reckless driving, a dismissal, or a not-guilty verdict at trial.

A DUI arrest does not have to define your future. No panic—call Bozanic. Contact us today for a free consultation. We are available 24/7, because arrests don’t happen on a schedule.