Being charged with driving under the influence (DUI) is an unsettling experience for anyone. When a nurse is accused of a DUI, it can be detrimental to that health care professional’s livelihood. Due to the particular problems that can arise, a nurse will want to fight this DUI and seek out the best possible result.
If you’re a nurse facing a DUI charge in Orlando, it’s vital to quickly contest the administrative suspension of your driver’s license, and to do so within ten days of your arrest. This is the only period you receive to challenge the suspension. For the criminal charge, the goal is to get the charges dismissed or reduced to protect your reputation and license to practice nursing. If the charges can’t be completely dismissed – the next best result is that the charge is lowered to a lesser charge, like reckless driving or careless driving.
If it’s not possible to dismiss a DUI charge, you must report your plea to the Board of Nursing. Section 456.072 dictates that the Board must be notified within the first 30 days after you entered a plea, were found guilty of the crime, or the court withheld judgment.
It’s essential that you have an experienced attorney on your side when facing a DUI charge as a nurse. The attorneys at The Umansky Law Firm understand the regulations set by the Intervention Project for Nurses (IPN) and have a thorough knowledge of the ways to evade costly and arduous requirements that might otherwise occur.
Section 456.072(1)(x) states that a nurse has 30 days to report any plea to a criminal charge to the Board of Nursing. This section establishes the premise for which disciplinary action might be taken against a nursing license:
(1)(x) Declining to report to the Board of Nursing in writing within the first 30 days after the licensee has been convicted or found guilty of or entered a plea of nolo contendere to a crime in any jurisdiction. Regardless of the court’s decision, it must be reported. If there is no Board of Nursing, then it must be reported to the applicable department.
Any convictions, pleas, findings, and adjudications entered before the enactment of this paragraph must be disclosed in writing to the board.
As is the case with anyone else, a nurse charged with a DUI needs a skilled criminal defense attorney to help them fight fight the charge and protect their nursing and driver’s licenses. Additionally, as a nurse, you’ll need an expert attorney experienced in representing professionals in health care who are facing a possible suspension of your nursing license.
At The Umansky Law Firm, we can help you find resources for substance abuse treatment that will enable you to effectively complete DUI school. Doing this often satisfies conditions set by the Board of Nursing or the Intervention Project for Nurses (IPN). Sometimes, completing these treatment options and/or DUI school can help you avoid IPN requirements altogether.
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If you’re a Licensed Practical Nurse or a Registered Nurse facing a DUI charge, contact our team of Orlando DUI defense lawyers as soon as possible. We can assess your case, help you understand the potential penalties, and review the best ways to fight the charges for a lesser charge or an outright dismissal.
The sooner you have an attorney working to protect your rights, the better your case result may be. If you’ve never been arrested or charged for a DUI before, you might be eligible for the DUI diversion program, which could result in the dismissal of your charge. Informing an attorney of your case will help them file the necessary documentation to help you apply for such programs early.
We understand the latest developments in breathalyzers, field sobriety testing, and other new techniques that may affect your case. In most DUI cases, a breath or blood sample, or a refusal to submit to testing, led to an arrest. It is possible that the police did not follow the proper procedures for investigating your DUI case, and our attorneys can figure out ways to challenge their actions. When you contact our firm, we will explain why we advocate for a Formal Review Hearing within the 10-day window after your DUI arrest, no matter the circumstance.
At The Umansky Law Firm, we have more than 100 years of combined legal experience and will do everything necessary to defend your case aggressively. Call us today to schedule your confidential and free case evaluation.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys