DUI First Steps

By: John Guidry II

Driving under the influence here in Central Florida, you’ve heard this so it’s probably boring by now “Gee, its such a serious crime” or “Oh my gosh, its so expensive”, blah blah blah. I’m not here to scare you, you can look around and be scared on your own.

After defending DUI’s for over 30 years, my clients feel that their DUI worked out far better than they feared. And, there are a lot of good things that can happen in a DUI case. So, don’t get down in the dumps just yet on this thing. There are lots of ways to fix a DUI.

Let’s start with the best news. Some DUI’s get dismissed. Some get thrown out by the judge. Also, there are diversion or intervention programs where the state will dump it on their own, you just have to jump through some hoops. There are some positive things happening on DUI cases, you just got to get, well, I know this is a little bit self-serving–and you are watching an attorney video after all–but you really do need an attorney to help you through this.

I don’t see these things ever ending well for folks that don’t have an attorney. So make sure you get yourself some good representation on your DUI. You also have to do this quickly, because, if you blew over a .08 and got yourself the 6 months driver’s license suspension or you refused to blow and you’ve got that one year suspension you have only ten days to figure out how you want to attack that suspension. You’ve got to get with an attorney to figure out your scheme on this.

Sometimes, we like to fight the suspension. Sometimes, we recommend that you just go in and get a hardship license for the remaining portion of the suspension. Either way, this is not something you want to figure out on your own. Let us figure this out for you. Let us do the heavy lifting on these DUI’s.

I think the case will work out for you. Sure, you’re going to do some classes. And sure, you’re going to do some treatment. Everybody gets a little alcohol treatment on a DUI. But, in the end, this thing is fixable, it’s winnable, just get yourself a good local attorney and you’ll be just fine. And of course, if you’re being accused of DUI in my backyard, including Orange County, Seminole County, or Osceola County, please give our office a call, I’m sure we can help.

About the Author, John Guidry II

John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.

Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.

Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.

When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.