Orlando Public Intoxication Lawyer
Many of us can recall a time where we had too much to drink. Perhaps we even embarrassed ourselves by stumbling home drunk. Unfortunately, if a police officer happens to catch you in the act, you might face an arrest on criminal charges of public intoxication.
Although public intoxication is a misdemeanor offense in Florida, it can still carry significant consequences, including a fine, possible jail time, and even mandatory treatment for alcohol abuse. So it is in your best interest to work with an Orlando public intoxication lawyer who can review the facts of your case and advise you on how best to mount a defense. The Joshi Law Firm, PA, has a proven track record of helping clients throughout Orange County and Central Florida in defending against charges arising from public drunkenness.
When Is Intoxication “Disorderly”?
Florida law actually refers to public intoxication as “disorderly intoxication.” This is an important legal distinction. Being drunk in public is not, in and of itself, a crime. After all, most people who drink do so in a public setting. The statute therefore requires the state to prove the defendant was both intoxicated and “endanger[ed] the safety of another person or property.” Alternatively, a person can be charged if they are drunk and “cause a public disturbance.”
In this context, a person is intoxicated if they have had so much to drink that they no longer have control of their physical or mental faculties. So even having a couple of drinks can be enough to get a person arrested if they act in a manner that endangers someone else or causes some sort of disturbance. Generally speaking, this means that a drunk person must actually threaten someone with harm. For example, if a person has five drinks and then starts a bar fight–a public disturbance–that can be enough to support a disorderly intoxication charge.
The penalty for disorderly intoxication in Florida is up to 90 days in jail and/or a $250 fine. But if a person is convicted 3 times of disorderly intoxication during a 12-month period, the court can require them to spend at least 60 days in a treatment program. On the other hand, a police officer also has the discretion not to arrest someone for disorderly intoxication, and can instead take the person to their home or to a medical treatment facility, as circumstances may warrant.
Contact Our Orlando Public Intoxication Lawyers Today
A drunk and disorderly arrest may not seem like the end of the world. It can still, however, leave you with a misdemeanor criminal record and the prospect of 3 months in jail. It can also affect your rights if you have any prior convictions for alcohol-related offenses such as drunk driving. So you need to be proactive in defending yourself. This includes working with a skilled Orlando public intoxication lawyer. If you have been arrested and charged with disorderly intoxication, call the Joshi Law Firm, PA, today at 844-GO-JOSHI or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.
