Speak With a Kissimmee DUI Lawyer Today
If you have been arrested for DUI in Kissimmee or elsewhere in Osceola County, taking action quickly is important. A DUI arrest can start two separate proceedings: a criminal case in Osceola County court and an administrative action involving your Florida driving privileges.
You generally have only 10 days after the arrest to challenge an administrative driver’s license suspension or consider another available option. Waiting until your first court date could cause you to miss this deadline.
Evidence may also need to be preserved quickly. Body-camera footage, dashboard-camera video, breath-test records, surveillance recordings and witness information can become important when evaluating the case.
Our Kissimmee DUI lawyers represent local residents, tourists, hospitality workers, college students and out-of-state drivers arrested throughout Osceola County.
Call now to speak with a Kissimmee DUI lawyer. Same-day consultations may be available.
Get A Free Case Evaluation
Local DUI Defense Serving Kissimmee and Osceola County
The Ticket Clinic has represented Florida drivers facing DUI, criminal traffic and traffic-related charges since 1987. Our attorneys understand that a DUI case involves more than a court date. It can affect your driver’s license, employment, finances, insurance and future.
Our Kissimmee office provides a local option for clients throughout Osceola County, including:
- Kissimmee
- St. Cloud
- Celebration
- Poinciana
- Buenaventura Lakes
- Campbell
- Intercession City
- Kenansville
- Harmony
- Reunion
- ChampionsGate
- Four Corners
- Narcoossee
The office is located at 513 W. Vine Street and is accessible from U.S. Highway 192, John Young Parkway, U.S. Highway 17-92, Osceola Parkway, Poinciana Boulevard, State Road 417 and Florida’s Turnpike.
Clients should contact our team before visiting to confirm office hours and arrange a consultation.
Lead Kissimmee DUI Defense Attorney Ira Karmelin, Esq.
Ira has been a member of the Florida and District of Columbia Bars for more than 30 years and has been involved in the traffic and DUI field for more than 40 years. He is one of only seven attorneys in Florida to be Board Certified in both Criminal Trial Law and Criminal Appellate Law. Ira began his professional career as a deputy sheriff, specializing in DUI cases. As a deputy, he personally investigated over 1,000 DUI offenses and was involved in over 2,500 DUI cases. Ira has taught the law to police cadets, as well as breath testing and speed measurement (radar & laser) to law enforcement officers. After leaving the Sheriff’s Office for law school at Nova University, he formed his own consulting firm, testifying as an expert witness in the DUI field. Beginning in 1993, he spent 10 years with the State Attorney’s Office prosecuting felony and misdemeanor traffic cases, from misdemeanor DUIs to DUI manslaughter. Additionally, Ira was responsible for training new prosecutors across the State of Florida. Beginning in 2003, he started defending the accused for all types of crimes, from misdemeanor traffic offenses to first degree murders. In 2022, Ira relocated from South Florida to Central Florida and joined The Ticket Clinic the following year. He has been lead counsel in more than 175 criminal jury trials and more than 100 criminal appeals, having argued before three of the six district courts of appeal as well as The Florida Supreme Court. Ira has and currently serves on the Criminal Law Certification Committee and The Florida Bar’s Traffic Court Rules Committee, having chaired both committees at various times.
34 Years Experience
1000s Of Criminal Wins
Why Choose Our Kissimmee DUI Lawyers?
A DUI case can involve constitutional questions, scientific evidence, administrative license proceedings and local court procedures. Our attorneys evaluate each part of the case rather than assuming that an arrest report tells the complete story.
Depending on the evidence, the defense may examine:
- Whether the officer had a lawful reason for the traffic stop
- Whether sufficient probable cause existed for the arrest
- Whether the accused person was driving or in actual physical control of the vehicle
- How field sobriety exercises were explained and administered
- Whether an injury or medical condition affected performance
- Whether body-camera video supports the written police report
- Whether breath-testing procedures were properly followed
- Whether the testing instrument was inspected and maintained
- Whether blood or urine samples were properly collected and preserved
- Whether statements were obtained lawfully
- Whether relevant video or witness evidence is missing
Our Kissimmee DUI defense team offers local representation, decades of statewide experience and flexible payment options in many cases. Every case is different, and no particular result can be guaranteed.
What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Kissimmee?
Following an arrest, a person may be transported to an Osceola County detention facility for booking and processing. The booking process may include fingerprinting, photographs, medical screening, review of the charges and a determination of release or bond eligibility.
The criminal case may then involve:
- Release on bond or recognizance
- First appearance
- Arraignment
- Exchange and review of discovery
- Review of police reports and video
- Breath-, blood- or urine-test analysis
- Pretrial hearings and motions
- Negotiations with prosecutors
- Trial or another resolution
At the same time, an administrative driver’s license case may be moving forward. This proceeding is separate from the criminal DUI charge and has its own deadlines.
A favorable outcome in one proceeding does not automatically determine the outcome of the other. Review every document provided by the officer, jail and court, and do not drive unless you are certain that your license or temporary permit remains valid.
+2000 DUI & Criminal Case Results And Counting
*Prospective clients may not obtain the same or similar results.
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions About DUI Arrests in Kissimmee
The following answers provide general information about DUI arrests in Kissimmee and Osceola County. The procedure and available options may vary based on the charges, evidence, prior history and circumstances of the individual case.
What happens after a DUI arrest in Kissimmee?
After a DUI arrest in Kissimmee or elsewhere in Osceola County, the arrested person may be transported to an Osceola County detention facility for booking and processing. The process may include fingerprinting, photographs, medical screening and review of release or bond eligibility.
The arrest can also begin two separate proceedings. One is a criminal case in Osceola County court. The other is an administrative proceeding involving the person’s Florida driving privileges. These proceedings have different deadlines and can produce separate consequences.
Where are Kissimmee and Osceola County DUI cases handled?
Most misdemeanor DUI cases arising in Kissimmee are handled by the County Criminal Division of Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit. Felony DUI cases are generally handled by the Circuit Criminal Division.
Many proceedings take place at:
Osceola County Courthouse
2 Courthouse Square
Kissimmee, FL 34741
The assigned courtroom depends on the charges and stage of the case. The citation, release paperwork or court notice should identify the case number, court date and location.
How long do I have to challenge a DUI license suspension?
You generally have only 10 days from the date the notice of suspension is issued to request formal or informal review of an administrative driver’s license suspension. Depending on eligibility, another option involving restricted driving privileges may also be available.
The administrative suspension is separate from the criminal DUI case. Waiting for the first Osceola County court date could cause you to miss the license deadline.
Review the notice of suspension and temporary permit carefully. Do not drive unless you are certain that your license or temporary permit remains valid.
What happens if I refuse a breath or urine test in Kissimmee?
Under current Florida law, refusing a lawful breath or urine test can result in both administrative and criminal consequences.
A first refusal generally results in a one-year driver’s license suspension and may be prosecuted as a second-degree misdemeanor. If the person has a qualifying prior refusal, the suspension may last 18 months and the refusal may be prosecuted as a first-degree misdemeanor.
Evidence of the refusal may also be introduced in the DUI case. An attorney can examine whether the requested test was lawful, whether the required warning was given and whether the alleged refusal was clear and legally valid.
Read the current requirements in Florida Statute §316.1932.
Can I fight a Kissimmee DUI if my breath result was over .08?
Yes. A reported breath-alcohol result of .08 or higher does not prevent the case from being challenged.
An attorney may investigate:
- Whether the traffic stop was lawful
- Whether sufficient probable cause existed for the arrest
- Whether the required observation period was completed
- Whether the breath-test operator was properly qualified
- Whether the instrument was inspected and maintained
- Whether the test was administered correctly
- Whether medical or environmental conditions affected the result
- Whether the reported result is consistent with the officer’s observations and video evidence
The significance of any issue depends on the evidence and circumstances of the individual case.
Can a Kissimmee DUI charge be reduced or dismissed?
Depending on the facts and evidence, a DUI charge may be challenged, reduced or dismissed. An arrest does not establish guilt, and the prosecution must prove every required element of the charge.
Potential issues may involve an unlawful traffic stop, insufficient probable cause, improperly administered field sobriety exercises, unreliable chemical testing, missing video, medical conditions or conflicts between an officer’s report and the recorded evidence.
Available defenses and potential outcomes depend on the individual case. No attorney can guarantee that a DUI charge will be reduced or dismissed.
What penalties can follow a first DUI conviction in Kissimmee?
Under Florida law, a first DUI conviction can result in penalties that include:
- A fine of $500 to $1,000
- Up to six months in jail
- Probation
- Driver’s license revocation
- DUI school and a substance-abuse evaluation
- Community service
- Vehicle impoundment or immobilization
- Court costs and other expenses
Enhanced penalties may apply when the alleged alcohol level was .15 or higher, a passenger under 18 was in the vehicle, the incident involved property damage or injury, or the driver has a prior DUI conviction.
The applicable penalties are addressed in Florida Statute §316.193.
What if I was arrested for DUI while visiting Kissimmee?
Tourists and out-of-state drivers arrested near Kissimmee, Celebration, local resorts or Central Florida attractions generally continue to face a criminal case in Osceola County after returning home.
The arrest may also affect driving privileges in the person’s home state. A Kissimmee DUI lawyer can explain which court appearances may be required, whether certain preliminary matters can be handled without the defendant appearing and how the Florida case may affect an out-of-state license.
Leaving Florida does not make the criminal charge or administrative license matter disappear.
Which agencies make DUI arrests in Kissimmee and Osceola County?
DUI investigations in Kissimmee and Osceola County may be conducted by agencies including:
- Kissimmee Police Department
- Osceola County Sheriff’s Office
- St. Cloud Police Department
- Florida Highway Patrol
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Investigations may occur on local roads, tourism corridors and major highways such as U.S. Highway 192, John Young Parkway, Osceola Parkway, Poinciana Boulevard, State Road 417 and Florida’s Turnpike.
Each agency may use different procedures, equipment and evidence-collection practices. The arrest report should be compared with available body-camera footage, testing records and other evidence.
How much does a Kissimmee DUI lawyer cost?
The cost depends on factors such as the complexity of the case, prior DUI history, number of charges, chemical-testing issues and whether the case involves an accident, injury or felony allegation.
The Ticket Clinic offers clear pricing and flexible payment options, including installment plans in many cases. Contact the Kissimmee office for a quote based on the circumstances of the case.
What should I do immediately after a DUI arrest in Kissimmee?
After a DUI arrest:
- Keep every document provided by law enforcement, the jail and the court
- Note the arrest date and the 10-day license deadline
- Avoid discussing the case on social media
- Write down what happened while the details remain fresh
- Preserve receipts, photographs, messages and witness information
- Save ride-share, location and transaction records
- Avoid driving unless you are certain your license or permit is valid
- Speak with a Kissimmee DUI attorney as soon as possible
Early action may help preserve surveillance video, body-camera footage, testing records and other evidence that could become important to the defense.
DUI Cases in Osceola County
Most misdemeanor DUI cases arising in Kissimmee are handled through the County Criminal Division of Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit. Felony DUI cases are handled by the Circuit Criminal Division.
Many proceedings take place at:
Osceola County Courthouse
2 Courthouse Square
Kissimmee, FL 34741
The assigned courtroom depends on the charges and stage of the case. Your citation, release paperwork or court notice should identify the case number and scheduled court date.
DUI investigations in Kissimmee and Osceola County may be conducted by:
- Kissimmee Police Department
- Osceola County Sheriff’s Office
- St. Cloud Police Department
- Florida Highway Patrol
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Enforcement may occur on local roads, tourism corridors and major highways such as U.S. Highway 192, John Young Parkway, Osceola Parkway, Poinciana Boulevard, Interstate 4, State Road 417 and Florida’s Turnpike.
Kissimmee DUI arrests also frequently involve tourists and out-of-state drivers visiting Central Florida’s hotels, resorts and attractions. Returning home does not make the Florida criminal case or administrative license matter disappear. The arrest may also affect driving privileges in the person’s home state.
An attorney can explain which court appearances may be required, whether certain preliminary matters can be handled without the defendant appearing and how the case can be managed after the person leaves Florida.
Important DUI Resources
How To Handle A DUI Arrest In Central FL
Understanding DUI Evidence
Get Help With Your Kissimmee DUI Case Now
A DUI arrest in Kissimmee can move quickly from the roadside investigation to booking, license proceedings and court. Acting early may help preserve evidence and protect the options available to you.
The DUI and Criminal Division of The Ticket Clinic represents clients throughout Kissimmee and Osceola County. Our attorneys examine the traffic stop, field sobriity exercises, chemical testing, video evidence, police reports and local court procedures to develop a defense based on the specific facts.
A DUI arrest is not a conviction. Contact our Kissimmee team as soon as possible to discuss the charges and deadlines that may apply.
Call The Ticket Clinic’s DUI and Criminal Division:
(800) 625-5232