Getting slapped with a DUI charge can feel like your life’s been picked up and thrown into a blender. Your license is on the line. Your freedom too. Maybe even your job, depending on how things shake out. One mistake or one misstep, and you could be facing fines, jail time, or mandatory classes that eat your weekends alive. Choosing the right lawyer isn’t some box to check — it’s the entire game. And not all lawyers are built for this.
There’s a reason The Ticket Clinic handles thousands of DUI cases each year across Florida. We’re not dabbling. We’re not generalists. We’ve got a whole legal machine laser-focused on traffic offenses. If you’re sizing up attorneys right now, these are the six questions you must ask — and why our answers should make your decision a whole lot easier.
1. Have you successfully handled DUI cases in the past? How many? How recently?
It’s not enough that a lawyer once handled a DUI back in 2009. You need someone who’s in the trenches weekly, navigating DUI law, breathalyzer quirks, probable cause rabbit holes, field sobriety tests gone wrong. At The Ticket Clinic, that’s literally all we do. You can comb through our site and find over 2,000 successful DUI case results here. — Real cases. Real people. Real wins.
There’s no substitute for experience. No shortcut for knowing which arguments stick with judges and which ones crash and burn. A lawyer who only touches DUI cases now and then can’t keep up with the intricacies. We live and breathe this stuff.
2. Have you handled cases in the same courthouse where mine will be assigned?
This one matters way more than most folks realize. Every courthouse has its own rhythm. Certain judges lean stricter; others are more lenient on first-time offenses. Prosecutors might be gung-ho or more open to negotiation. A lawyer who regularly shows up in your assigned courthouse knows all of that. They’ve built a rapport. They can read the room better. That familiarity can translate into better plea deals or quicker dismissals.
The Ticket Clinic’s DUI & Criminal Division has 27 offices across Florida. We’ve got local attorneys working your local courthouse every single week. We’re not strangers in the hallway; we’re recognized by name. When one of our lawyers walks into court, the prosecutors and judges know they’re facing someone who knows the ropes and won’t get pushed around.
3. Will you handle both the criminal case and the administrative license part with the DMV?
Huge. So many people don’t realize that a DUI charge splits your world into two battles — one in criminal court, and one with the Department of Motor Vehicles. The criminal side deals with fines, probation, possible jail time. But the DMV side? That’s your license. And it can get suspended fast.
A lot of DUI attorneys only handle the courtroom piece. Then you’re left floundering, trying to navigate DMV process on your own. That’s insane. Did we mention there’s a 10 day clock that’s ticking? At The Ticket Clinic, we’ve got you covered on both fronts. We’ll fight to protect your license while working the case. No passing the buck, no abandoned clients.
4. How much do you charge? Any extra fees I should know about?
Ah yes — the money talk. Here’s where it gets messy with some firms. You get lured in with what sounds like a cheap quote, then halfway through your case you’re drowning in hidden fees. Trial prep fee. Discovery fee. Court appearance surcharge. The list goes on.
We don’t do that. At The Ticket Clinic, our fee is flat. What you pay is what it takes to get the job done, even if we go all the way to trial. Only possible extras are court costs — which aren’t ours, they’re from the system. We’re upfront because we don’t like surprises either. And because we do more DUI defense than any other firm in Florida, we can deliver quality representation for less than most boutique firms with fewer resources.
5. Do you offer payment plans?
For most folks, dropping several grand upfront just isn’t an option. Other firms will nod sympathetically — and then still demand thousands in retainer before they touch your file. That’s just not how we operate.
The Ticket Clinic lets you get started for as little as $500. That’s right — $500 to get rolling with a full team backing you. Then we give you up to four months to cover the rest. That’s breathing room most other firms won’t give you. Why? You shouldn’t go unrepresented just because your bank account’s running low.
6. Can you get my charges dismissed or reduced?
Be careful here. If a lawyer instantly promises to “definitely” get your charges dropped just from hearing your story over the phone — run. That’s a red flag waving in your face.
Every DUI case is different. Different facts. Different arresting officers. Different judges. A good lawyer won’t make promises they can’t keep. They’ll review the evidence. Look at dash cam footage. Check if the stop was legal, if the field sobriety test was administered properly, if the breath test machine was even calibrated.
That’s how we approach it at The Ticket Clinic. We’re brutally honest, because that’s what you deserve. We’ll tell you where you stand, what options are real, and what kind of outcome you could realistically hope for. No fairy tales. Just firepower and facts.
The bottom line? Don’t pick a lawyer just because their office is nearby or they came up first in a Google ad. Ask these questions. Make them answer clearly. And then see how our answers at The Ticket Clinic compare. We’ve been doing this for decades. We’ve won thousands of cases. And we’re ready to fight hard for you.
The clock starts ticking fast after a DUI arrest. Evidence disappears, deadlines loom. The sooner you have real representation, the better your shot at walking away with your freedom, your license, and your sanity intact. Let’s make that happen.
