Some Florida drunk driving defendants may be offered a plea bargain that gives the defendant consideration in exchange for pleading guilty. A Florida attorney experienced in defending DUI / DWI cases can determine whether a skillfully negotiated plea agreement will benefit the defendant.

Prosecutors in DUI / DWI cases sometimes offer to allow the accused motorist to plead guilty to reckless driving unrelated to alcohol, also known as dry-reckless. Pleading guilty to dry reckless is an extraordinarily good outcome in a drunk driving case, and if offered, most experienced defense attorneys would urge their clients to accept this deal.

A plea bargain should be just what the name says – a bargain for both sides. The prosecutor is spared the effort of taking the case to trial. In return, the defendant should receive lessened consequences or a reduced charge.

A dry-reckless conviction is far superior to being convicted of either drunk driving or wet-reckless. Unlike a DUI or wet-reckless charge, dry reckless generally carries only probation and a much smaller fine than in a drunk driving case. There is no mandatory license suspension and no requirement to file a formal proof of insurance, or SR-22, if the driver is successful at a DMV hearing. However, the court may require the driver to attend alcohol education classes.

Like a wet-reckless conviction, a dry-reckless plea does not count as a prior conviction if the driver is again arrested for DUI / DWI.

Prosecutors most often offer a dry-reckless plea bargain when the driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was close to the legal limit of 0.08 percent. As with wet-reckless and some DUI / DWI convictions, dry-reckless is a misdemeanor; however, it carries far fewer penalties than a more serious DUI / DWI conviction.