About Andra DelMonico, J.D.
Graduating from Stetson University College of Law with a J.D., Andra brings a straightforward approach to legal writing. With over a decade of freelance writing experience, she has a wealth of experience in writing about a broad range of legal topics. She has ghostwritten for individual attorneys, law firms, and businesses. When not writing, Andra spends her time boating and motorcycle riding with her family in sunny Florida.
Articles written by Andra DelMonico, J.D.
What Are the Penalties for Underage Drinking and Driving?
The legal consequences of underage DUIs include license suspension, fines and fees, jail time, and an insurance premium increase. States have zero-tolerance laws for underage DUIs, and drivers can lose driving privileges and face misdemeanor charges when their blood alcohol concentration is above the BAC limit. Other penalties include juvenile detention, alcohol education classes, ignition interlock device probation periods, community service, and college admission impact. Contact a legal …
How To Defend Against Drunk Driving Charges
It can feel like the end of the world when you get arrested for DUI. But your life is not over. Drunk driving is among the most common criminal charges faced by drivers. There are severe consequences for driving under the influence of alcohol, including fines, community service, jail time, and driver's license suspension. However, you also have a right to a trial. Your DUI lawyer can present legal defenses to mitigate charges or prove you innocent. If you're facing DUI charges, contact a DUI …
Can a DUI Affect My Immigration Status?
A DUI can have immigration consequences for your green card or permanent residency adjustment of status for an aggravated felony, multiple criminal convictions. A simple DUI is generally not grounds for deportation or removal proceedings, but can result in citizenship denial or be grounds for inadmissibility when it is a crime of moral turpitude, based on prosecutorial discretion. For nonimmigrant visas, a DUI may cause visa denial and require voluntary departure or ICE detention. Talk to a …
How Does a DUI Impact Your Employment and Future Career Prospects?
A DUI conviction can impact your employment and future career prospects for certain job types because a license suspension represents transportation challenges. For professional licensure jobs, a criminal record shows up on your background check and requires disciplinary action or disclosure requirements. Commercial drivers with a CDL disqualification can face job termination for violating company vehicle policies. The employment impact can also affect hiring decisions during employment …
Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs): What You Need To Know
You hop in your vehicle, click the seat belt, and turn the key. Not so fast. If you have an Ignition Interlock Device (IID), you have one more step before your vehicle will start. States have taken steps to reduce the amount of drunk driving by imposing more restrictive consequences on drivers with a DUI conviction. An IID is one of those consequences. However, it doesn’t have to be the end of your time driving. Understanding how an IID works and its purpose can help you feel better about …
Can I Get My License Back After a DUI Conviction?
Once you get arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, you face a potentially lengthy list of penalties and consequences. Two of the most impactful are a license revocation or suspension. These remove your ability to drive a motor vehicle for a period of time. Then, you will need to go through the license restoration process to regain your ability to drive. Understanding the timeline of a suspension and the process to restore your license can give you …
How Will a DUI Impact My Commercial Driver’s License?
A DUI conviction impacts your commercial driver's license with an administrative hearing license suspension and a lifetime ban for a second offense over the lookback period. Commercial drivers over the alcohol limit in a personal or commercial motor vehicle get a one-year CDL disqualification. Implied consent laws require blood alcohol concentration testing, with criminal penalties for a chemical test refusal. A CDL DUI can result in employment termination, an ignition interlock device, …
Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity: What It Takes To Prove Legal Insanity
An insanity defense can protect a criminal defendant from being held legally responsible for an offense when a qualifying mental disease or defect prevented the defendant from meeting the applicable standard for criminal responsibility. The rules vary by jurisdiction, and an insanity defense is different from using psychological evidence about a syndrome, such as Battered Person Syndrome, to support another defense such as self-defense or diminished capacity. Having a mental illness does not …
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