Felony DUI Daytona Beach

Felony DUI Attorney in Daytona Beach

Former Prosecutor. 20+ Years of Felony Defense. Fighting for Daytona Beach Clients.

A felony DUI charge is a different situation entirely from a standard misdemeanor DUI. You’re facing potential state prison time, a permanent felony record, and license consequences that can follow you for years. Attorney Matt Thompson is a former prosecutor with over 20 years of criminal defense experience who now defends people charged with serious crimes in Volusia County. He knows how the State Attorney’s Office builds these cases because he’s built them.

At Thompson Law, P.A., criminal defense is all we do. We don’t split our attention between practice areas. If you’ve been arrested for felony drunk driving in Daytona Beach, we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call (386) 280-4977 now for a free, confidential consultation. The hours after a felony DUI arrest matter, and we’re ready to help.

When a DUI Becomes a Felony in Florida

Florida Statute 316.193 sets out the specific circumstances that elevate a DUI to a felony charge. Understanding where your situation falls shapes everything about how the defense is built.

Third-Degree Felony DUI
A third DUI occurring within 10 years of a prior conviction is a third-degree felony, carrying up to 5 years in state prison, a fine up to $5,000, a mandatory minimum 30-day jail term, and a 10-year driver’s license revocation. Any fourth or subsequent DUI is also a third-degree felony, regardless of timing, and results in permanent license revocation.

DUI Causing Serious Bodily Injury
When a DUI causes serious bodily injury to another person, it’s charged as a third-degree felony under the same statute, carrying penalties that align with those for a repeat-offense felony DUI.

DUI Manslaughter
If someone dies as a result of the incident, the charge becomes DUI manslaughter, a second-degree felony carrying up to 15 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. If the driver left the scene, the charge escalates to a first-degree felony with exposure to up to 30 years in prison.

Why Daytona Beach Clients Choose Thompson Law, P.A.

Felony DUI cases in Daytona Beach are prosecuted in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court at the Volusia County Courthouse. Attorney Thompson has spent decades in these courts. Before defending clients, he was on the other side, prosecuting serious felony cases including homicides and sex offenses. That background gives him a direct understanding of how the State structures a felony drunk driving case and where it can be challenged.

Over the course of his career, Attorney Thompson has handled hundreds of DUI cases and has secured felony charge reductions to misdemeanors in specific matters, helping clients avoid prison sentences. Results in past cases don’t guarantee the same outcome in yours, but they reflect a defense approach built on real trial experience. He’s been voted Best Volusia County Criminal Defense Lawyer by readers of the Daytona Beach News-Journal and holds a 10 out of 10 Avvo rating with a Client’s Choice Award.

We maintain offices in both Daytona Beach and DeLand to serve clients throughout Volusia County. One firm, one focus: criminal defense.

Start Your Defense Today

After a felony DUI arrest, the decisions you make early have real consequences for your case. Contact Thompson Law, P.A. for a free consultation. We’re available around the clock by phone at (386) 280-4977 or through our online contact form.

How We Defend Felony DUI Charges in Daytona Beach

A felony drunk driving case involves multiple points of potential challenge. Attorney Thompson examines each stage of the arrest and prosecution to identify where the State’s evidence may be vulnerable.

Traffic Stop & Arrest Review

Every felony DUI defense begins with the stop. If the officer lacked reasonable suspicion to initiate it, evidence gathered afterward may be suppressed. Attorney Thompson routinely files and argues pre-trial motions to suppress when the facts support it, and a successful suppression motion can significantly alter the trajectory of a case.

BAC Test & Field Sobriety Challenges

Breathalyzer and blood test results aren’t unassailable. We scrutinize calibration records, administration procedures, and chain of custody. Field sobriety tests are subject to challenge based on how they were administered, the officer’s training, road conditions, and the defendant’s physical condition at the time. These challenges can affect the weight the State can put on its evidence.

Prior Conviction Analysis

In third-offense cases, prosecutors must establish each prior conviction on the record. If a prior conviction, including out-of-state DUI convictions, can’t be properly documented, the State may lose the basis for charging the offense as a felony. We evaluate prior conviction records carefully in repeat-offense cases.

Charge Reduction to Reckless Driving

In appropriate cases, we have secured reductions to reckless driving, sometimes called a “wet reckless.” This outcome avoids a DUI conviction on the record entirely and can prevent the prior-offense enhancement that could apply to a future arrest. Whether it’s available depends on the specific facts and the strength of the State’s evidence.

The 10-Day DHSMV Hearing Window

After a felony DUI arrest, you have 10 days to request a formal review hearing with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to contest the administrative suspension of your driver’s license. This process runs separately from the criminal case, and missing the deadline results in automatic suspension. We can walk you through this step as part of your initial consultation.

Collateral Consequences of a Felony DUI Conviction

The criminal sentence is only part of what a felony DUI conviction means for your life. Several collateral consequences attach automatically and persist long after a sentence is served.

Permanent record: A felony DUI conviction in Florida can’t be expunged or sealed. It appears on background checks for employment, housing, and professional licensing indefinitely.
Professional licensing: A felony conviction can affect licenses in healthcare, law, education, commercial driving, and other regulated fields.
FR-44 insurance requirement: Florida requires FR-44 certification after a DUI conviction, proof of higher bodily injury liability coverage maintained continuously for three years from reinstatement.
Habitual traffic offender designation: Multiple DUI convictions within a five-year period can result in a habitual traffic offender designation under Florida law, which carries a separate five-year license revocation.
Ignition interlock device: Florida law mandates installation of an ignition interlock device for at least two years following a felony DUI conviction.
Auto insurance costs: Premiums typically increase significantly after a felony DUI conviction, and in some cases insurers cancel policies altogether.

These are the consequences a defense strategy works to address. If you’re facing a felony drunk driving charge in the Daytona Beach area, call (386) 280-4977 or contact Thompson Law, P.A. online to discuss your options. We’re available 24/7, and the consultation is free.

Tell Us About Your Case

Your Initial Consultation is Free

First Name
Last Name
Phone
Email
Are you a new client?
How can we help you?
By submitting, you agree to receive text messages from Thompson Law, P.A. at the number provided, including those related to your inquiry, follow-ups, and review requests, via automated technology. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency may vary. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP for assistance. Acceptable Use Policy

Client-Focused. RESULT-DRIVEN.

Working Closely with You To Build a Strong Case

View Recent Results

All Charges Dismissed Resisting an Officer Without Violence
The Client was attending a wedding and stayed in a hotel after the reception. Someone called the police regarding a noise complaint. When the police arrived, the Client would not allow the police to enter his hotel room. The police forced entry and arrested the Client for Resisting and Officer Without Violence. Attorney Thompson provided case law to the State that shows that the police officer did not have the right to enter the hotel room and arrest the Client.
Charges Reduced, Guidelines Waived, No Probation Failure to Register as a Career Criminal
The Client was arrested out of State for a warrant for failure to register as a career criminal. This violated his probation out of Miami-Dade County, Florida. Attorney Thompson was able to track the Client’s addresses and discovered that his landlord at the time lied to his probation officer about his renting an apartment because the landlord was not zoned to allow tenants. The State agreed to a time-served sentence for the time he spent in custody being transported to Florida.
All Charges Reduced Aggravated Battery
Attorney Thompson conducted depositions on the alleged victim and third-party witness. Attorney Thompson was able to show that the victim was harassing the Defendant and was not being truthful to the police. Attorney Thompson filed Order to Show Cause against the third-party witness for avoiding subpoena for depositions.
All Charges Reduced Aggravated Assault with a Firearm
Client was accused of shooting a shotgun over the head of two minors. Attorney Thompson did a public records request to discover that officers reported to the scene of the crime the night of the incident and spoke to the victims on the evening the alleged crime occurred and believed the victims to be intoxicated and unreliable. Attorney Thompson conducted depositions of the officers and ultimately all charges were reduced to a misdemeanor and no incarceration.
Charges Reduced Domestic Battery
Attorney Thompson provided a letter outlining defenses in case. State reviewed letter and spoke to the witnesses and offered to reduce the charges to a non-violent disorderly conduct with no jail and no probation.
No Criminal Charges Filed Public Assistance Fraud
Attorney Thompson and Client reviewed case and met with Department of Revenue investigators to explain the discrepancy. In doing so, the State determined that they would not seek criminal charges, but offered a repayment plan through non-judicial means.