If you punch “DUI Lawyers Fort Myers” into Google, chances are you’re spinning with questions. Here’s a little-known fact: Florida doesn’t actually use the term DWI. Instead, DUI—Driving Under the Influence—covers what other states might split into both DUI and DWI. That alone creates confusion, so let’s clear the fog.

Picture this: you leave a Fort Myers seafood joint a bit too happy after happy hour. Suddenly, lights flash in your rearview. In Texas or New York, you might hear about a DWI—Driving While Intoxicated. In Florida, though, the language revolves around DUI, no matter if it’s alcohol, prescription meds, or even a little sleepy-driving from a late game.

Folks get mixed up. Is DUI less serious than DWI? In Florida, not so. The law looks at whether your faculties are impaired, not just your blood alcohol content. It could be 0.08% BAC, sure, but impairment—like failing a field sobriety test—puts you in hot water too. Local DUI attorneys see it all: from jet ski mishaps to golf cart adventures gone wrong. You’d be surprised what counts as “driving” under Florida law.

Now, if you’re caught, penalties hit hard. We’re talking license suspension, fines, possible jail, community service, and hide-your-head-in-shame court appearances. The state treats DUIs with serious weight. A solid DUI lawyer in Fort Myers? They make sense of what feels like legal spaghetti: Was your stop lawful? Did the officer follow the script? Did that breathalyzer cough up nonsense? These are the details where fortunes change.

But do you need a legal eagle, or can you just “figure it out”? Consider this: Florida’s DUI laws are as stubborn as gators in the backyard. There’s paperwork, deadlines, and oddball legal phrases that’ll make your head spin. A local pro doesn’t just recite statute numbers—they know the judges, the prosecutors, and how to steer your case to a softer landing.