DUI Defense
Florida DUI cases run on a clock. You have 10 days from your arrest to challenge your license suspension, and that deadline doesn't move. Arrieta Law handles both the criminal charge and the administrative hearing from the start.
Jupiter & Palm Beach County Criminal Defense
Charged with a Crime in Jupiter, FL?
Former Palm Beach County Prosecutor. Now defending the accused.
Request a Free ConsultationCall or text now: (561) 919-2645
About Vanessa Arrieta
You Need Someone Who Knows Both Sides
Before defending clients, Vanessa Arrieta spent years as a Florida prosecutor, making charging decisions, evaluating evidence, and preparing cases for trial. She knows firsthand how the state builds its cases, what tends to hold up, and where the weaknesses are.
That experience shapes every defense. Arrieta Law gets into the evidence early, identifies what gives the state pause, and builds a strategy around the actual facts, whether the goal is a reduced charge, a dismissal, or taking the case to trial.
Why Arrieta Law
What Sets This Defense Apart
Most criminal defense firms in Palm Beach County are high-volume operations. Here's why Arrieta Law works differently.
Prosecution Experience, Defense Strategy
Vanessa spent years making charging decisions as a Florida prosecutor. She knows how cases are built, what evidence tends to hold up, and where the approach tends to fall apart. That inside knowledge becomes your defense strategy.
15th Judicial Circuit. This Is Where She Works
Familiarity with local prosecutors, judges, and how cases actually move through the Palm Beach County court system is something that only comes from consistent presence in those courtrooms. Arrieta Law is here, every day.
You Work Directly with the Attorney
Your calls are answered by Vanessa, not a case manager. When you have a question about your hearing, your conditions of release, or what the state just filed, you get an answer from the person who knows the answer. No message relaying, no waiting for a callback from someone who has to check with someone else.
Trial-Ready on Every Case
Cases prepared for trial resolve differently than cases prepared to plead out. The state negotiates with attorneys who are ready to go to a jury, and they know the difference. Arrieta Law prepares every case as if it is going to trial. Because sometimes it does.
What to Expect
What Happens When You Call
Most people have never called a criminal defense attorney before. Here is exactly what the process looks like.
1
You call, text, or send a message
You reach Vanessa directly. No intake staff, no callback from a paralegal. The conversation is confidential from the first word, and there is no charge for the initial call.
2
Free confidential consultation
You explain the situation. Vanessa asks the questions that matter: what was charged, what happened at arrest, what the timeline looks like. She tells you what you are actually facing, what the realistic options are, and what happens next in the Palm Beach County courts. No pressure, no obligation.
3
Defense strategy begins immediately
If you move forward, Vanessa starts on the case that day. For DUI arrests, that means the 10-day license deadline is addressed before anything else. For domestic violence cases, it means getting ahead of first appearance. For every case, it means reviewing the charging documents and the evidence before the state gets settled into its position.
Criminal Defense Services
Practice Areas
Domestic Violence Defense
A domestic violence arrest triggers immediate consequences: no-contact orders, possible housing displacement, and complications involving children. Arrieta Law moves quickly to address conditions of release and build a defense strategy from day one.
Probation Violations (VOP)
VOP hearings move fast, use a lower standard of proof than a criminal trial, and the judge decides alone — no jury. Your compliance history, personal circumstances, and how you present all matter. The work happens before the hearing.
Theft & Retail Theft
Theft charges range from misdemeanor to felony and can carry lasting collateral consequences. Arrieta Law reviews what the state can actually prove, then builds the defense around the facts that matter most in your situation.
Possession of Controlled Substances
Possession cases often turn on how the evidence was obtained. Arrieta Law scrutinizes every stop and search, challenges what doesn't hold up legally, and files suppression motions where the facts support it.
Drug Trafficking
Trafficking charges in Florida carry mandatory minimum sentences tied to quantity, not intent. Arrieta Law reviews every aspect of the investigation, from how the evidence was gathered to how the weight was calculated, looking for every available angle.
Battery & Aggravated Battery
These cases often come down to two conflicting accounts of the same event. Arrieta Law challenges witness credibility, contests intent, and builds the defense the actual facts support, including self-defense where applicable.
Assault
Assault charges do not require physical contact — only an intentional threat that caused well-founded fear. Arrieta Law analyzes what the state can actually prove on each element and builds the defense from there, including self-defense where the facts support it.
Self-Defense & Stand Your Ground
Florida's Stand Your Ground law is a pretrial immunity, not just a trial defense. When the facts support justified force, a motion to dismiss can end the case before a jury ever hears it. Arrieta Law builds immunity cases from the moment of arrest.
Weapons Charges
Firearm charges in Florida carry mandatory minimums under the 10-20-Life law. Arrieta Law challenges the legality of stops and searches, contests constructive possession, and reviews every element of the state's case on weapons allegations.
Juvenile Defense
Florida's juvenile system prioritizes rehabilitation, but direct file into adult court is real for serious charges. Arrieta Law pursues diversion where available, contests direct file where appropriate, and protects a young person's future at every stage of the process.
Failure to Appear
A missed court date triggers a bench warrant immediately. Arrieta Law moves to recall the warrant, address the underlying case, and appear with you in court — turning a passive situation into one you control, rather than one that controls you.
DUI Defense
DUI in Florida: The Clock Starts at Arrest
A DUI arrest opens two tracks at once: the criminal case and an administrative license suspension. Most people don't know about the second one until it's too late. You have 10 days from your arrest to request a formal review hearing or apply for a hardship license. Miss that window and it closes permanently, regardless of what happens in the criminal case.
Arrieta Law handles both tracks from day one. Every DUI case is prepared for trial, and that posture changes how the state approaches negotiations at every stage.
See Full DUI Defense StrategyWhere We Practice
Jupiter and Palm Beach County. This Is Our Backyard
Arrieta Law focuses its criminal defense practice on Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, and the surrounding Palm Beach County area, with deep familiarity with local court procedure, case flow, and practice in the 15th Judicial Circuit.
Palm Beach
Jupiter
Riviera Beach
Palm Beach Gardens
West Palm Beach
Tequesta
Juno Beach
Lake Park
Lake Worth
Belle Glade
Federal jurisdiction comes up occasionally. When it does, Vanessa handles it the same way she handles everything else. Personally.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I talk to the police after an arrest?
No. You have the right to remain silent. Use it. Politely decline to answer questions and ask to speak with an attorney. Even something that seems harmless can complicate your defense later. The time to talk is after you have counsel.
Can criminal charges be dismissed in Florida?
Yes, depending on the case. Charges can be dismissed or reduced based on weak evidence, an unlawful stop or search, witness reliability issues, or procedural problems. The earlier an attorney gets involved, the more options exist.
What happens at first appearance in Palm Beach County?
First appearance occurs within 24 hours of arrest. A judge reviews probable cause, sets bond, and may impose conditions like no-contact orders. Having legal counsel involved at this stage, or as soon after as possible, can directly affect your bail amount and immediate restrictions.
What is a violation of probation (VOP)?
A VOP is a formal allegation that you violated a condition of probation: a missed check-in, a new arrest, a failed drug test. The standard of proof is lower than a criminal trial, and there is no jury. The judge decides. Your employment, compliance record, family situation, and what you've done right since sentencing can all be presented on your behalf, but only if someone is making that case for you.
Will I lose my license after a DUI arrest?
Possibly. The clock starts immediately. Florida imposes an administrative license suspension separate from any criminal conviction. You have 10 days from the date of arrest to request a formal hearing or apply for a hardship license. Missing that window closes important options.
Can domestic violence charges be dropped if the alleged victim doesn't want to proceed?
The decision to prosecute belongs to the State Attorney's office, not the alleged victim. The state can proceed without their cooperation, and regularly does. That said, when the alleged victim won't testify and the evidence doesn't stand on its own, the state's case gets a lot harder. An experienced defense attorney knows how to make that argument.
Do you represent Spanish-speaking clients?
Yes. You should be able to understand your case fully and communicate with your attorney in the language you're most comfortable with. Arrieta Law provides Spanish-language consultations and support throughout the process. Hablamos español.
Resources & Legal Guides
From the Blog
Answers to the questions people ask before calling a criminal defense attorney in Palm Beach County.
Florida DUI Arrest: What Is the 10-Day Rule and Why Does It Matter?
Most people arrested for DUI in Florida don't know they have 10 days to protect their license. Here's what that deadline actually means and what happens if you miss it.
Read More →What Happens at First Appearance in Palm Beach County?
First appearance happens within 24 hours of arrest. What the judge decides, what can be at stake, and why having an attorney involved early makes a difference.
Read More →Can a Domestic Violence Charge Be Dropped in Florida?
The alleged victim doesn't control whether the state pursues charges. Here's how domestic violence prosecutions actually work in Florida, and what can change the outcome.
Read More →Violation of Probation in Florida: Will I Go to Prison?
A VOP doesn't automatically mean prison, but the stakes are real. Here's how VOP hearings work in Florida, what rights you have, and what a defense attorney can actually do to help.
Read More →Possession vs. Trafficking in Florida: What's the Difference?
Florida trafficking is defined by quantity, not intent to sell. If you had enough of a controlled substance, you can face trafficking charges even if it was entirely for personal use.
Read More →How to Handle an Active Warrant in Palm Beach County
A warrant won't go away on its own, but how you address it matters. Here's what your options are, how to check your status, and why the right move is to act on your terms, not theirs.
Read More →
Active Warrant in Palm Beach County?
Learn What to Do →
Do not turn yourself in without an attorney. Arrieta Law can appear with you, request a bond hearing, and pursue warrant recall. Call now.
Get Legal Help Now
Charged with a Crime in Jupiter or Palm Beach County?
The sooner you have legal counsel involved, the more options you have. Arrieta Law handles criminal defense cases across Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, and the surrounding area. Every case is handled personally by Vanessa Arrieta, a former prosecutor who knows exactly how these cases are built and how to fight back.
Call or text now for a confidential consultation. Available for urgent matters.
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