Anna Maria Island DUI Lawyer
A DUI arrest on Anna Maria Island is a Manatee County case. Whether the stop was in Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach or the City of Anna Maria, you are booked at the Manatee County Central Jail in Palmetto and your court dates are at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. You also have 10 days from the date on the notice of suspension to request review of the license suspension.
Daniel D. Nawara is a former Assistant State Attorney in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, which includes Manatee County. Call or text (941) 920-5514, 24/7, or request a free consultation.
Who makes DUI arrests on the island
Holmes Beach Police Department. Inside Holmes Beach, including Manatee Avenue at the island end of the Anna Maria Island Bridge.
Bradenton Beach Police Department. Inside Bradenton Beach, including Gulf Drive, Bridge Street and the island end of the Cortez Bridge.
Manatee County Sheriff's Office. Provides law enforcement for the City of Anna Maria at the north end.
Longboat Key Police Department. South of the Longboat Pass Bridge. See Longboat Key DUI.
The arresting agency holds the reports, body-camera video and breath-test records. Your citation names it.
What is different about island DUI cases
Short trips and low speeds. Most stops are on Gulf Drive, Marina Drive or Manatee Avenue at 25 to 35 mph, often for a minor traffic reason. The reason for the stop is the first thing a defense reviews.
Golf carts and low-speed vehicles. Florida's DUI statute applies to any vehicle, so a golf cart or low-speed vehicle on a public road can lead to a DUI charge with the same penalties.
Visitors. Many people arrested on the island live in another county or state. The case stays in Manatee County, and your home state may act on your license. See DUI while visiting from out of state.
Boats. Impaired operation of a boat in Anna Maria Sound or Bimini Bay is charged under a separate statute. See Manatee County BUI.
Penalties and your license
Penalties are the same anywhere in Florida. A first conviction carries a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 6 months in jail, probation, at least 50 hours of community service, DUI school, a 10-day vehicle impoundment and license revocation of 180 days to 1 year. The administrative suspension that starts at arrest is 6 months at 0.08 or higher and 1 year for a first refusal. See Bradenton DUI lawyer, the 10-day rule and the Manatee County arrest process.
Frequently asked questions
Where is court for a DUI on Anna Maria Island?
At the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton, whichever island city the arrest was in.
Can I get a DUI on a golf cart?
Yes. The DUI statute covers any vehicle, including golf carts and low-speed vehicles on public roads.
I was on vacation. Do I have to come back for court?
In many misdemeanor DUI cases a lawyer can file a waiver and appear for you at routine hearings. Some hearings require you in person.
Will my home state find out?
Usually. Florida reports DUI convictions and suspensions, and most states act on them.
Do I need to meet in Sarasota?
The office is at 240 N. Washington Blvd., Suite 460, Sarasota. Many consultations are handled by phone or video.
Speak with a DUI lawyer serving Anna Maria Island
Call or text (941) 920-5514, available 24/7, or request a free consultation. Bring your citation, notice of suspension, bond paperwork and any court notices. The fee is flat, includes the administrative license hearing, and payment plans are available. See DUI lawyer cost in Bradenton.
Reviewed by Daniel D. Nawara, Florida Bar No. 123626. Updated October 2026. General information only, not legal advice. No outcome is guaranteed. Contacting the firm does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship.
Sources: Fla. Stat. § 316.193, § 322.2615, § 322.28; Manatee County Judicial Center; Manatee Sheriff jail information.