The client was charged with the crime of Racing, which carries with it a mandatory 1 year license suspension. The Firm set the case for Trial as it was believed the charge could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The State Attorney in the matter then dismissed the charge.
The Police conducted a traffic stop of the Defendant’s vehicle for driving the wrong way down a one way street. The officer noticed that the Defendant was sweating profusely and appeared to be nervous. The officer asked the Defendant if he had anything illegal in the car. The Defendant admitted that he had some marijuana and a pipe on him. The officer arrested the Defendant for possession of a controlled substance. The attorney for the firm investigated the case, and was able to get the Defendant into a drug treatment program. Upon completion of the program, the attorney for the firm was able to get the prosecutor to drop the case completely.
The defendant was found by officers to be slumped over the wheel of his vehicle and asleep. The vehicle was partially obstructing traffic. It took several attempts to wake the defendant both verbally and physically. Upon the defendant waking up, the officers observed the defendant to have the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage, bloodshot, glassy eyes, a dazed and confused look and was unsteady on his feet to the extent he had to use his car door for balance upon exiting the vehicle. He also had difficulty handling his vehicle documentation and locating it. The defendant refused to answer any questions, perform any roadside sobriety exercises or submit to any breath test despite being warned of the possibility that his license would be suspended for one year. The firm filed 2 Motions to Suppress on the client’s behalf. The State dropped all DUI charges
The Defendant was passed out at the airport at the entrance gate to the parking lot. He was slumped over the wheel sleeping while the vehicle was in drive with his foot on the brake. He was confused and could not provide his information when requested to do so by the officer. He finally opened the door to his car upon request. The officer had noticed an odor of alcohol and asked for a DUI unit. The Defendant said he left city place where he had 3-4 mojitos. He performed poorly on roadsides and was arrested. When taken to the jail, he gave breath samples with results of .115 and .118. The Firm, after numerous negotiations, was able to convince the State Attorney’s Office to dismiss the charges for DUI.
The Defendant was seen swerving out of his lane and quickly correcting. After the officer initiated his lights, the Defendant drove over a curb and stopped his car. The officer Could smell alcohol and the Defendant had glassy/bloodshot eyes and heavily slurred speech. He stated that he drank “a lot” earlier but it had been a while. He was asked to submit to roadsides where he initially had trouble balancing and following instructions and then refused to continue. He was then arrested and taken to jail where he refused to give a sample of his breath. The firm filed a motion to suppress arguing that the video was inconsistent with the Officer’s reports and that the Defendant was stopped illegally. The motion was set for hearing and on the day of the hearing, the State of Florida dismissed the DUI.
The Defendant was seen swerving out of his lane and quickly correcting. After the officer initiated his lights, the Defendant drove over a curb and stopped his car. The officer Could smell alcohol and the Defendant had glassy/bloodshot eyes and heavily slurred speech. He stated that he drank “a lot” earlier but it had been a while. He was asked to submit to roadsides where he initially had trouble balancing and following instructions and then refused to continue. He was then arrested and taken to jail where he refused to give a sample of his breath. The firm filed a motion to suppress arguing that the video was inconsistent with the Officer’s reports and that the Defendant was stopped illegally. The motion was set for hearing and on the day of the hearing, the State of Florida dismissed the DUI.
The Defendant was pulled over as an alleged suspect in a battery. Upon contacting the Defendant the officer noticed that he had a strong odor of alcoholic beverages on his breath, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. When asked to exit his vehicle, the Defendant had a hard time maintaining balance. The Defendant refused to perform voluntary fields sobriety exercises in addition refused to give a breath sample. The Defendant was subsequently charged with a Felony DUI based on his priors. The Defendant was found not guilty by a jury of his peers after deliberating for 15 minutes.
The Defendant was charged with Driving Under the Influence after he was stopped and arrested in a parking lot. He gave a breath sample over a .15 and his license was suspended for 6 months. The Firm requested an administrative review hearing and subpoenaed witnesses to be present. The Firm took testimony from the arresting officer and made a motion to invalidate the suspension due to the fact that there was no reasonable suspicion of criminal activity and/or no probable cause that the Defendant had committed a traffic infraction. The DMV sustained the suspension and the Firm appealed to the Circuit Court. After 2 years, the Circuit court, sitting on a 3 judge panel, reversed the decision of the DMV holding that they failed to consider the lawfulness of the stop on a breath case. Additionally, the Firm argued that the stop was, in fact, unlawful and the appellate court agreed. The Suspension will be removed from the Defendant’s driving record.
On July 25th, 2012 at approximately 0146 hours, a Tampa Police Officer saw a red Hyundai Sonata traveling east on Palm Ave. He saw the vehicle was weaving and driving onto the roadway painted lane markers. The vehicle made a wide turn onto 22nd St. N and then turned onto 14th Ave. At that point, the officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle to check the condition of the driver. The officer made contact with the driver and saw that his eyes were red, watery and glassy. He had the appearance of being dazed or intoxicated. The officer could smell the moderate odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and also noticed a red paper wrist band on the driver’s wrist. The Defendant fumbled through his wallet, and then stated his license was in the trunk of the vehicle. The Defendant climbed from his vehicle using the door for leverage. The Defendant was unable to find his license in the trunk. The officer then asked the Defendant where he had been coming from and he stated Gbar, a bar in Ybor City. The Defendant then admitted to drinking 2 whiskeys. The Defendant was swaying as he stood. A DHSMV computer search of the Defendant’s driver’s license showed multiple suspensions for failure to pay traffic fines. The officer then requested the Defendant to perform field sobriety exercises, which he agreed. The Defendant exhibited multiple clues of impairment and was unable to satisfactorily complete the exercises. The Defendant was then placed under arrest and agreed to submit to a breath test. The results of the test were .110 and .111. The Defendant was charged with DUI and Driving while license suspended with knowledge. Results: The firm set the case for trial and at the last call hearing before trial, the State dropped the DUI charge.
On July 25th, 2012 at approximately 0146 hours, a Tampa Police Officer saw a red Hyundai Sonata traveling east on Palm Ave. He saw the vehicle was weaving and driving onto the roadway painted lane markers. The vehicle made a wide turn onto 22nd St. N and then turned onto 14th Ave. At that point, the officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle to check the condition of the driver. The officer made contact with the driver and saw that his eyes were red, watery and glassy. He had the appearance of being dazed or intoxicated. The officer could smell the moderate odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and also noticed a red paper wrist band on the driver’s wrist. The Defendant fumbled through his wallet, and then stated his license was in the trunk of the vehicle. The Defendant climbed from his vehicle using the door for leverage. The Defendant was unable to find his license in the trunk. The officer then asked the Defendant where he had been coming from and he stated Gbar, a bar in Ybor City. The Defendant then admitted to drinking 2 whiskeys. The Defendant was swaying as he stood. A DHSMV computer search of the Defendant’s driver’s license showed multiple suspensions for failure to pay traffic fines. The officer then requested the Defendant to perform field sobriety exercises, which he agreed. The Defendant exhibited multiple clues of impairment and was unable to satisfactorily complete the exercises. The Defendant was then placed under arrest and agreed to submit to a breath test. The results of the test were .110 and .111. The Defendant was charged with DUI and Driving while license suspended with knowledge. Results: The firm set the case for trial and at the last call hearing before trial, the State dropped the DUI charge.
On June 30, 2012, at approximately 10 pm, a Florida Highway Patrol officer was headed southbound on I-75 just south of I-4. He observed a vehicle which he thought was traveling well over the posted speed limit. The vehicle ran up on the back of traffic 2 lanes to the officer’s right and slammed on the brakes. The vehicle then abruptly changed lanes to the left and began to speed up rapidly. The officer was able to get a pace clock on the vehicle. The officer was traveling 106 miles per hour and not gaining or losing any distance on the vehicle. The officer had to travel well over 110 mph to catch up to the vehicle and initiate a traffic stop. The officer made contact with the driver/Defendant and could smell an odor of alcoholic beverage. The driver’s motor skills and reactions seemed slow. The Defendant’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and his face was flush. The officer asked the Defendant to step out of the vehicle. The Defendant had trouble maintaining his balance and his speech was slow and slurred. The Defendant was asked if he would perform field sobriety exercises and he stated he did not understand what the officer was talking about. The Defendant agreed to let the officer look at his eyes. The Defendant could not follow the instructions to follow the pen with his eyes to determine if HGN was present. The Defendant stated he had nothing to drink. The Defendant was then relocated off the interstate for field sobriety exercises. As the Defendant rode with the officer to the field sobriety exercise point, he stated he did not understand what the officer was talking about. During the field sobriety exercises, the Defendant kept telling the officer that he did not know what he was talking about, and that he was from Bulgaria. He stated he would try the exercises but kept having difficulty with the officer’s instructions. The Defendant exhibited multiple clues of impairment on the One leg stand, finger to nose, and walk and turn exercises. The officer then read the Defendant his Miranda rights, which he waived and agreed to answer questions. The Defendant again said he had nothing to drink. The Defendant was placed under arrest for DUI. The Defendant refused to provide a breath sample. Result: The case was set for trial and at the last call hearing before the trial, the State dropped the DUI charge.
On June 30, 2012, at approximately 10 pm, a Florida Highway Patrol officer was headed southbound on I-75 just south of I-4. He observed a vehicle which he thought was traveling well over the posted speed limit. The vehicle ran up on the back of traffic 2 lanes to the officer’s right and slammed on the brakes. The vehicle then abruptly changed lanes to the left and began to speed up rapidly. The officer was able to get a pace clock on the vehicle. The officer was traveling 106 miles per hour and not gaining or losing any distance on the vehicle. The officer had to travel well over 110 mph to catch up to the vehicle and initiate a traffic stop. The officer made contact with the driver/Defendant and could smell an odor of alcoholic beverage. The driver’s motor skills and reactions seemed slow. The Defendant’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and his face was flush. The officer asked the Defendant to step out of the vehicle. The Defendant had trouble maintaining his balance and his speech was slow and slurred. The Defendant was asked if he would perform field sobriety exercises and he stated he did not understand what the officer was talking about. The Defendant agreed to let the officer look at his eyes. The Defendant could not follow the instructions to follow the pen with his eyes to determine if HGN was present. The Defendant stated he had nothing to drink. The Defendant was then relocated off the interstate for field sobriety exercises. As the Defendant rode with the officer to the field sobriety exercise point, he stated he did not understand what the officer was talking about. During the field sobriety exercises, the Defendant kept telling the officer that he did not know what he was talking about, and that he was from Bulgaria. He stated he would try the exercises but kept having difficulty with the officer’s instructions. The Defendant exhibited multiple clues of impairment on the One leg stand, finger to nose, and walk and turn exercises. The officer then read the Defendant his Miranda rights, which he waived and agreed to answer questions. The Defendant again said he had nothing to drink. The Defendant was placed under arrest for DUI. The Defendant refused to provide a breath sample. Result: The case was set for trial and at the last call hearing before the trial, the State dropped the DUI charge.
