Florida Criminal Defense Blog

The cornerback for the Dolphins was arrested last week for DUI after reportedly coming just feet from hitting a police car at a roadblock. According to the Sun Sentinel, the football player ignored detour signs near a roadblock and instead drove right up to the squad car blocking the road. [Read more...]

More news on the ineffectiveness of sobriety checkpoints, or DUI roadblocks as they are commonly called. [Read more...]

A Florida man is facing a slew of charges after he led police on a high speed chase, causing multiple accidents, all while allegedly being under the influence of alcohol. [Read more...]

In a very rare occurrence, two DUI arrests were made this week in Spring Hill. What made the arrests unique were the vehicles being operated. In both arrests, which occurred in the early morning hours of September 1^st, the accused was riding a bicycle. [Read more...]

An unfortunate accident late last year ended in the deaths of 5 migrant workers on their way to work.

The alleged at-fault driver was 67 year old Nokomis resident Ewing Alfred Saunders. Saunders has just been charged with 5 counts of DUI manslaughter in connection with the accident and is now being held without bond. [Read more...]

Getting charged with a DUI once is a difficult and seriously stressful experience. Being arrested and charged on a 2nd or third offense DUI can land someone in jail for an extended period of time and change their life dramatically.

Some counties in Florida are helping DUI offenders get the treatment they need with a second chance and a path that leads to sobriety. The goal is to reduce the incidents of 2nd or 3rd offense DUI charges in Florida, which are often the result of alcohol addiction problems.

Currently only active in three counties, DUI courts are typically available for multiple time DUI offenders. They seek to give people help rather than simply push them through the court system. [Read more...]

Not everyone accused of a DUI charge is guilty. It is easy to be arrested by mistake, or incorrectly.

Of course, some people go out for a good time and underestimate how much they have to drink, resulting in an arrested for a DUI . Very few, however, drink themselves to the point of a near-death experience. According to the Gainesville Sun, Tavaris Linell Hills tested at 4 times the legal limit when he was pulled over for suspicion of DUI.

Hills had passed out in his vehicle at a traffic light where he slept through a few cycles of the light. When witnesses came to his aid he awoke and began crying. When he saw the police, however, he began driving again, but only for two blocks.

When he stopped, Hills exited the vehicle and refused to perform any field sobriety tests. He did, however, submit to a breathalyzer that showed he had a blood alcohol content of 0.387%. At this level it would not be out of the question for Hills to have died. Instead, he was arrested and taken to the Alachua county jail. [Read more...]

In an effort to crack down on drunk driving the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Department plans on stepping up their checkpoints this month. According to this report from WPBF the department will be “out for blood”.

As it stands citizens can refuse to take a breath test when asked for a sample by the police. The Sheriff’s Department plans on getting blood samples from those who refuse, however. This unorthodox approach is nothing new, just unusual to be done roadside.

It seems the department plans on using this more as a scare tactic than a regular practice. When an officer explains “If you refuse we can get a warrant to draw blood”, it may shake someone up enough to get them to consent to the original breath test. [Read more...]

According to the Miami Herald, a Miami judge ordered Gabriel Delrisco remain behind bars pending his trial this week. Delrisco was behind the wheel of a minivan that struck a vehicle carrying a father and his three children. All three kids, ages 10, 7, and 4, died as a result of the accident.

While drivers typically charged with DWI/DUI manslaughter are let out on bail, the judge decided Delrisco’s record made him an unusual risk. He remains under suicide watch at the Miami-Dade jail.

The prosecution in the case pointed out that Delrisco has had 26 tickets during the past 8 years including one DUI. He did, however, have a valid license at the time of the accident. [Read more...]

In an attempt to nab people driving on a suspended license, St. John’s County Sheriff’s Department rolled out an interesting program over the holidays. A member of the traffic division sat outside the homes of drivers with suspended licenses and waited for them to get behind the wheel.

According to Sgt. Mulligan, the people targeted were “known” to have been continuing to drive despite their driver’s license suspension or revocation. Twenty-two arrests were made in conjunction with the “Blue Christmas” program that took place over the last few weeks of December. Deputies and members of the traffic division were given photos of the known offenders so they would recognized them and make a proper arrest once spotted getting behind the wheel.

Many people charged in the “Blue Christmas” operation in the St. Augustine, FL area had their license suspended due to DUI charges. In Florida your license can be suspended for up to one year for your first offense. The penalty climbs with each successive DUI conviction until your license is permanently revoked after your 4^th conviction within 10 years.

Driving while your license is suspended can carry 60 days in jail and a $500 fine for your first offense. If you have been previously convicted of driving while your license is under suspension you face up to 1 year in jail and $1,000 in fines for a second conviction, and up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 in fines for a 3^rd conviction.

All in all, those arrested are facing serious potential penalties. While I am not sure that having officers camped outside residences for two weeks was a worthwhile taxpayer expenses, I do know that the courts will be busier now and that those people arrested are rethinking their hasty decision to drive.

People don’t realize what an inconvenience a suspended license is until they are in that boat. Having to depend on others to get everywhere can be very stressful. More than likely these arrestees got tired of depending on others and took a chance. Unfortunately for them, the Sheriff’s Department was lying in wait for them to slip up.

If you are facing similar charges, you need experience and determination on your side when you go before the judge. Particularly if this isn’t your first offense you want to be sure you get the best defense attorney you can.