A elementary school teacher from South Florida is facing a long list of charges after what would’ve been a simple DUI went wrong. When intoxicated, people can make odd choices and act in ways not typical of their personality. This seems to have potentially been the case with the teacher in question.

According to the CBS 4 story, the woman was pulled over for driving erratically on South Homestead Blvd. in Homestead. The officer had several clues that she was intoxicated including slurred speech, flushed face, glossy eyes, poor balance, and difficulty exiting the vehicle and finding her license.

However, when she was cuffed to be taken to the jail things escalated to more than a typical DUI arrest. The suspect allegedly began by telling the arresting officer that she would tell officials he assaulted her. It only escalated more once they got to the jail.

She is said to have kicked at least one officer, thrown the handcuffs at another, and hurled racial slurs all while threatening the officers with their jobs. The school teacher is now charged with battery on a police officer, DUI, and resisting an officer with violence.

She claims she was “roughed” up unnecessarily and she claims she was threatened as well. What began as a DUI arrest, ended with a he said/she said and a long list of criminal charges.

DUI arrests have a tendency to go wrong simply because of the intoxicated nature of the arrestee. It’s not unusual to see a simple DUI charge turn into a longer list of charges including resisting arrest and the most common partner to a DUI—driving on a suspended license.

When you’re driving drunk, the last thing you need is additional charges. One DUI is enough. However, mistakes happen to everyone.

If you’re facing DUI charges or a combination of several charges, please contact our attorneys right away for a consultation on your case and to discuss the best course of action.

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.

According to the officer, he came only two feet from the car before stopping and revving his engine. It apparently took the alleged suspect a few moments to open his window to the officer trying to speak with him, telling the police that he had to “get through.”

At 3:35 am at a police roadblock, telling them you cannot detour where they want you to may be a red flag to the officers that something is amiss. Police reportedly smelled alcohol on the Dolphin’s breath and asked him 3 times to exit the car.

The legal limit in Florida is .08%. He took two breath tests that found him to be at .152 and .167, about twice the limit.

Because his blood alcohol content was over .15%, he can face enhanced DUI penalties. Enhanced DUI was written into the laws to ensure those who were extremely intoxicated faced harsher penalties than a regular DUI.

A normal first-time DUI charge will carry a potential jail sentence of 180 days, while an enhanced sentence is up to 270 days. Fines are steeper as well with an enhanced DUI and the offender will be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle, if convicted.

The cornerback could also face sanctions from the NFL if he is convicted or pleads guilty.

Regardless of who you ware, being accused of drunk driving is scary. You could potentially lose the use of your driver’s license for up to 1 year with a first time offense. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to DUI penalties.

If you are facing a DUI charge, whether it is your first or your third, I can help. Call me today to discuss the charges against you and the best way to handle them.

More news on the ineffectiveness of sobriety checkpoints, or DUI roadblocks as they are commonly called. This report from the Herald Tribune goes over the details of a recent DUI checkpoint in Sarasota County. The stats are as follows:

• 24 Deputies
• 4 Hours
• 633 Cars stopped
• 1 DUI arrest

Imagine how much more effective those officers would have been if they were out patrolling, looking for motorists driving suspiciously or dangerously.

DUI checkpoints, which are announced in advance, can also be avoided by savvy drivers.

Everyone wants less drunk drivers on the road, but these roadblocks ultimately provide little besides officers looking busy while inconveniencing average citizens. When it comes to Florida DUI enforcement, this policy just doesn’t make sense.

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.

The chase supposedly started when 67 year old Charles Richard Barrow was seen swerving on U.S. 41 shortly after a hit and run had been reported. Barrow was driving a Mazda Miata with no headlights, forcing drivers off the road as he avoided police.

In all, the Herald Tribune reports Barrow caused 17 accidents and about $17,500 in property damage.

The chase reached speeds of 80 mph in 45 mph zones and ended when Barrow’s tire blew out.

Barrow was arrested and held in the Charlotte County Jail before posting a $20,250 bond. He is facing 7 counts of DUI with property damage, 7 counts of hit and run, 2 counts of DUI with bodily injury, 2 counts of hit and run with physical injury, and fleeing to elude.

Because the penalties for a DUI get stricter with each offense, Barrow will be facing several years in prison for the DUI charges alone.

Likewise, the multiple hit and run charges carry lengthy prison terms. Hit and run involving only property damage is a misdemeanor. However, hit and run involving injury is a 3^rd degree felony and carries up to 15 years in prison.

Barrow is looking at a quite frightening encounter with the Florida courts as he faces so many charges and allegedly put several lives at risk.

When facing any number of DUI or hit and run charges you have a right to be nervous about your court dates and even frightened about the potential outcomes.

Having an aggressive defense attorney on your side can help take some of the pressure off. Together we will examine every angle of your case to ensure we are doing all that we can to gain a positive outcome in court.

If you are facing DUI or hit and run charges, call me immediately to discuss the details.

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.

Both Robert Steudl and Oswaldo Davila are facing DUI charges in connection with bike rides while drunk. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Davila has faced charges like this.

As a matter of fact, according to the St. Petersburg Times, the last DUI while bicycling arrest that occurred in Spring Hill involved Mr. Davila. That was in 1999 and just goes to show how rare these charges are.

Of course, it seems like a rational decision. Bring the bike to the bar to avoid driving drunk. The flaw in this thinking is that DUI laws apply to bicycles just like they do cars or even wheelchairs. It doesn’t matter if you are behind the wheel or behind the handlebars, you can be charged with DUI if you are operating any vehicle while under the influence.

When Steudl was arrested he had bruises and scratches on his body and face, evidence that he had fallen off the bike at some point. He was found riding in the middle of westbound Spring Hill Drive. Unfortunately, Steudl thought he was on Deltona Blvd.

Steudl’s blood alcohol level was tested to be 0.265, which is more than 3 times the legal limit. Although it is a good thing he wasn’t behind the wheel of a car, he could have still been involved in a tragic accident, with a blood alcohol level that high.

DUI cases in Florida are a dime a dozen. Cases like this are rare and get people’s attention. However, if you are the one facing DUI charges, it doesn’t matter where you were or what you were driving, the police probably got your attention right away!

Facing Florida DUI charges is difficult and you need an experienced DUI attorney with you when you go before the judge. Call me immediately to discuss the details of your case and to see how I can help.

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.

This Herald Tribune article gives a good explanation as to why it took so long for the charges to be handed down. They explain that the state prosecutor and law enforcement treat DUI related deaths as they would any murder, carefully gathering evidence and building a case.

The prosecution and law enforcement understand that the defendant’s attorney will be looking for any gaps in the case, including mishandled evidence in order to help their client.

Saunders’ blood alcohol level immediately following the accident was .11 percent. The legal limit in Florida and most states in the country is .08. But, as they point out, cases like this typically need more than the blood alcohol level to get a conviction.

Facing DUI charges is not all that uncommon. Facing charges for DUI manslaughter is. While I sincerely hope you are not in this deep of legal trouble, if you are, I can help.

A simple 1^st time DUI charge can land you with jail time, probation, license suspension, car impoundment, DUI classes, and fines. As your offenses pile up so does the penalties.

For a 4^th offense DUI you could be looking at felony charges and as many as 5 years in prison.

When facing any kind of criminal charge, including DUI, you want to be certain you have an experienced and aggressive defense attorney fighting for you in court. Let’s talk about your case and see what we can do together.

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.

To be eligible for DUI court, a defendant must make their desire known to the judge ahead of time. According to this article from Ocala.com, the DUI court in Marion County provides an opportunity for rehabilitation.

Typically, outside of DUI court, a 2^nd DUI conviction can lead to up to 270 days in jail, 1 year of probation, 1 year license suspension, large fines, DUI school, ignition interlock device, and impoundment of the defendant’s car. With DUI court, the penalties are lower but the program is not easy.

With DUI court, particularly in Marion County, offenders will serve a minimum jail sentence, attend counseling and AA meetings, be present at court check-ins, and submit to drug and alcohol screenings. The program allows for very little slip-ups and mistakes and punishes those who violate with a reinstatement of the original potential sentence.

When up against serious criminal charges like multiple DUI offenses, people are justifiably worried about their future. Knowing all of your options and potential outcomes can be relieving as you struggle through such an uncertain time.

While DUI courts aren’t available throughout Florida, they are present and other programs exist for those people who want help. Contacting an experience Florida defense attorney will assist you in knowing where your options lie.

Wondering if there is a DUI court in your county or what types of programs exist to help you serve less jail time? Call today for a consultation on your case and to hear what I can do to potentially help you with your case.

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.

This wasn’t Hills first run in with the law as the police found he was also driving on a suspended license. Between the DUI and suspended license charge, Hills could be looking at some serious penalties.

When a few drinks with friends turns into many more and you still decide to drive home you run the risk of getting caught. Being arrested for DUI is no walk in the park and can lead to some jail time, fines, license suspension, and other unpleasant sanctions.

Facing a DUI charge should always be done with the aid of an experienced criminal defense attorney. When you have an attorney who knows the local system and how the players work, you can rest assured that your confidence has been put in the right place.

If you are facing DUI charges or charges of driving on a suspended license, be certain to call me for a consultation today.

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.

The Sheriff claims that if a refusal happens, they will get a warrant and drive to a judge’s home to get the signature. While this seems somewhat plausible, warrants for blood tests are typically only used in serious DUI cases; when, for instance, an accident or death has occurred.

It will be interesting to see how many judges are willing to sign off on a warrant for a suspected DUI at a checkpoint and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Sheriff’s Department disappointed with the outcome should they show up to a judge’s home on the weekend asking for one.

So, if the breath test is refused and the warrant isn’t granted can you still be charged with DUI? Yes, a field sobriety test can get you a DUI charge, although it may be more difficult for the prosecutor to prove their case in court. Also, if you refuse you will face suspension of your driving privileges.

Florida DUI laws are extensive and confusing. Call us to get help from an experienced DUI attorney. We can help make sense of your case.

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.

Delrisco’s own attorney pointed out that although he didn’t have the best driving record, he has never been convicted of any violent offenses and would be a good candidate for house arrest pending trial. It is unusual for a defendant in a case involving these charges to be held without bail and more than likely the publicity and nature of the victims did play a part in the judge’s decision.

Judges take many things into consideration when determining if a defendant can be released pending trial. If the crime is bail-eligible the judge will look at the defendant’s record and determine if they are a flight risk or if they are a risk to themselves or the community.

It is a fact, as the defense attorney in this article pointed out, that people are released on bail with much more extensive records. House arrest would have assured that Delrisco could not legally leave his home while he awaited trial.

As much publicity as this horrific case has received in Florida, there is no doubt there would be uproar,  if Delrisco was allowed bond. His attorneys argued the right points and did what they could. The final decision rests with the judge and on this day the judge didn’t rule in his favor.