There are many things that a police officer has to do during a DUI arrest that are mandated by the state of Florida. If an officer doesn’t follow those rules, the DUI arrest could be dismissed. That was the case in Polk County where 54 drunk driving cases have been dropped due to one sheriff’s deputy who did not follow those rules.
Polk County sheriff’s deputy Tex Thomas has been disciplined and reassigned following an internal investigation into how he conducted his DUI arrests and filing out the reports that went along with those arrests according to an ABC Action News report. Thomas was accused of violating the “20-minute rule”, which mandates police officers observe a suspect for 20 minutes before giving a breath test. Thomas apparently wasn’t disciplined for that reason though. He was officially disciplined for copying information from an original DUI report into subsequent reports in order to save time.
Category Archives: DUI
TAMPA DUI BLOG: Was Drunk Driving The Cause Of A Pasco Crash That Injured Four People?
The traffic crash that critically injured four people in Pasco County may have been cause by drunk driving according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that the FHP are waiting on tests that will determine if one or both of the drivers involved in the accident were driving under the influence.
Police reports state that New Port Richey’s Rose Mary Daniel was driving at about 4:00 p.m. when she rear-ended a car in front of her. She hit a 1993 Pontiac Firebird and the collision sent both vehicles spinning. There were three people in the Firebird and two were airlifted to a local hospital. A second passenger was taken to Tampa General Hospital. That is the same hospital Daniel was taken to.
If you have been charged with a DUI in Tampa or anywhere in Hillsborough County, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa DUI Defense Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at FightYourTampaDUI.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.
FLORIDA DUI BLOG: Teacher Resigns After A Student She Supplied With Alcohol Ends Up In DUI Crash
Meredith Witt has resigned her teaching job at Oviedo High after admitting that she gave alcohol to one or more students and also gave her car keys to one of those students as well, as reported in the Orlando Sentinel. The 32-year-old was a special education teacher at the Orlando area high school. Witt has not been charged with a crime as of yet.
Witt’s story came to light due to the fact one of her students that she gave alcohol to later ended up hitting two cars, leaving the scene of the accident and then was charged with DUI. According to the police the student smelled of alcohol and failed field sobriety tests when they tracked him down hiding out at his house. His Honda SUV was damaged and parked in the driveway.
If you have been charged with a DUI in Orlando, Orange or Seminole County, please do not hesitate to contact Orlando DUI Defense Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at FightYourOrlandoDUI.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email or by stopping in our Orlando office located at 189 S Orange Ave., Suite 1850S.
TAMPA DUI BLOG: Tampa Man On Probation For DUI Tries To Fake A Urine Test
Larry Garland is currently on probation for DUI and possession of a controlled substance. According to a report on TBO.com things are about to get worse for the 35-year-old. The Tampa man is back in jail now after he allegedly tried to submit a false urine sample when called in for a random drug test.
Tampa Police report that Garland’s probation officer noticed some sort of bladder device with surgical tubes strapped around Garland’s waist. The homemade bladder contained an orange-yellow liquid. Garland was arrested following the stunt at the probation office on N. Tampa St. He is being held without bail.
If you have been charged with a DUI in Tampa or anywhere in Hillsborough County, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa DUI Defense Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at FightYourTampaDUI.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email or by stopping in our Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.
PINELLAS DUI BLOG: Police Chase Leads To Three Police Cars Damaged And One DUI Arrest
A 14-minute police chase took place in Pinellas County this weekend ending with the arrest of a 23-year-old man on multiple charges. In a story reported on TBO.com Dane Bailey was spotted by police officers driving a stolen car. At that point officers pursued the man into a shopping center parking lot where three passengers exited the vehicle and a 14-minute police chase ensued with three police cruisers and a power line being damaged in the process.
Bailey was finally stopped by Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies and taken in to custody. He was charged with DUI, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and grand theft auto. Bailey and one officer were treated for injuries at Mease Countryside Hospital.
If you have been charged with a DUI or any crime in St. Petersburg, Clearwater or anywhere in Pinellas County, please do not hesitate to contact Pinellas DUI Defense Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at FightYourPinellasArrest.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email or by stopping in our Pinellas office located at 4500 140th Ave. North #203.
PINELLAS DUI BLOG: Clearwater Woman Tasered And Charged With DUI After Fleeing Crash Scene
Another traffic stop has led to a Tasering this time in Pinellas County. Earlier this week a man in Bradenton was stopped on his bike and fled police. That man was subdued with a Taser and ended up dying following the Tasering. Yesterday it was a Clearwater woman named Sarah Thomas who tried to get away from police following a traffic stop. Thomas fled, caused an accident and was then Tasered according to a story on TampaBay.com.
The incident took place Thursday afternoon when Thomas was pulled over by a Clearwater officer for reckless driving. After stopping her car, Thomas fled the scene. She tried to pass a car by driving in the grassy median and spun out. She then exited her vehicle and according to police approached them in a threatening manner which led to the officers using a Taser on the 39-year-old woman. She was then arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding, DUI and resisting arrest.
If you have been charged with a DUI in St. Petersburg, Clearwater or anywhere in Pinellas County, please do not hesitate to contact DUI Defense Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at FightYourPinellasArrest.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email or by stopping in our Pinellas office located at 4500 140th Ave. North #203.
FLORIDA DUI BLOG: Woman Arrested For DUI Nearly Runs Over Deputy During Stop
Tracey Brown was driving without her headlights on Monday night in Hernando County. Two deputies had just finished a traffic stop when they noticed the 48-year-old’s car heading towards them according to an article in Hernando Today online. The deputies motioned for Brown to pull over and while complying with the request she nearly hit one of the officers.
According to police reports Brown pulled over and nearly struck one of the deputies with her car before swerving to avoid the police officer. When Brown stopped her vehicle deputies approached and noticed signs of impairment and then gave Brown field sobriety tests, which she reportedly failed. The deputies then arrested the woman on DUI charges.
If you have been charged with a DUI in Florida, please do not hesitate to contact Florida DUI Defense Attorney Stephen Higgins at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at FightYourDUI.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Stephen via email.
FLORIDA DUI BLOG: Man Drinks One Beer In Two Hours, Blows 0.00 Yet Ends Up Charged With DUI?
A 72-year-old Cape Coral, Florida man is going on the offensive after his recent DUI charge. Vincent Tallo was arrested at a DUI checkpoint last weekend after claiming to have had one beer in a two-hour span and passing a breathalyzer test. He spoke out against his arrest in an article published on the Tampa website 10connects.com.
Tallo was stopped at a DUI checkpoint last week and admitted to having a beer that night. After complying with the officer’s request to perform field sobriety tests, Tallo was placed under arrest for DUI. At that point he requested he be given a breath test, which he claims came back with a reading of 0.00. Following that test officers sent him to a portable urinal to provide a urine sample. Police claim something showed up in Tallo’s urine but they won’t know what until the results come back from the lab.
If you have been charged with a DUI in Florida, please do not hesitate to contact DUI Defense Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) or online at fightyourdui.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email.
TAMPA DUI BLOG: Saddlebrook Resort Tennis Coach Charged With A DUI In Tampa
According to the Tampa Police, Josy Lemos-Soares had a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 when she was pulled over at the Fowler Avenue and I-275 Saturday night. The 28-year-old was allegedly swerving in and out of her lane on the Interstate when she was pulled over. (read more)
Lemos-Soares is a tennis coach at Saddlebrook Resort where she lives. According to the police report she smelled of alcohol and her eyes were bloodshot at 3:00 a.m. when she was stopped. Following her arrest Lemos-Soares was taken to Orient Road Jail where she was held on a $500 bond.
If you have been charged with a DUI in Tampa or Hillsborough County, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa DUI Attorney Darren Finebloom at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourtampadui.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact Darren via email or visit him in our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.
TAMPA DUI BLOG: NBA Player Arrested In Temple Terrace On Suspicion Of DUI Charge
Denver Nuggets reserve forward Renaldo Balkman was arrested for suspicion of DUI by Temple Terrace officers this past weekend. Balkman was pulled over at 4:00 a.m. Saturday but there were no details as to why he was stopped. He was taken into custody following his refusal to take a breath test. (read more)
The Nugget reserve averaged 5 points and almost 4 boards per game. The Nuggets had no comment other than to say they were aware of the arrest. Balkman was taken to the Hillsborough County Jail where he was later released on a $500 bond.
If you have been charged with a DUI in Tampa or Hillsborough County, please do not hesitate to contact Tampa DUI Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT or online at fightyourtampadui.com to discuss the matter. Also you can contact David via email or visit him in our new Tampa office located at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd.