Much is made about the criminal charges that are associated with DUI.  However, an oft-overlooked aspect of any DUI is the associated traffic citations.  Beyond just the criminal charges, you may be cited for speeding, rolling through a stop sign, driving over the center-line, not wearing your seatbelt and any other traffic violation in concert […]

When confronted with a situation in which you are accused of a crime and the arresting or otherwise involved police officers are untruthful in any aspect of the investigation or arrest, you’re in for a difficult process.  Many judges and courts are inclined to take law enforcement’s word as self-evident truth, and it is extremely […]

There are very strict guidelines and burdens of proof put in place during the course of a traffic stop that law enforcement officers must comply with.  These restrictions are necessary to protect drivers from unwarranted search and seizure, a right guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment of the American Constitution.  Cops must have probable cause to […]

A Sarasota County Deputy has recently come under scrutiny for the way he handled a traffic stop, which was caught on tape by a camera mounted on the deputy’s dashboard.  The Sarasota Herald-Tribune obtained raw footage of the traffic stop, during which Deputy Dominic Fornal pulled over a silver Jaguar driven by Joseph McNeal on […]

Despite threats from Hurrican Isaac, the Republican National Convention (RNC) has come to Florida this year, and thousands of fans (and foes) of the Republican party have descended upon Tampa to attend or otherwise participate in the activities that occur only once every four years. Coincidentally, the dates of the Republican National Convention also coincide […]

In the context of criminal law, you may have heard the term “speedy trial” in the past.  But just what is a speedy trial, and how is it practiced in the state of Florida? There are two primary categories of provisions regarding speedy trial in criminal cases in Florida: State – State provisions provided under […]

A joint study conducted by sociologists from the University of Cincinnati, Penn State University, Rutgers University and the University of Texas at Austin examined drinking behavior in married and divorced men and women, and uncovered some intriguing results. While men consumed more drinks across all marital categories, women who were married were reported to consume […]

While DUI is most often associated with alcohol, drivers under the influence of drugs have become an increasingly visible problem in the United States.  Recognizing changing cultural trends, most states have implemented legislation specifically addressing drug-impaired driving distinct from alcohol-impaired driving.  The drugs in question can be illicit drugs like marijuana or cocaine, but can […]

A 32-year-old Gainesville woman was charged with DUI, eight counts of child neglect and driving with a suspended license when she was pulled over for causing a minor traffic accident, the Gainesville Sun reports.  The incident occurred at approximately 9:50 p.m. on a Friday night, and the suspect indicated she had been on her way […]

In an effort to increase penalties for drunk driving nationwide, federal officials have indicated they will begin incentivizing states to pass legislation requiring ignition interlock devices for all DUI convictions, including first time offenders.  National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) official David L. Strickland told the Washington Post “We think that interlocks for first time […]