DUI
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Sheriff's Department Deputy Charged with Florida DUI
Detention deputy arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Pinellas County, Florida.
Aaron Simpson, a detention deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, has been placed on administrative leave following an arrest for drunk driving in Florida.
Simpson was stopped at an intersection around 8:45 pm after being observed weaving in and out of his lane. At one point he reportedly almost drove the arresting officer off the road.
Simpson, 28, was booked for Florida DUI and released after posting $500 bond. He is already on a pretrial release for a prior DUI arrest last February. Simpson is a six year veteran with the Sheriff's department.
You should never drink and drive, but just because you have been arrested doesn't mean your guilty. If you have been arrested for drunk driving in Pinellas County you should could contact a Florida DUI lawyer for help with your DUI charge and DMV hearing.
UFC Fighter Hermes Franca Charged with DUI in Florida
Hermes Franca arrested for drunk driving in Jupiter, Florida.
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Hermes Franca was arrested for drunk driving in Florida early Thursday morning. Franca was booked at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office around 2:30 am. He was released shortly after 10:00 am. The charges include first offense Florida DUI.
Franca lives in Jupiter, and hours before his arrest had attended the WEC 36 match between Faber and Brown at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, California. Franca, 34, is a five year veteran with UFC. His last fight was October 25th in Chicago when he defeated Marcus Aurelio.
You should never drink and drive, but if you have been arrested for drunk driving in Florida you should could contact a Florida DUI defense attorney for help with your DUI charge and DMV hearing.
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Two Underage Drunks Avoid Florida DUI in Orlando
Witnesses cannot identify who was driving at time of single vehicle wreck with two underage drivers in Orlando, Florida.
Both the Florida State Patrol and an entire neighborhood are upset over an inability to charge a driver with drunk driving. Steven Janotha and Michael Busowski, both underage and both intoxicated, were speeding in a Trans Am through an Orlando area neighborhood when they crashed. The vehicle nearly hit a house, coming to rest by a wall outside a young girl’s bedroom. While it was obvious that the two young men were drunk, no witness could identify the driver at the time of the wreck.
Under Florida DUI law, an eyewitness is required who can place a driver behind the wheel of a vehicle before an offense of driving under the influence can be charged. Similarly, a spokesperson with the FSP said to get a conviction for DUI there must be courtroom testimony from an independent witness who can place a suspected drunk driver behind the wheel.
The owner of the house that was nearly hit chased Janotha as he fled the scene, though the young man denied being behind the wheel of the car. The Trans Am belongs to Busowski’s father, though the younger Busowski insists he can not remember who was driving because he was disoriented after the wreck. Both young men now blame the other for the accident. Without a witness, no Florida DUI charges will be filed even though intoxication was apparent.
If you have been charged with at DUI in Orange County, Florida you will need to hire a DUI laywer in Orlando.
Filed in DUI News | Florida DUI | Underage Drinking | Permalink | Comments (0)
New Port Richey Police Officer Arrested for DUI in Florida
Christopher Sutherlin, a New Port Richey Police Officer was involved in late night crash in Florida.
A New Port Richey police officer is facing charges of Driving Under the Influence in Pasco County, Florida following a hit and run accident. Christopher Sutherlin, who was off duty at the time, reportedly slammed into the back end of a 2005 Ford pick-up truck with his 2006 Nissan pick-up around 3:00 am and then tried to flee the scene. He did not get very far though because of heavy damage to his vehicle. Sutherlin, a passenger in Sutherlin’s vehicle and the driver of the Ford truck were all slightly injured.
Florida Highway Patrol officers responding to the accident knew Sutherlin, so they called for a Hernando County trooper. According to the arrest report, Sutherlin refused to perform field sobriety tests because of a back injury. His blood alcohol content registered .148 and .151 in two breath tests. The legal limit for intoxication in Florida is a .08 BAC.
Sutherlin, 30, had worked a political rally and then went off duty about 9:00 pm. He was charged with a DUI in Florida, two counts of DUI with personal injury, DUI with property damage and leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries. Sutherlin has been with the New Port Richey police department for ten months. He has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
Arrested for DUI in Pasco County? You will need to hire a Florida DUI Lawyer for representation on your DUI case and DMV hearing.
Rockies Pitcher Charged with Florida DUI in Tampa
Relief pitcher, Luis Vizcaino, arrested for drunk driving in Florida early Monday morning.
Luis Vizcaino, relief pitcher for the Denver Rockies baseball team, was arrested for driving under the influence in Tampa, Florida. Vizcaino was spotted driving 71 mph in a 45 zone around 1:30 am Monday morning. When officers initiated a traffic stop, he abruptly stopped his red Cadillac sedan in the outside lane. Police detected alcohol and Vizcaino admitted to having consumed two alcoholic drinks. His blood alcohol content registered .084% and .087% after two breath tests. The legal limit for intoxication in the state of Florida is .080%. He was booked on charges of Florida DUI at the Hillsborough County Jail.
Vizcaino is from the Dominican Republic, and he resides in St. Petersburg. He has a career record of 34-27 with a 4.34 ERA. He has pitched for six teams during his 10-year career. Last December, Vizcaino signed a two year, $2 million contract with the Rockies.
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State Agency Fires Florida DUI Inspector for Rigging Breath Test Equipment Results
FDLE says inspector’s actions could impact numerous cases of drunk driving in Florida.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has announced the firing of aDUI inspector who deliberately turned off breath testing equipment when they looked like they were going to fail required inspections. Sandra Viega serviced machines in South Florida and her actions threaten the outcome of numerous cases of driving under the influence in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.
Viega acknowledged to Miami Beach and Miami-Dade police departments that she intentionally turned off the power to Breathalyzer machines when it appeared they would fail required calibration tests. She said that by pulling the plug on the equipment there would be no documentation of the attempted test. Under Florida law, such testing must be undertaken monthly by local law enforcement agencies and annually by the FDLE in order to ensure that the machines are properly calibrated. If the tests are interrupted or altered, the accuracy of the breath testing equipment can be questioned. In response, South Florida DUI defense attorneys are challenging drunk driving cases, saying the lack of proper maintenance may have lead to false BAC readings and erroneous arrests when their clients were actually not legally intoxicated.
The FDLE issued a notice to law enforcement agencies in three south Florida counties last July, telling them to alert prosecutors handling DUI cases that breath sample evidence was compromised. Prosecutors, in turn, were responsible for informing defense attorneys whose cases may have been affected.
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Florida DUI Law Enforcement Agencies Concerned About Budget Cuts
Governor is asking all state agencies to pare their latest state budget requests.
The directors of the two largest law enforcement agencies in Florida have asked Gov. Charlie Crist to go lightly when cutting the budget of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. All state agencies are potentially affected by the Governor’s goal to pare back the state’s budget.
The heads of the Florida Police Chiefs Association and Florida Sheriff’s Association are urging robust funding for the FDLE, saying that a reduction in operating funds will jeopardize public safety. They cite the role of the state lab and FDLE field operations in all types of crime, including murders, drug smuggling and cases of driving under the influence in Florida. Local law enforcement officers echo the sentiment, expressing concern that an FDLE budget cut could impact their ability to combat and prosecute some crimes.
The FDLE has not yet submitted a legislative budget request for the upcoming fiscal period. Gov. Crist, who has a reputation of strong support for law enforcement, indicated that the input of the sheriffs and police chiefs will be considered during the budget process.
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Staffer for US Congressman Arrested for Florida DUI
Man claimed to be congressman’s chief of staff.
Ronald Allen Turner was arrested for driving under the influence in Manatee County Florida early Tuesday morning. The 39-year old was stopped for erratic driving around 12:30 am, and he identified himself as chief of staff to Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan.
Turner, who resides in Sarasota, was booked on Florida drunk driving charges and taken to the Manatee County jail. He is being held on $500 bail.
Buchanan’s spokesperson, Sally Tibbetts said they were looking into the issue. She clarified that Turner was the congressman’s district director, overseeing constituent services, and he was campaign manager during Buchanan’s successful 2006 race for Congress.
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Councilman Charged with Florida DUI in Pasco County
Charge of drunk driving for Port Richey councilman.
Steven O'Neill, a Port Richey councilman, was arrested for driving under the influence in Pasco County after being stopped for speeding.
A Pasco County Sheriff's deputy pulled over O'Neill for driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone. The deputy observed slurred speech and bloodshot and glassy eyes, and he detected a strong odor of alcohol. When exiting the vehicle, the deputy also noticed that O'Neill's crotch was wet.
O'Neill was booked on charges of Florida DUI after reportedly doing poorly on a field sobriety test and two breath tests registered a blood alcohol content of .175 and .165. The legal limit for intoxication in Florida is .08%.
O'Neill was re-elected to the Port Richey city council last month.
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Police Officer Suspected of Florida DUI in Bay County
Off-duty cop charged with drunk driving in Florida after accident.
William Beatty, Jr., 56, was charged with Florida DUI after being involved in a motorcycle accident Sunday evening. Florida Highway Patrol says Beatty told them a vehicle forced him off the road around 10:00 pm, causing him to hit a metal pole. Then, while trying to re-enter the roadway, Beatty claims his Harley-Davidson flipped on its side, ejecting and injuring a female passenger.
Beatty, a ten year veteran with the Bay County Sheriff’s Department, could not describe the vehicle that ran him off the road. He reportedly admitted to drinking alcohol throughout the evening. His blood alcohol content registered .14%, well above the .08% legal threshold for Driving Under the Influence in Florida.
Beatty has been suspended without pay, pending an investigation into the Bay County DUI case.
If you have been arrested for Driving Under the Influence in Florida you will need to hire a DUI Lawyer in Florida.
Florida Highway Patrol Media Release regarding William Dennis Beatty, Jr. from the Tallahassee Regional Communications Center.
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