DUI / Driver’s License.
If you have been arrested for DUI, you may have already had your license seized and suspended by law enforcement and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. If you blew .08 or higher there is a six (6) month’s suspension for a first time DUI and if you refused there is a one (1) year suspension. However, on a first time offense you are immediately able to get your license back. As of July 1, 2013, if you have had no prior DUI arrests you are immediately able to qualify for a hardship license within ten (10) days of the date of your arrest. If it is not a first time offense, you are eligible to apply for a Formal Review Hearing challenging your suspension and getting a permit to continue driving for forty-two (42) days.
Either way, you only have 10 calendar days from the date of your arrest to take actions regarding your driver’s license. Contact me immediately and I will personally meet with you and go over your options to find out what is most important to you and your case.
Getting your DUI reduced or dismissed.
Just because you have been arrested for DUI it does not mean that you will be convicted. Many DUIs get reduced for dismissed for a variety of reasons. The judge has no power to reduce your charge as that is solely in the hands of the State Attorney. It is important for your attorney to contact the State and point out any problems and deficiencies in their case that would lead them to believe that they cannot obtain a conviction beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt. It is important to review all the evidence in the case such as the video recording, police reports and breath testing documentation regarding the intoxilizer device, if taken. Subsequent to the review of those documents, as well as any other factors that are important that you may be specifically aware of. I will contact the State Attorney, both through letter and personal meetings, advocating your positions and asking the State to reduce the charges from DUI to Reckless Driving. Getting the DUI reduced effects you in many ways such as lower insurance premiums, shorter driver’s license suspension, no conviction on your record and many other factors that I will discuss with you in person. Contact me soon so that I can discuss the merits of getting your DUI reduced to Reckless Driving.
Getting your DUI dismissed.
Many times there will be a problem with your case and I will be able to get the charge dismissed altogether. This is done through a review of the evidence surrounding your case. Many times, the case can be dismissed for lack of probable cause for the stop, whether the officer personally observed your driving pattern while believing you were impaired, whether the evidence has been preserved, whether law enforcement had proper certification and grounds to conduct the testing performed, whether the field sobriety tests were performed in a proper manner and whether the evidence was properly preserved and many other reasons. There are many rights that you need to be aware of which may ultimately result in your case being dismissed. Let me put my vast experience to work for you and see what can happen with your DUI charge.
Going to Court.
Subsequent to being arrested for DUI you will be issued a court date. I will be with you every step of the way. I will appear with you or on your behalf for all court hearings and I am very familiar with the judges and the prosecutors handling your case. It is important for you to take care of obligations in advance which will help you resolve the case and reduce the cost of the charge. I can possibly save you thousands of dollars throughout your case if it is handled in a certain way. Contact me to find out how you can possibly save thousands of dollars.
Penalties for DUI.
The Florida Legislature has created certain minimum mandatory requirements for the punishment for DUI. The minimum requirements, include but are not limited to, probation, driver’s license revocation, possible incarceration as well as a interlock device in your vehicle. Though they are required by the legislature, they can be tailored to your specific case and sometimes eliminated altogether. For instance it is possible for me to save you all the money on your costs of supervision for probation by completing certain tasks prior to coming to court. There are many other factors that could go into cost saving and time saving for you. It is important that your case be handled throughly, however, ensuring the best outcome for you, both personally and financially. Contact me today to find out how this done.
DOMESTIC BATTERY
As a former State prosecutor, I have investigated countless domestic battery allegations in an effort to determine whether charges were to be filed. This experience puts me in a unique position to know first hand what strategies and tactics should be used to defend your domestic battery charge. It is important to understand just because you have been arrested for a domestic battery does not mean that you have been charged with one. Many times, it is possible to get the charges dropped before they are ever filed. It is important to understand that even if the victim wants to drop the charges, the State may pursue them anyway. Florida has a zero tolerance approach and many times the State will pursue a case that the victim does not want to be pursued. That is why it is important for immediate attention to your case to get the charges dropped before they have been filed. If they are filed by the State Attorney’s Office, there are many ways to resolve them without having a conviction resulting on your record or multiple appearances in court.
Many times the court issues a no contact order upon being arrested for domestic battery. Getting contact is crucial in many cases when the family depends on it. Getting the no contact order lifted as soon as possible can be handled by me immediately.
Getting the charges dropped, having contact, or resolving this case through a diversionary program are many of the functions that my experience can help you accomplish.
DRUG CHARGES
If you have been arrested for possession of controlled substances, it is important to know that certain cases carry a minimum mandatory sentence as well as minimum punishments. For instance, if you are convicted of even a simple misdemeanor possession of marijuana your license can be suspended for two (2) years. If you are arrested for a certain quantity of any controlled substance, your charge may be trafficking and have a minimum mandatory prison sentence. It is important to have the case assessed immediately so that the proper course can be taken for the best results. My vast experience with the drug court as well as other circuit courts will allow me to advise you properly to get the best outcome for your drug charge.
There have been many developments in the defense of drug charges. There has been new federal court decisions that can result in the dismissal of your charge. Understanding the difference between actual possession and constructive possession, the difference between proper searches and seizures as well as testing, laboratory and the chain of command, and control issues are a priority of mine. It is important to examine all these avenues as soon as possible for the best outcome of your case.
Pinellas County has a specialized drug court which can result in your charges being dismissed as well as avoiding an adjudication of guilt. If you are adjudicated guilty in the State of Florida you become a convicted felon and you lose your civil rights. There are ways to avoid becoming a convicted felon here in Pinellas County by utilizing the drug court and other programs such as Pre-Trial Intervention. To find out how this could apply to your case contact me today.
PETIT THEFT/GRAND THEFT
If you have been charged with petit theft or grand theft, many times the most important thing to the victim is restitution. Find out how you could possible get your charge reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor or from a misdemeanor to dismissal. It is important in Florida not to be convicted over petit theft or a grand theft or for that matter any other theft charge. Under certain circumstances, theft charges cannot be sealed or expunged and they will remain permanently on your record. Contact me today to help prepare a defense for your theft or fraud charge.
DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE
Many, many people in Florida get arrested for driving on a suspended license. It is very important to know that there are two (2) types of driving on a suspended license. The first is driving on a suspended license without knowledge which is a civil infraction. The second is driving on a suspended license with knowledge which is a criminal offense. Driving on a suspended licence with knowledge can result in incarceration and further suspension of your license. Three major offense in the State of Florida such as leaving the scene of an accident, driving on suspended license or reckless driving can result in your becoming a habitual traffic offender (HTO). If you have become a habitual traffic offender, I may be able to assist you in getting this designation removed and getting your license back. I have handled thousands of driving on suspended charges and have intricate knowledge of the driver’s license system in the State of Florida. Put my vast experience to work for you today and start driving again immediately.
WARRANTS AND VIOLATIONS OF PROBATION
If there is a warrant for your arrest it may be important to you to avoid being arrested in front of your family or co-workers. Contact me today so that I may arrange for the warrant to be recalled or for you to resolve the warrant in some other fashion other than being arrested and embarrassing yourself.
If you have been placed on probation and have committed a new offense, your probation will be violated and you will appear before the assigned judge that sentenced you. If you have been placed on probation and commit a technical violation, you will appear before the special judge who handles violations of probation.
It is important to note that when you violate your probation you may be subject to the original penalty imposed by the sentencing judge. It is important that you do not face the same penalty twice for the crime that you have committed and resolve your violation of probation efficiently and effectively. It is important that you appear before the judge with all your ducks in a row and therefore resolving your violation of probation without additional hardship or penalties. Contact me immediately if you have been violated or if a warrant is out for your arrest to address this matter.
AUTO ACCIDENTS/INJURIES
If you have been involved in an automobile accident, slip and fall or suffered other injuries contact me immediately. There are certain rights that you have regarding treatment for your injuries under Florida’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law that the insurance companies may not want you to know about. Furthermore, most people have insurance policies that may be available to compensate you on a monetary basis for your damages. Unlike criminal cases, I handle injury cases on a contingent basis which means that if I do not win your case you do not pay me for my services. Let me put my twenty-five (25) years of experience to work for you on your injury case today.