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DUI Wins

Our Recent DUI Victories

The following is a list of the firm's most recent DUI wins.
Parks & Braxton provides the case number, the judge's name, as well as the date the DUI was won for authenticity purposes.
Jan 25, 2022 Case: 21-CT-002328 Judge Conrad
The defendant was found passed out in her car in the middle of the roadway. Paramedics were on scene, as well as the police. Officers observed the defendant to have noticeable amount of mucus coming from her nose and her speech was unintelligible. She lost consciousness numerous times, had a blank stare, appeared confused, and was also crying at times. The defendant was transported to the hospital. At the hospital, the officer tried to do HGN (eye test), but the defendant couldn't follow the stimulus. Unable to interview her or gain consent for a blood draw due to the defendant losing consciousness, the officer had a nurse take the defendant's blood. That blood was sent to the FDLE lab and yielded blood alcohol concentration results of .432 and .429 (over 5 times the legal limit).
Parks & Braxton filed a pretrial motion to suppress the blood test results. In our motion, we alleged the officer had no "reasonable cause" under Florida Statute 316.1932 (c) to believe that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol, a chemical and/or controlled substance. No odor of alcohol was ever detected and no drugs were found. In addition, the officers on scene were constantly mentioning medical issues, and not DUI (or in police terms signal one). Prior to any motion hearing, the State Dropped the DUI in which the defendant's blood alcohol level was over 5 times the legal limit.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 24, 2022 Case: 21-CT-001924 Judge Poblick
Police received a call about the defendant driving southbound in the northbound lane of travel. When police found the defendant, he was parked in a 7-11 parking lot. Officers observed him to have an odor of alcohol, watery eyes, and slurred speech. He stumbled outside the car and also had an orbital sway. The defendant agreed to perform various roadside tests such as the HGN (eye test) and walk and turn. He was then arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
The firm called into question the lawfulness of the initial contact. Other than the traffic infraction, there was no reasonable suspicion justifying ordering the defendant out of his car.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 24, 2022 Case: AEUO4AE Judge Vaccaro
An ambulance observed the defendant swerving all over the roadway. They used their air horn to try to get the defendant to stop. When the defendant stopped, paramedics from the ambulance went to check on her. Police were called and when they arrived, they observed the defendant to have slurred/mumbled speech, bloodshot/glassy eyes, and she spontaneously stated she had taken a Xanax. The defendant appeared incoherent at times. She was taken to the hospital. Believing that she was impaired by drugs, a blood draw was done. The blood results yielded a positive result for Xanax. The defendant was charged with DUI. This was the defendant's Second DUI arrest.
Parks & Braxton pointed out numerous inconsistencies in the police reports. For example, one officer stated they observed an odor of alcohol coming from the defendant, while the arresting officer stated there was no odor, Also, when one is under the influence of Xanax (a CNS depressant), officers would see HGN or VGN in the defendant eyes (i.e. nystagmus). Here, there was neither.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 20, 2022 Case: AEBM9GE Judge Komninos
The defendant was stopped after callers stated the defendant was intoxicated in a city parking lot. Officers observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slurred/mumbled speech, and bloodshot eyes. He also appeared unsteady and gait ataxia. After refusing roadside tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused a breath test.
Due to the vagueness of the call and lack of driving pattern, the lawfulness of the stop was called into question.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 19, 2022 Case: 21-CT-040051 Judge Garagozlo
The defendant was stopped for weaving and speeding. The officers observed an odor of alcohol, slow/slurred speech, and he fumbled around. While outside the car, he swayed while he stood and had bloodshot eyes. After performing various field sobriety tests, such as the walk and turn and one leg stand, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused a breath test.
The firm pointed out various inconsistencies between the video and police reports.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 19, 2022 Case: 21-CT-045326 Judge Jacobus
A homeowner called police that they believed the defendant was impaired has he kept driving in their yard. Police were called and they made contact with the defendant in the homeowner's front yard. Officers noticed an odor of alcohol, he stated he had drank 3 beers, and his movements were slow. His eyes were glassy and he seemed confused. He performed poorly on roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .161 and a .155 in the breath machine.
After pretrial discussions, the firm pointed out that the officer had no right to order the defendant out of the car without any corroborating evidence of impairment.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 19, 2022 Case: 21-CT-009011SC Judge Galen
The defendant was found by police in a lane of travel with a missing front left tire and the entire hub assembly was missing. Also, the rear left tire was flat. The officer concluded, without any witnesses, that the defendant failed to maintain a single lane, drove off the road, and hopped the median causing disabling damage. Officers noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, red/watery eyes, and he would trip over his words. He admitted to having drank 5 Bacardi and Cokes. The defendant had prominent "gait ataxia" and would stagger as he walked. After performing field sobriety tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .197 and a .189 in the breath machine.
The firm pointed out to the State that the defendant couldn't be in "actual physical control "of a disabled (inoperable) vehicle.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 18, 2022 Case: 21-CF-000595 Judge Roby
The defendant was involved in a one car accident whereby she crashed into a parked vehicle. When officers arrived, they noticed the defendant to have an odor alcohol, slurred speech, and glossy eyes. She also seemed very confused. She then refused roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. She later refused the breath test. This was the defendant's Fourth DUI and she was charged by the State with Felony DUI.
Parks & Braxton took pretrial depositions of the two officers. In depo, they contradicted themselves numerous times and also each had a very vague recollection of the specific facts upon our questioning. After taking the depos, the State then Dismissed the Defendant's Felony Fourth DUI.
The DUI was dismissed.
Jan 18, 2022 Case: 21-CT-001566 Judge Burns
The defendant was stopped for speeding. The defendant had an odor of alcohol, a lack of dexterity, and he stated he had consumed one drink. He also had bloodshot eyes and fumbled with his documents. The defendant refused to perform any field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. He later refused a breath test. This was the defendant's Second DUI.
arrest him. The State agreed and the State Dismissed the defendant's Second DUI.
The DUI was dismissed.
Jan 12, 2022 Case: 21-CT-000801 Judge Dubois
The defendant was stopped for speeding. Officers observed an odor of alcohol, red/glassy eyes, and the defendant admitted to having drank. He also stumbled and appeared cocky. He was then asked to perform roadside tests to which he refused. He was then arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test. This was the defendant's Second DUI.
Parks & Braxton announced ready for trial. Prior to trial, it was pointed out to the State that on tape the officer misinformed the defendant about the law relating to roadside tests. In addition, he never stumbled and actually appeared sober. The State Dropped the defendant's Second DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 12, 2022 Case: 21-CT-0111727 Judge Dominguez for Oster

The defendant was the at fault driver in a rear end crash. Officers did not smell any alcohol, but they noticed glossy eyes, and lethargic behavior. She was sweating profusely and was unsteady. Believing she was impaired by drugs, she then performed roadside tests. She performed poorly on tape and was arrested for DUI. She later refused a urine test.

For the State to prove a DUI under 316.193 (DUI Statute), the defendant must be impaired by alcohol and/or a specific chemical and/or controlled substance. Here, they could not prove that she was impaired by any specific substance.
The DUI was dismissed.
Jan 11, 2022 Case: ADW4LOE Judge Croff
The defendant was stopped for cutting in between cars and driving too closely. The defendant had an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and bloodshot/watery eyes. She also had a blank stare, stated she had consumed martinis and beer, and slightly staggered. After performing various field sobriety tests, she was arrested for DUI. She later blew a .122 and a .117.
Issues were raised by the defense as to the lawfulness of the traffic stop.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 11, 2022 Case: AE8M1VE Judge Lawhorne
The defendant was stopped for weaving and stopping over the stop bar. Officers observed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and slow reactions to answering the officer's questions. He also had bloodshot eyes. After performing the walk and turn, one leg stand, and HGN (eye test), he was arrested for DUI. The defendant blew numerous times into the machine all resulting in invalid samples. The invalid samples called VNM (volume not met) were .143, .108, .130, and .103. Since he could not provide two valid samples, the police wrote it up as a refusal.
According to the police reports provided in discovery by the State, all the defendant's roadside tests were videotaped. However, that tape was never turned over to the state by the police. In order to avoid the defense from filing a motion to dismiss the case for destruction of evidence, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 11, 2022 Case: AEBM9OE Judge Lawhorne
The defendant was stopped for driving without headlights or taillights. Once stopped, the officer noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, a flushed face, and he was sweating. The defendant appeared confused and had difficulty following directions. The defendant agreed to perform the HGN (eye test) and then refused to perform anymore exercises. He was then arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test.
Based on the written report and video tape evidence provided by the State in discovery, the defense raised issues as to the lack of probable cause to arrest the defendant.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 11, 2022 Case: AE8M8EE Judge Lawhorne
An individual working at a bar where the defendant was drinking stated she appeard intoxicated and attempted to get her an Uber. The defendant refused and drove off. Officers spotted the defendant driving and stopped her. They noticed an odor of alcohol, and glassy/watery eyes. After going back and forth with the officers, she performed field sobriety tests. She did not perform to their satisfaction and was arrested for DUI. She later refused the breath test.
The initial call leading to the traffic stop was vague and only had a conclusory statement that the defendant appeared intoxicated. Without more details, the stop was not corroborated and unlawful.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 11, 2022 Case: A6MGQIE Judge Lawhorne
The defendant was stopped for speeding. When the defendant rolled the window down, a large plume of marijuana smoke appeared. This made it difficult for the officer to see inside. The defendant appeared drowsy, disoriented, and stated he was "hot boxing." The defendant performed various field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. He the provided a urine sample which was sent to the lab. It tested positive for THC (marijuana).
There were numerous pretrial discussions with the state. Eventually the defense was able to convince the State to Drop the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 10, 2022 Case: 21-CT-007015 Judge Palomino for Oster
The defendant crashed her car into a concrete barrier. When officers arrived, they noticed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. After performing roadside tests, she was arrested for DUI. She later blew a .195 and a .181 in the breath machine.
Parks & Braxton filed a motion to suppress the breath test results. In our motion we alleged that the officer misled the defendant into taking the breath test. Specifically, we put forth that the officer led her to believe she could get a hardship license if she blew, versus, she could not if she refused. Thus, the officer went outside Implied Consent by discussing hardships. On the day of the motion, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 6, 2022 Case: 21-CM-7566 Judge Conrad
The defendant was driving his boat when it was boarded for a safety check. Officers observed an open container of alcohol at the helm. The defendant had an odor of alcohol, watery eyes, and slurred speech. The defendant fumbled around and had problems using his fingertips. He then performed various field sobriety exercises used in boating under the influence cases such as the HGN (eye test), finger to nose, palm pat, and hand coordination test. He was then arrested for BUI.
When the firm got the video (body worn camera) from the officer, it was missing all the field sobriety tests. The State, nor the police, could ever produce that evidence.
The Boating under the Influence charge was Dismissed by the State.
Jan 6, 2022 Case: 21-CM-006482 Judge Conrad
The defendant was stopped after driving westbound in the eastbound lane. Officers observed her to have an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and a blank/dazed stare. She had poor coordination, cyclical mood behavior, and she admitted to having drank alcohol. She then performed various roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. She resisted arrested by pulling away, stiffening her arms, and refusing to place her arms behind her back. She was also charged with resisting arrest. She later refused the breath test.
Every observation the officer wrote was either false or overly exaggerated. The DUI video completely contradicted everything that was on paper. In fact, the defendant actually performed very well on the tests.
The State Dropped the DUI and Dismissed the resisting charge.
Jan 6, 2022 Case: 21-MM-001545 Judge Wansboro
The defendant was the at fault driver in a crash whereby she backed into another car. Officers observed her to appear dazed, she had very slurred speech, and she could not comprehend commands. She threatened the officer by telling her she was going to kill her. Her speech became more incomprehensible as time went on. She was then asked to perform field sobriety tests. During the exercises, she started doing yoga and gymnast moves. She was then arrested for DUI and threatening a cop. She was also charged with criminal mischief for destroying the officers back seat camera. She later refused a breath and a urine test.
To prove DUI, the State must prove that the defendant was impaired by alcohol and/or a specific chemical and/or controlled substance. Although, the defendant was clearly impaired, the State could not prove why what specifically.
The State Dropped the DUI and the defendant was also not convicted on the other crimes.
Jan 5, 2022 Case: 21-CT-003471 Judge Taylor
The defendant was stopped for speeding and weaving. Officers noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, and slurred speech. He was belligerent, argumentative, and he swayed. After performing various filed sobriety tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .130 and a .132 in the breath machine.
After numerous conversations with the prosecutor about various issues and discrepancies in discovery uncovered by the defense, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 5, 2022 Case: 21-CT-037722 Judge T. Brown
The defendant was stopped for speeding and crossing over the fog line three times. Officers observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and she was emotional. She was asked to perform roadside tests to which she complied. She was then arrested for DUI and she later blew a .209 and a .204 in the breath machine.
Due to a lack of reasonable suspicion to conduct a DUI investigation, simply based on odor and bloodshot eyes, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 5, 2022 Case: 21-CT-030819 Judge T. Brown
The defendant was stopped after callers dialed 911 stating that the defendant was driving out of control and recklessly. When officers spotted her, they saw her swerving and striking the curb. She did not stop upon the officers using their lights and sirens. When contact was made, the defendant was incoherent and almost fell. Believing that she was impaired by drugs, she was asked to perform roadside tests to which she couldn't do. It was also determined that she had left the scene of an accident. She was arrested for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. She later provided a urine sample which was positive for marijuana.
The defendant admitted to having taken Ambien ten minutes before driving. The officers did not find nor smell any marijuana. The marijuana could have been in her system for 30 days. The lab didn't test for the Ambien for some unknown reason. Thus, the State couldn't prove by what specific chemical and/or controlled substance was impairing her as required by the DUI statute 316.193. The State Dropped the DUI and dismissed the Leaving the scene charge.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jan 4, 2022 Case: 21-CT-010333 Judge Palomino for Oster
The defendant was found passed out in his car. Upon awakening the defendant, the officer noticed an odor of alcohol, droopy eyes, slurred speech, and he admitted to consuming alcohol. He was also unsteady and had a bracelet from a bar. After performing field sobriety tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .158 and a .153 in the breath machine.
The State could not prove that the defendant was in actual physical control because he had no capability to operate the car while sleeping.
The State dropped the DUI.
Dec 16, 2021 Case: 21-CT-041687 Judge Peacock
The defendant was stopped for weaving and having no taillights. Once stopped, the officer noticed an odor of alcohol, watery eyes, and he stated that he had consumed a few drinks. He swayed while he stood and also vomited. After performing roadside tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused a breath test.
Due to various contradictions between the video and the written reports pointed out by the firm, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Dec 14, 2021 Case: 21-CT-013583 Judge Damico
The defendant was stopped for driving too fast for conditions. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, glossy eyes, and a distant stare. The defendant's speech was slow and deliberate, and he had difficulty balancing himself. The defendant then performed various roadside tasks such and the finger to nose, alphabet, and walk and turn . He was then arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test.
Issues were raised as to the lawfulness of the traffic stop due to the fact that the officer allegedly only visually estimated the defendant's speed and the "conditions" were not articulated in any detail.
The State dropped the DUI.
Dec 10, 2021 Case: 21-CT-036776 Judge Garagozlo
The defendant was stopped for speeding. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, glossy/bloodshot eyes, and he stated he had consumed 3 crown and cokes. He also swayed while he stood, had mumbled speech, and appeared unsteady. He then performed various field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .146 and a .143 in the breath machine.
Due to inconsistencies between the police reports and the video tape that were pointed out by the firm to the State, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Dec 8, 2021 Case: 21-CT-5854 Judge Jewett
The defendant was involved in a traffic crash whereby she was the at fault driver. The defendant was taken to the hospital where she was met by officers. They observed an odor of alcohol and bloodshot eyes. The defendant was in and out of consciousness. She was asked to provide a blood sample and she refused. She was subsequently arrested for DUI.
There as a lack of probable cause to arrest her due to the officer being unable to communicate with her at the hospital due to her medical condition.
The State Dropped the DUI.
Dec 7, 2021 Case: 21-CT-000257 Judge Gutman
The defendant was involved in a traffic crash. When officers arrived, they noticed an odor of alcohol, slurred/mumbled speech, and watery eyes. While detained, he fell asleep. He was arrested for DUI because roadsides were not conducted for safety reasons. Believing he was impaired by drugs along with alcohol, a DRE (drug recognition exam) was conducted and a urine test was requested. He later tested positive at FDLE for Methamphetamines, benzos and marijuana. This was the defendant's Second DUI. He was also charged with leaving the scene of an accident.
Prior to trial, the defense pointed out to the State that the DRE was wrong. The officer called CNS depressants which has the opposite effect of a CNS simulant (methamphetamines). Also, the officers stated they smelled alcohol, but none was detected in his system. Their credibility was called into question. The State Dropped the defendant's Second DUI. The leaving the scene charge was Dismissed.

The State dropped the DUI.

Dec 7, 2021 Case: 21-CT-005079 Judge Gutman
The defendant was the at fault driver in a traffic crash. Officers observed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. The defendant actually hit another car but thought he hit a guardrail. After performing roadside tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused a breath test. This was his Second DUI.
The officer administering the roadside tests was reading the instructions off a card. This made following instructions very difficult. Based on the video, we also pointed out that he performed better than the officer wrote in his report. The State Dropped the defendant's Second DUI days before trial.
The State dropped the DUI.
Dec 7, 2021 Case: 21-CT-000087 Judge Gutman
The defendant was found passed out in his car and slumped over the wheel. Officers noticed an odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, and slurred speech. He performed poorly on roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
The firm pointed out that the defendant could not be in actual physical control as he had no "capability" to operate the vehicle while asleep.
The State dropped the DUI.
Dec 7, 2021 Case: 21-CT-008306 Judge Jeske
The defendant was stopped for weaving and cutting off another car. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol and requested that she perform field sobriety tests. She then performed the HGN (eye test), walk and turn, and one leg stand. She was then arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test.
An odor of alcohol alone is not enough to give an officer reasonable suspicion of a crime (ie. DUI) to lawfully request roadside tests. Thus, there was a high likelihood that the field sobriety tests would have been excluded from evidence.
The State dropped the DUI.
Dec 7, 2021 Case: AEBLREE Judge Bedinghaus
The defendant was stopped for driving down the wrong lane, by driving westbound in the eastbound lane. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. He also gave the officer his debit card instead of his driver’s license. The defendant also appeared to stumble and he stated he had drank two beers. He then performed various roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later blew a 144 and a .143 in the breath machine.
The video of the defendant at the scene clearly contradicted many of the officer’s written observations which were highly exaggerated.
The State Dropped the DUI.
Dec 7, 2021 Case: AEBM7KE Judge Bedinghaus
The defendant was involved in a traffic crash with a police vehicle. Officers observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol and bloodshot/watery eyes. He then performed various roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .119 and a .118 in the breath machine.
Issues were raised by the firm as to who was actually at fault in the crash. In addition, the defendant sustained head injuries when he fell off his motorcycle. This caused doubt as to whether impairment was due to alcohol or the crash itself.
The State Dropped the DUI.
Dec 1, 2021 Case: 21-CT-003360 Judge Grode
The defendant was stopped for driving with his high beams on. Officers noticed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and he needed to use his car for support. He also appeared dazed and confused. He then performed poorly on roadside tests and was arrested for DUI.
There was no video or body worn camera. Since the roadsides were vaguely described, the state Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Nov 9, 2021 Case: 21-CM-002502 Judge Gutman
The defendant was found passed out in his car. Officers noticed an odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, and slurred speech. While outside the car, he swayed back and forth. After performing only the HGN (eye test), he was arrested for DUI. He later refused a breath test. After arrest, the officers found drug paraphernalia and he was charged with that as well.
To be in actual physical control, a defendant must have the "capability" to operate a motor vehicle. Here, the defendant was sleeping, so he had no capability to operate the car. The State Dropped the DUI and dismissed the possession charge.
The State dropped the DUI.
Nov 9, 2021 Case: 21-CT-002279 Judge Gutman
An officer observed an unknown female knocking on the window of the car driven by the defendant. The defendant was passed out. She then awoke and drove into the woman banging on the window. The officer then went up to the car and noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and she appeared lethargic. She also appeared confused and admitted to having drank two margaritas. After performing various roadside tests, she was arrested for DUI. She later refused a breath test.
On tape, the defendant did not appear confused or lethargic. In fact, she was very attentive during the roadside tests. Her speech also seemed normal. Due to many contradictions between the video tape and the written reports, the State Dropped the DUI just short of trial.
The State dropped the DUI.
Nov 9, 2021 Case: 21-CM-002358 Judge Gutman
The defendant's boat was stopped for a safety check by police. Upon boarding the boat, officers observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, watery eyes, he staggered, and was unsteady. He had problems using his fingertips and fumbled with his items. He then performed various roadside tests on the boat such as the palm pat, hand coordination, and finger to nose. He was then arrested for boating under the influence and later refused the breath test.
The officer had a body worn camera. The defendant only appeared unsteady because the boat was rocking on the water. His eyes were watery because he was on the water and out in the sun all day. There were three others on the boat who stated he was not impaired. Many observations written by the officer were completely exaggerated as compared to the body camera. The State Dropped the BUI a few days before trial.
The State dropped the DUI.
Nov 9, 2021 Case: 21-CT-004727 Judge Gutman
The defendant was stopped for speeding. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, watery/glassy eyes, and delayed verbal communication. He also had a red in color face. The defendant then performed field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test. This was the defendant's Second DUI arrest.
The firm pointed out to the State that there was a lack of probable cause to arrest him based on the video tape evidence. The State agreed and Dropped the DUI a few days before trial. It should be noted, the firm got his last DUI Dropped as well.
The State dropped the DUI.
Nov 9, 2021 Case: AEDU2TE Judge Bedinghaus
The defendant was stopped for speeding. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and mumbled speech. He also swayed, stumbled, and appeared unsteady. He then performed the HGN (eye test), walk and turn, one leg stand and estimation of time exercises. He was then arrested for DUI and later blew a .139 and a .136 in the breath machine.
Issues were raised as to whether the defendant's breath alcohol level was lower at the time of driving due to his performance on the roadside tests. Thus, the firm called into question whether he was over .08 at the time of driving.
The State dropped the DUI.
Nov 4, 2021 Case: 21-CT-001080 Judge Dyer
The defendant was stopped for weaving and driving under the speed limit. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot/watery eyes, and slurred/mumbled speech. He appeared lethargic and exhibited mood swings. He also swayed, appeared unsteady, and had balance issues. He then refused roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later refused a breath test . This was the defendant's Second DUI.
There were a few cops on scene. It appeared on video as if it was training exercise to teach the trainee officer how to process a DUI. One cop was even asking about a refusal statute which didn't even apply. In addition, on tape he did not appear unsteady and his speech was normal. After speaking with the prosecutor, the State Dropped the defendant's Second DUI a few days before trial.
The State dropped the DUI.
Nov 2, 2021 Case: 21-CT-027598 Judge Peacock
The defendant was stopped for driving into oncoming traffic. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, glassy/red eyes, and a fixed gaze. He also had a flushed face and slight slur to his speech. After performing various roadside tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
The police report over exaggerated the level of impairment on the roadside tests as compared to the video tape evidence.
The State dropped the DUI.
Nov 2, 2021 Case: 21-CT-027646 Judge Peacock
The defendant was stopped for driving without headlights. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, and he swayed while he stood. He also appeared clumsy, and he stumbled. He then performed field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. After his arrest, he blew a .205 and a .204 in the breath machine.
The firm raised probable cause to arrest issues which would have led to suppression of the breath test results.
The State dropped the DUI.
Nov 1, 2021 Case: 21-CT-024192 Judge Garagozlo
A caller dialed 911 stating that the defendant was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes. The officer then observed the defendant swerving all over. Officers observed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and he swayed while he stood. The defendant then performed HGN (test) and was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
On video, right before the walk and turn began, it started pouring rain. The officers made no attempt to take the defendant out of the rain and off the highway to give him the opportunity to perform the walk and turn, one leg stand, and any other tests. The officers could be heard saying "we got enough, let’s just go." This was brought the prosecutor's attention along with other issues on the tape.
The State dropped the DUI.
Oct 27, 2021 Case: 21-CT-007730 Judge Weis
The defendant was found by police passed out in his car at a gas station. They found him after a caller dialed 911 stating that the defendant almost struck them in their car, as well as numerous others, and was driving over 100 mph swerving all over. Officers noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, red eyes, they smelled urine, and he had slurred speech. The defendant was also a CDL holder. Due to bizarre behavior exhibited by the defendant, no roadsides were conducted. He was then arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test.
Since the call was anonymous, there was no reasonable suspicion of a crime justifying ordering the defendant out of the car without any corroboration.

The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 26, 2021 Case: 21-CT-029026 Judge Silverman
The defendant was stopped for running a stop sign. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, and thick tongued speech. She also appeared confused, used the car door for support, and admitted to having drank 4 drinks. She refused to perform roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. She later refused the breath test.
Many observations such as the defendant's speech and balance issues were contradicted by the officer's body worn camera.
The State dropped the DUI.
Oct 26, 2021 Case: 21-CT-030055 Judge Silverman
The defendant was stopped for speeding. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. There was an open beer in the center console and the defendant admitted to drinking. He then performed various field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
Based on the evidence, there was a lack of probable cause to arrest the defendant.
The State dropped the DUI.
Oct 25, 2021 Case: 21-CT-009397 Judge Panse
A gas station employee called 911 stating that the defendant appeared intoxicated and was stumbling around. She also stated that he fell to the ground. When officers arrived, they observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and he staggered as he walked. The defendant also had bloodshot eyes and stated he had drank 2 beers. The defendant refused to perform roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later blew a.137 and a .137 in the breath machine. This was the defendant's Second DUI.
Under Florida Statute 901.15, officers must observe every element of the crime. In a DUI, they must first observe the defendant to be either driving or in actual physical control. If they do not, the arrest is unlawful under 901.15. The only exception is if there is a crash, which here there was not. When officers arrived in this case, the defendant was standing outside his car. The firm filed a motion to suppress for an unlawful arrest. Just prior the motion hearing, the State Dropped the defendant's Second DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Oct 13, 2021 Case: 21-CT-009111 Judge Zuckerman
The defendant was found passed out in her car slumped over. The car was running and stopped in the middle of a parking lot blocking other cars. Upon awakening her, she was incoherent, had glassy eyes, and her speech was slow and mumbled. She stumbled and had to catch her balance. Believing she was impaired by drugs, she was asked to perform roadside tests to which she refused. She was then arrested for DUI and later refused a urine test. This was the defendant's Second DUI.
The firm filed a motion for statement of particulars. This was filed to find out the State's theory of prosecution, as to what drug they were trying to prove was impairing her. In order to prove DUI under Florida Statute 316.193, a defendant must be impaired by alcohol, and/or a specific chemical and/or controlled substance. Here the State could not prove by what specific substance was impairing the defendant.
The State Dismissed the defendant's Second DUI.
Oct 12, 2021 Case: 21-CT-001004 Judge Woodard
The defendant crashed her car into bushes and a tree on a median. When officers arrived, they observed an odor of alcohol, red/glossy eyes, and she admitted to having drank whiskey. She appeared off balance and stumbled around. After performing poorly on roadside tests, she was arrested for DUI. She later blew a .172 and a .169 in the breath machine.
Prior to any trial, the firm brought issues up to the State about the severity of the crash and how it could make her look impaired versus alcohol.
The State dropped the DUI.
Oct 12, 2021 Case: 21-CT-000890 Judge Conrad
The defendant was the at fault driver in a rear end crash. Officers observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot/watery eyes, and slurred speech. The defendant was asked to perform roadside tests and he refused. He was then arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test. This was the defendant's Third DUI.
An officer is required to advise a defendant of adverse consequences if they refuse roadside tests. In this case, that didn't happen, so the refusal to perform the roadside tests would have been excluded from evidence.
The State Dropped the defendant's Third DUI.
Oct 12, 2021 Case: 20-CT-013231 Judge Conrad
The defendant was accused of running a red light and causing a traffic crash. Officers observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, slurred speech, and he was unsteady. He then performed poorly on roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .235 and a .232 in the breath machine.
The defense was able to show that the defendant was not the driver at the time of the crash. It was his brother who was driving the car. Due to the reasonable doubt created, and the State not being able to prove who was the driver, the State Dismissed the DUI.
The State Dismissed the DUI.
Oct 7, 2021 Case: 21-CT-000126 Judge Ritenour
The defendant was found passed out in his car at an intersection. Upon awakening him, officers observed an odor of alcohol and red/watery eyes. He was then asked to perform various field sobriety tests. He was then arrested for DUI and later blew a .139 and a .134 in the breath machine.
Without evidence of impairment, such as slurred speech or balance issues, there was no reasonable suspicion of a crime (i.e. DUI) justifying the request for roadside tests.
The State dropped the DUI.
Oct 7, 2021 Case: 21-CT-001608 Judge Farr
The defendant was stopped for weaving within his lane multiple times. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. He admitted to having drank two 24 ounce beers and appeared unsteady. After performing field sobriety tests he was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
Upon viewing the video, the firm brought it to the State's attention that there was no probable cause to arrest the defendant based on his performance on the roadside tests.
The State dropped the DUI.
Oct 7, 2021 Case: 21-CT-002584 Judge Farr
The defendant was stopped for running a stop sign. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, glassy/watery eyes, and a flushed face. He also had slurred speech and he admitted to having drank two drinks. After performing roadside tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .183 and a .171 in the breath machine.
Prior to any trial date, the firm was able to point out many inconsistencies with the discovery to the State.
The State dropped the DUI.
Oct 5, 2021 Case: 20-CM-004088 Judge Gutman
The defendant's boat was boarded by HCSO for a safety inspection, as well as an improper display of the registration on the boat. Upon contact, the officer observed and odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. He then performed roadsides on the boat such as the palm pat and hand coordination exercises. He was then arrested for Boating under the influence (BUI) and he later blew a .128 and a .117 in the breath machine.
According to the police reports, there were body worn cameras worn by Florida Fish and Wildlife Police officers who were on scene along with the Sheriff's officer. Those videos were not turned over by the police department to the prosecutor.
The State Dropped the Boating Under the Influence.
Oct 4, 2021 Case: 21-CT-007995 Judge Zuckerman
The defendant was stopped for swerving in his lane and his tires hit the lane dividers several times. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and red eyes. He also stated he had consumed one drink. After performing field sobriety tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
Due to vagueness written in the specifics of the driving pattern, issues were raised as to the lawfulness of the traffic stop.
The State dropped the DUI.
Oct 4, 2021 Case: 21-CT-007533 Judge Zuckerman
The defendant was stopped after a call went out about the defendant hitting a construction sign. The officer found the defendant's car and noticed it weaving and speeding. Upon stopping the defendant, the officer noticed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and watery/bloodshot eyes. The defendant swayed while sitting in her seat. She then performed various field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. She later refused the breath test.
Prior to trial, the firm brought many inconsistencies in the discovery to the State's attention such as conflicts between the video and the police reports.
The State dropped the DUI.
Oct 1, 2021 Case: 2021-306177MMDB Judge Feigenbaum
The defendant was the at fault driver in a rear end crash. Officers observed an odor of alcohol, watery eyes, and droopy eyelids. The defendant admitted to having drank 3 or 4 beers. He then performed various field sobriety tests such as the HGN (eye test), walk and turn, and one leg stand. He was arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test.
On video, there were about four officers trying to conduct the DUI investigation. One appeared to be training the other and two others had no clue what was going on. For example, during the HGN(eye test), while one officer was administering the test, the other one was taking notes of the observations. However, the one taking notes was off to the side and couldn't even see the defendant's eyes. While giving the instructions on the walk and turn, the officer was reading off a standard instruction sheet of paper which totally confused the defendant. After reviewing the tape, the State Agreed with the firm and Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Oct 1, 2021 Case: 21-CT-003392 Judge Farr
The defendant was stopped for speeding. The officer detected a strong odor of alcohol, red/watery eyes, and she appeared unsteady. After performing various roadside tests, she was arrested for DUI.
Issues were raised as to a lack of probable cause to arrest the defendant. The State agreed and Dropped the DUI. The defendant received no conviction on her record.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 30, 2021 Case: 21-CT-008824 Judge Booras
A concerned citizen dialed 911 stating that the defendant was traveling erratically all over the road. The officer spotted the defendant and conducted a traffic stop. The officer then noticed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and he was lethargic in his movements. He then performed poorly on the roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
Since the officer didn't observe any type of driving pattern, the lawfulness of the stop was called into question.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 24, 2021 Case: 21-CT-003572 Judge Conrad
The defendant was stopped for driving without headlights at night. Officers observed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and difficulty following instructions.. She appeared unsteady, uncoordinated, and swayed. She performed various roadside tasks such as the walk and turn and one leg stand. She was then arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test.
Many of the observations written by the officers were over exaggerated as compared to what can be viewed from the body worn cameras worn by the officers.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 23, 2021 Case: 21-CT-026157 Judge T. Brown
A concerned citizen called 911 stating that the defendant was driving recklessly by failing to maintain a single lane. When the officer spotted the defendant, he was drifting between three lanes of travel affecting other traffic. The officer observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and he swayed while he stood. He performed poorly on roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
Many observations written by the officer were contradicted by the video tape leading to credibility issues.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 23, 2021 Case: 21-CT-022318 Judge T. Brown
The defendant was stopped after driving on the white solid line and cutting across five lanes of travel. Officers noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, dilated/watery eyes, and he had to shuffle around to find his documents. The defendant denied having anything to drink. His speech was mumbled and he was slow in his movements. After performing various roadside tests such as the finger to nose and one leg stand, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
The lawfulness of the stop was called into question as the specifics of the driving pattern were vague and no traffic seemed to be affected.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 21, 2021 Case: AEL8FXE Judge Bedinghaus
The defendant was stopped for weaving and drifting in her lane. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and she fumbled with her documents. She also had a flushed face and watery eyes. After performing various field sobriety tests, she was arrested for DUI. She later refused the breath test.
Due to the lack of specificity written by the officer about the field sobriety tests, there was a lack of probable cause.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 21, 2021 Case: 21-CT-005076 Judge Conrad
The defendant was stopped for failure to maintain a single lane. Once stopped, the officer noticed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and red eyes. She also swayed while she stood. After performing roadsides, she was arrested for DUI. She later blew a .191 and a .189 in the breath machine.
The legality of the traffic stop was called into question after a review of the video and police reports.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 20, 2021 Case: 19-029972MU10A Judge Carpenter-Toye
The defendant was the at fault driver in crash. He made made a wide turn and hit another car. Officers observed an odor of alcohol, slow/slurred speech, and he swayed while he stood. He also had watery eyes and and he would repeat things as he spoke. The defendant refused to perform roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
When a defendant refuses to perform roadside tests the officer must advise the defendant of adverse consequences before the refusal may be admitted into evidence. In this case, the firm filed a motion to exclude the refusal because the officer did not follow the law. The Judge granted the motion and the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 15, 2021 Case: 19-CT-001292 Judge Gould
The defendant was the at fault driver in a rear end crash. When officers arrived, they noticed the defendant to have an odor alcohol, the defendant admitted to having drank a mojito, he had thick tongued speech and glassy eyes. After performing various field sobriety tests such as the one leg stand and walk and turn, he was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .127 and a .126 in the breath machine.
Prior to trial, the firm uncovered various documents on the particular breath machine that the defendant blew into. It showed that the officers never did the required inspections and the machine failed many times. A week prior to the trial date, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 14, 2021 Case: 21-CT-023358 Judge Silverman
A "BOLO" went out about a reckless driver weaving in and out of traffic. When officers spotted the defendant (the driver in question), they observed her swerving and slowing down. Upon contact, the officers observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, she fumbled with her documents, and had slurred speech. She also staggered and stumbled while outside the car. After performing very poorly on roadside tests, she was arrested for DUI. She later blew a .237 and a .236 in the breath machine.
Issues were raised by the firm regarding the lawfulness of the traffic stop such as whether the caller was anonymous, and the amount of corroboration visualized by the officer.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 14, 2021 Case: 21-CT-023554 Judge Jacobus
The defendant was the at fault driver in a parking lot fender bender. The eyewitness at the scene identified the defendant as the driver. The defendant and her friend then switched seats. When officers made contact, the defendant was now in the passenger seat. She was asked to step out of the car. Once out, officers observed her to have an odor of alcohol, mumbling speech, and slow movements. She then performed poorly on roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. She later refused the breath test.
The defendant denied ever being the initial driver involved in the crash. Questions were then raised by the firm as to the accuracy of the eyewitness’s identification.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 14, 2021 Case: 21-CT-000298 Judge Jeske
The defendant was stopped after he crossed over the dotted white line on three different occasions. The officer then observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and fumbling fingers. He also had slurred speech and admitted to having drank alcohol. After performing field sobriety tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
There was no reasonable suspicion to believe that the defendant was impaired for simply crossing over the line 3 times within a quarter of a mile. It could have been something as innocent as changing the radio station or looking down at one's phone for a second.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 14, 2021 Case: 21-CT-017703 Judge Atkin
The defendant was stopped for driving the wrong way on the road and almost causing a head on collision. Officers observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, and slow speech. The defendant staggered and admitted to having drank whiskey. Due to his intoxication level, roadside tests were not conducted for safety reasons. He was then arrested for DUI and later blew a .228 and a .222 in the breath machine.
After extensive negotiations and the firm pointing out some inconsistencies in the evidence, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 14, 2021 Case: 21-CT-031827 Judge Jacobus
The defendant was stopped for a traffic infraction by a local police department officer. He then called for the Sheriff's office to conduct a DUI investigation. Officers observed an odor of alcohol, watery eyes, and he seemed confused. After performing the field sobriety tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later blew. a .152 and a .149 in the breath machine.
The defendant was detained longer than necessary for the initial officer to write the traffic ticket. Thus, the issue was raised by the firm whether he was unlawfully detained too long for the DUI cop to arrive.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 13, 2021 Case: 21-CT-011689 Judge Collins
The defendant was involved in a single car crash. Her car ran off the road into the bushes. When officers arrived, they noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, very slurred speech, and watery eyes. She had slow/lethargic movements and swayed. She then performed poorly on roadside tests and was arrested for DUI.
Officers had on body worn cameras. On tape, the defendant's speech was not slurred and she did not appear unsteady. They it made it seem like her performance on the field sobriety tests was worse on paper than what appeared on tape. The firm brought all this to the prosecutor's attention.
The State Dropped the DUI.
Sep 9, 2021 Case: 21-CT-000648 Judge Wansboro
The defendant was stopped for driving the wrong way and having no headlight. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, a blank stare, and watery eyes. She also had constricted pupils and slurred speech. She then performed poorly on various field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. She later blew a .117 and a .115 in the breath machine.
There was no dash camera or body worn camera. Since the reports were vaguely written, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State Dropped the DUI.
Sep 2, 2021 Case: 21-CT-002081 Judge Conrad
A caller dialed 911 and stated that the defendant was driving the wrong way. A deputy located the vehicle driven by the defendant. Upon contact, the officer noticed an odor of alcohol, red/watery eyes, and slurred speech. She also had unsteady balance and her movements were lethargic. After performing poorly on the roadside tests, she was arrested for DUI. She later refused the breath test.
Since the caller only described an alleged traffic infraction, the officer had to have seen some type of erratic driving pattern or infraction to seize the defendant. Since he did not, the lawfulness of the traffic stop was called into question.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 1, 2021 Case: 21-CT--000588 Judge Sestak
The defendant drove toward a dead end where an FHP happened to be sitting in his car. After the defendant realized it was a dead end, he turned around. The trooper then initiated a traffic stop. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol, watery eyes and mumbled speech. The defendant performed very poorly on the roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .206 and a .197 in the breath machine.
The firm advised the prosecutor prior to any motions being filed that there was no probable cause to stop the defendant. The State Agreed and Dropped the DUI to a civil infraction and the defendant received no conviction or points on the civil infraction.
The State dropped the DUI.
Sep 1, 2021 Case: 19-011331MU10A Judge Carpenter-Toye
The defendant was stopped for speeding. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and he had a cup of whiskey in the center console. The defendant also stumbled and admitted to having drank whiskey. After performing field sobriety tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .096 and a .093 in the breath machine.
Parks & Braxton announced ready for trial. There were numerous inconsistencies in the officer's reports, as well as the video. Also, with the .02 margin of error on the breath machine, we were able to place the defendant's breath alcohol results under the legal limit. On the morning of trial, the State Dropped the DUI and the defendant received no conviction on his record.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 31, 2021 Case: 21-MM-010014 Judge Friedland
The defendant was stopped after a caller told 911 that the defendant was "high as a kite." When officers made contact, they observed the defendant to have slow/slurred speech and slow/lethargic movements. Believing he was impaired by drugs and not alcohol, he was asked to perform roadside tests. He performed very poorly and was arrested for DUI. He later refused a urine test.
Under Florida law (Fla. Statute 316.193) to prove a DUI, the State must prove that a defendant be impaired by alcohol, and/or a specific chemical and/or controlled substance. Here, the State could not prove either of the above. One cannot just be impaired to be convicted of DUI.
The DUI was dismissed.
Aug 31, 2021 Case: 20-CT-038546 Judge Friedland
The defendant was rear ended by another car. When officers arrived, they noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, mumbled speech, and red/glassy eyes. The defendant was then taken to the hospital where she refused to provide a blood sample. She was then charged with DUI. This was the defendant's Second DUI.
The officers’ reports contradicted each other. In one report, he wrote that the defendant had mumbled speech, but in another one he wrote the defendant had good speech. Due to the fact that the defendant was not the cause of crash, no roadsides were conducted, and the officer's credibility was called into question, there was a lack of probable cause to arrest the defendant. The State Dropped the defendant's Second DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 31, 2021 Case: 21-CT-010804 Judge Friedland
The defendant was stopped for speeding. The defendant failed to stop within a reasonable time after the officer turned on his police lights. The officer then observed an odor of alcohol, red/watery eyes, and he lacked motor skills. The defendant stated he drank 2 beers and 3 Vegas Bomb shots. After performing roadside tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
Many of the observations written by the officer were contradicted by the dash camera video tape.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 30, 2021 Case: 21-CT-007232 Judge Damico
A caller dialed 911 stating that the defendant was driving all over the road and speeding. When the officer spotted the defendant, he also observed weaving and speeding. Upon coming in contact with the defendant after the traffic stop, he observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, thick tongued speech, and watery eyes. He also appeared unsteady. After refusing to perform roadside tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
The defendant stated he had major back issues which would have contributed to any unsteadiness. In addition, his speech was not slurred on tape.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 30, 2021 Case: 21-CT-006470 Judge Damico
The defendant was stopped for swerving in and out of traffic and almost hitting a house after a 911 caller relayed what they had seen. Upon contact, the officers noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, and slow dexterity. She was unstable, her speech was mumbled, and she had slow comprehension. She performed poorly on the roadside tests such as the walk and turn and one leg stand. She was then arrested for DUI and later blew .166, .134, and .145 in the breath machine.
The officer did not see any driving pattern upon stopping the defendant. Thus, he had no corroboration to legally justify the traffic stop. Thus, the lawfulness of the traffic stop was called into question.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 19, 2021 Case: 21-CT-002716 Judge Moses-Stephens
The defendant was stopped for speeding, weaving, and almost striking a police car. Officers observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and a hard time locating his documents. He also stated he had drank 4 to 5 beers. After performing various field sobriety tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .166 and a .164 in the breath machine.
English is not the defendant's first language. Officers made no attempts to get an interpreter to assist in the DUI investigation so the defendant could properly understand.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 18, 2021 Case: 20-CT-055614 Judge Jacobus
The defendant was stopped for weaving all over the road, almost hitting a parked vehicle, and following too closely. Upon contact, officers observed convoluted and confusing statements. His eyes fluttered and they were glassy. The defendant was very aggressive and belligerent with the officers. After refusing roadside tests, he was arrested for DUI as the officers concluded he was impaired by drugs and not alcohol. He later refused breath and urine tests.
Under Florida DUI statute 316.193, the State must prove that a defendant is impaired by a specific chemical and/or controlled substance. One just can’t be impaired by something. The State could not prove the case and Dropped the DUI. The defendant received no criminal conviction.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 18, 2021 Case: 21-CT-010035 Judge T. Brown
The defendant was stopped for speeding. Officers observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. He also had a flushed face and had a sway to his stance. The defendant admitted to having dank wine. After performing various field sobriety tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .146 and a .140 in the breath machine.
Due to many inconsistencies in the evidence, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 18, 2021 Case: 21-CT-018173 Judge T. Brown
The defendant was stopped for excessive speed and failing to maintain her lane of travel. Officers noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, and slurred speech. She had difficulty maintain her balance and swayed while standing. After performing roadside tests such as the one leg stand and walk and turn, she was arrested for DUI.
Many observations such as slurred speech and balance issues were contradicted by the defendant's video tape. This was brought to the State's attention by the firm. The State Dropped the DUI and the defendant received no criminal conviction on her record.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 17, 2021 Case: 20-CT-009003 Judge Jeske
The defendant was involved in a traffic crash after he wiped out on his motorcycle and slid into another car. When officers arrived, they observed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and he stumbled on his feet. He also had glassy/watery eyes. The defendant refused to perform roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test. This was the defendant's Second DUI arrest.
When asking the defendant to perform roadside tests, the officer misstated the law by telling him that one consents to roadsides when they get their driver's license. Under Florida law, the only thing that pertains to one's consent when they get a driver's license is a breath, urine, or blood test.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 17, 2021 Case: 20-CT-009314 Judge Jeske
The defendant was observed by the officer sitting in her car with the engine running behind a business establishment. Police responded to a call about a mentally ill person. When officers made contact with the defendant, they observed an odor of alcohol, numerous cans of alcohol that were crushed and empty, difficulty following directions, and slurred speech. She also gave unusual and inconsistent statements. She then performed poorly on roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. She later refused the breath test.
On tape, officers had made statements to each other on the body cameras about whether the defendant was impaired by a mental illness or alcohol. This was not written in any police reports. Had the firm not watched the tapes, it never would have been discovered or brought to the prosecutor's attention. Thus, there was reasonable doubt as to whether she was impaired by alcohol or a mental illness.
The DUI was dismissed.
Aug 10, 2021 Case: 20-CT-005801 Judge Gutman
The defendant was the at fault driver in a rear end crash. When officers arrived, they noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, bloodshot/watery eyes, he appeared unsteady on his feet, and had slurred speech. After refusing to perform roadside tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
On tape, the defendant's speech did not appear to sound slurred and he did not appear off balance or unsteady.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 10, 2021 Case: 20-CT-007979 Judge Gutman
The defendant was the at fault driver in a rear end crash. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. The defendant also struggled to find her documents. She refused to perform roadside tests and was arrested for DUI. She later refused the breath test. This was her Second DUI and also Second refusal.
At the civil administrative DMV hearing, the officer testified under oath how the defendant was practically a falling down drunk. This testimony was contradicted by the video tape. The State Dropped her Second DUI and dismissed the refusal charge.
The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 9, 2021 Case: 21-CT-004306 Judge Damico
A caller dialed 911 saying that that the defendant was involved in a hit and run crash. When officers stopped the defendant, they observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot/watery eyes, and slurred speech. He then performed field sobriety tests such as the walk and turn, one leg stand, and HGN (eye test). He was then arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test.
Due to a lack of specifies on the police reports as to the field sobriety tests, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 29, 2021 Case: 20-CT-012168 Judge Farr
The defendant crashed her car into a mailbox then post. When officers arrived, they noticed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. She fumbled around with her paperwork and was very unsteady. After performing various roadside tasks, she was arrested for DUI. She later refused the breath test.
Many aspects of the video tape contradicted by the police reports.
The State Dropped the DUI.
Jul 29, 2021 Case: 21-CT-001396 Judge Farr
The defendant was stopped for speeding. Officers noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, and slurred speech. He also had a red face and appeared disoriented. After performing field sobriety tests, he was arrested for DUI. He later blew a .150 and a .132 in the breath machine.
The defendant's performance on video tape during the field sobriety test clearly showed that he was lower than .08 at the time of driving. Thus, he would have be absorbing alcohol when he blew into the machine.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 29, 2021 Case: 20-CT-004465 Judge Farr
The defendant was observed by an officer stumbling into a Waffle House. He noticed the defendant stumble, have slurred speech, and acting belligerent. The defendant then entered his car and drove off. Contact was made with the defendant at a gas station. Similar observations were made by police and he was asked to perform roadside tasks as officers believed he was impaired by drugs, and not alcohol. He performed very poorly and was arrested for DUI. He provided a urine sample which revealed Xanax and Marijuana once analyzed by FDLE.
The State could not prove how long the substances had been in his system. Thus, they couldn't prove he was actually impaired by those drugs.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 19, 2021 Case: 21-CT-010035 Judge Garagozlo
The defendant was stopped for speeding. Officers observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot/glassy eyes, and she appeared disoriented and confused. When asked how much she had to drink, she responded "not that much." Her speech was slurred and she also appeared clumsy. She consented to perform field sobriety tests such as the walk and turn and one leg stand. She was then arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test.
Many observations of the defendant's performance on the roadside tests were very vaguely written and hardly any specifics included.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 19, 2021 Case: AD0B9EE Judge Vaccaro
The defendant was stopped for driving without headlights. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and he admitted to having drank two drinks. After performing roadside tests on video, he was arrested for DUI. He later refused the breath test.
Parks & Braxton announced ready for trial. Prior to trial, we pointed out to the State that there was no probable cause to even arrest the defendant based on the video tape. Prior to trial, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 16, 2021 Case: 21-CT-002688 Judge Denkin
The defendant was stopped for nearly crashing into other vehicles. The officers observed an odor of alcohol, thick tongued speech, and she was slurring her words. After performing poorly on roadside tests, she was arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test.
Due to inconsistencies in the reports pointed out by the defense, the State Dropped the DUI.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 15, 2021 Case: 21-CT-015462 Judge Silverman
The defendant was the at fault driver in a crash. The defendant had glassy eyes, slurred speech, and difficulty answering questions. The defendant was off balance and almost fell over. Believing that she was impaired by drugs, the defendant was asked to perform roadside tests. She refused and was arrested for DUI. She later refused a urine test.
An officer can only request a breath and/or urine test after one has been arrested. Here, the officer read her implied consent and requested a urine test prior to arresting her which was unlawful. Thus, her refusal to provide a urine sample would have been excluded from evidence. In addition, the State could not prove by what specific chemical and/or or controlled substance was allegedly impairing the defendant as required by Florida DUI Statute 316.193. . The State Dropped the DUI to a civil careless infraction.
The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 14, 2021 Case: 20-CT-504148 Judge George
The defendant was the at fault driver when she hit a bus from behind. Officers observed slow/sluggish speech, her movements were slow, and she had watery eyes. The defendant admitted to having taken her prescription medicines. Believing she was impaired by a chemical and/or controlled substance, she was asked to perform field sobriety tests. She was then arrested for DUI. At the station, another officer who is a DRE (drug recognition expert) was called in to perform a DRE exam on her to determine what class of drugs was allegedly impairing her. She also provided a urine sample which later came back from FLDE positive for amphetamines.
The observations both the arresting officer and the DRE officer made were inconsistent with someone being impaired by amphetamines. In fact, the DRE officer concluded that she was impaired by a CNS Depressant which was not only wrong, but on the opposite spectrum of amphetamines. Someone who is impaired by amphetamines will appear euphoric and excited and not slow and sluggish. In addition, someone who is impaired by amphetamines will not exhibit HGN (the eyes test), nor have equal pupil size, like the defendant did. In addition, when the officer administered the roadside tests, he covered his body worn camera with his forearm and clip board so one could not even see the defendant's performance.
The State Dismissed the DUI a week prior to the trial date.
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