Got a DUI , Get a Lawyer

Driving under the influence is not something that law enforcement anywhere takes lightly, and this is also true of Tampa, Florida. The state of Florida uses the standard 0.08% blood alcohol level as its legal limit. If you exceed that limit many of your physical and mental capacities are handicapped to the point of being dangerous to others on the road. If you are stopped by a police officer and found to have a blood alcohol level exceeding the limit, you will be arrested on the spot and charged with a DUI.

If you do get arrested for a DUI in Tampa then you need to retain the services of a reputable lawyer. They will be able to best plead your case since the DUI laws in Florida are very complicated. You need someone who has the experience and knowledge to deal with this charge. Look for a lawyer who will remain in contact with you and let you know what's going on at all times. They should also be understanding in regard you and your case. You will know when you have a good lawyer. They should be willing to contact their own investigation into the circumstances of your arrest; this is the only way they can find the best defense for you. They should interview and eye witnesses and negotiate the case with the prosecutor. And if your lawyer will challenge any and all evidence brought against you in court, then you have a keeper.

Driving under the influence in Florida is often punished very harshly, which is why having a good lawyer is so important. If you're convicted in Tampa you can face consequences including fines, probation, community service, suspension of your driver's license, and even jail time. A good lawyer can make the difference between a fine or community service and going to jail. Normally if its your first conviction, a typical penalty is a fine and less than 6 months in jail. A second conviction could earn you a higher fine and up to 9 months in jail. A third DUI would most likely be charged as a felony, which is where you really run into trouble.

There are many possible defenses in these types of cases. This can mean trying to get the breath test results excluded from trial, or getting and statement's you made to the police excluded. More commonly it can be a motion to dismiss the case because the traffic stop was illegal, or to suppress evidence gathered in the case of an unwarranted arrest. Less commonly your defense could be claiming actual police misconduct or failure to be read your Miranda warnings. These are just a few examples of possible defenses and a good lawyer will be able to advise which is the best to use in your case. This is why getting a competent lawyer is an absolutely necessity

Florida DUI Attorneys

While drinking and driving are two separate commodities in American life, mixing them can lead to problems and often to an offense in the eyes of the law. If you live in Florida and are accused of a DUI (driving under the influence), you will need a good lawyer.

Among the states, Florida ranks quite high in the amount of DUI cases. As in practically any state, traffic rules and violations are stringently followed. If they are broken, the penalties are usually severe. DUI lawyers who specialize in law dealing with drunk driving often handle these cases.

Florida attorneys have to be well versed in DUI cases in order to succeed. They have to be good because their job for the defendant is to see that the penalty is either wiped out or diminished greatly. In most cases, the state has to be in agreement and will first make sure that not much damage (both property and life) was rendered by the defendant. Florida DUI lawyers have ways and means of finding out loopholes either in the provision of the law or the manner in which they are enforced in reference to the 'then' status of the client. Police misconduct in such circumstances can also be the natural outcome.

To find a good Florida DUI attorney, one must consult people who are familiar with these lawyers. Ask questions about the lawyer’s recent performances and achievements. Attorneys who handle cases in the more affluent areas like Dade, Hillsborough, Orange, Miami Beach and Tampa are particularly in demand. These lawyers generally have pretty steep fees, but they provide great relief from problems like heavy DUI penalties, loss of license and spending days behind the bars.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Deputy Jackie Brock Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Beau Dobson Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy James Glover Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Carolyn Jolly Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Carl McCalla Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Jimmy McDowell Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Matthew McMurphy Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Felix Moret Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Lawrence Morrell Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Shawn Morrey Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Kevin Stabins Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Candace Steinmeir Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Anthony Watson Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Korean Corporation To Pay $2.2 Million for Falsifying Environmental Records

The Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida showed how seriously they’re taking marine pollution and government record-keeping requirements this month. A joint investigation and prosecution between those offices led to the imposition of a huge penalty against an international shipping company in Tampa federal court.

Korean corporation STX Pan Ocean Co., Ltd. was sentenced earlier this month to four years probation and $2.2 million in penalties for conspiring to falsify and falsifying environmental compliance records. STX operates the commercial cargo vessel Ocean Jade.

Of that $2.2 million, $200,000 will go to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in partnership with the Pinellas County Environmental Fund. The court also ordered STX to implement a detailed environmental compliance plan.

STX pleaded guilty to four felonies back in April, including conspiracy, falsifying records, and making false statements. All of the charges related to actions by crew members of the Ocean Jade in 2008. Federal and international law requires that all ships comply with pollution regulations including proper disposal of oily waste water and sludge. Federal law also requires the crew to record each such disposal in an oil record book and in a garbage record book. Both books must be available for inspection by the Coast Guard if in U.S. waters.

According to court records, the Ocean Jade’s chief engineer ordered the crew to illegally dump ten barrels of oily waste water directly into the ocean last summer. A few months later, the ship’s chief officer made a similar order.

Entries into the M/V Ocean Jade’s oil record book during that time period were made by applying a pre-established formula, rather than recording the actual amounts of oily waste water and sludge transferred, burned, or discharged. The ship arrived in the Port of Tampa in October 2008, where its officers presented falsified oil and garbage record books to Coast Guard investigators. Crew members gave false statements about the dumping incidents as well.

In addition to the corporate charges, the ship’s chief engineer and chief officer were both charged individually. They pleaded guilty to felony offenses and were put on probation.

Pasco County DUI Defense Attorney News Update: Zephyrhills, Florida Man Charged with DUI with Property Damage

According to reports, the Zephyrhills, FL Police Department has charged a Pasco County man for an accident that allegedly occurred on April 12, 2009. The allegation put the 40-year-old man in the Land O’Lakes Jail on Monday, June 1, for the misdemeanor charge of DUI with Property Damage.

The report goes on to indicate that the defendant’s blood alcohol level was .281 – this allegation is over 3 times the “legal limit” of .08. It is common after an accident, wherein law enforcement has yet to determine an individual’s blood-alcohol limit, to wait until the blood results come back from the laboratory before making an arrest.

DUI with property damage is misdemeanor offense that requires the prosecutor to prove an additional element that property was somehow destroyed or damaged due to the alleged DUI. Much like, DUI Manslaughter, the State of Florida will need to be concerned with provided proof to a jury as to the nexus or connection between the DUI and the property damage. Otherwise, this man will only face a simple DUI with no accompanying charge for property damage.