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Driving Under the Influence in Pasco County, FLPasco County DUI Lawyer
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If you have been arrested for a DUI in Pasco County then your criminal charges will be prosecuted at the courthouse in either Dade City or New Port Richey, Florida. Our attorneys are focued on fighting DUI charges whether you took a breath, blood or urine test or refused any chemical testing.
The decisions that you make in the first few weeks after your arrest may have a tremendous impact on how your case is ultimately resolved. Just because you were arrested for DUI does not mean that you will be convicted. Many of these cases are reduced to lesser charges such as reckless driving. Other cases are resolved with no conviction of any offense after the prosecutor drops the charges or the court dismisses the charges for insufficient evidence.
Contact an experienced DUI and criminal defense lawyer for Pasco County. Call 813-250-0500 to discuss your case and possible defenses that may exist in your case.
Protect Your Privilege to Drive Following a Pasco County DUI Arrest
After your arrest you have just ten (10) days to file for a formal review hearing with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) for a Pasco County DUI. It is important to have an experienced DUI attorney represent you at the formal review hearing to protect your driver's license.
If you do not file for a formal review hearing within 10 days, then you will suffer a hard suspension for at least 30 days if you blew over the legal limit or at least 90 days if you allegedly failed to submit to a chemical test. On the other hand, if your attorney files for the formal review hearing, you may then be issued a 42 day driving permit that will allow you to continue driving while your administrative suspension is being contested.
The formal review hearing is one of the most critical stages of your DUI case in Pasco County because it allows your DUI attorney to question each of the state's witnesses against you under oath, including the officer that conducted the traffic stop, the DUI enforcement officer that conducted the roadside agility exercises, any backup officer at the scene, the breath test technician, and the agency inspector that maintains the breathalyzer machines used in Pasco County, FL.
The evidence that your DUI attorney gathers at the hearing is critical to asking the hearing officer to invalidate the administrative suspension. The evidence gathered at the formal review hearing will also play an important role in fighting the criminal charges. A transript from that hearing may help your attorney convince the court to dismiss the case through a motion to suppress or a motion to dismiss. If your case eventually goes to trial, that evidence gathered during the formal review hearing often plays a criminal role in fighting for the not guilty verdict.
Fight the Criminal DUI Charge in Pasco County, FL
Not only must you fight the DUI case with the DMV, but you must also answer the criminal charges at the Pasco County Courthouse in either Dade City or New Port Richey, Florida. Your DUI attorney for Pasco County can attend court on your behalf. Your attorney may be able to file motions to suppress evidence or motions to dismiss the DUI charges on your behalf.
Pasco County Sheriff's Office General Order 61.8 for DUI Investigations
General Order 61.8 (effective July 31, 2006) was issued by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office to establish guidelines for conducting driving under the influence (DUI) investigations. It applies to all law enforcement deputies with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office who must preform all DUI investigations, testing, arrests, and administrative license suspension duties in accordance with the order.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office trains its officers to look for certain indicators when investigating possible DUI cases. The officers are trained to look for certain vehicle maneuvers that may indicate alcohol intoxication or impairment after using drugs including:
- Turning with a wide radius;
- Straddling the center line or lane markers;
- Near collisions;
- Weaving, swerving or drifting on the roadway;
- Driving off the roadway;
- Driving into the oncoming traffic lane;
- Traveling more than 10 mph below the posted speed limit;
- Stopping on the roadway without cause;
- Following too closely;
- Braking erratically;
- Signaling inconsistent with driving paters;
- Slow response to traffic signals;
- Sudden or illegal turns;
- Rapid deceleration or acceleration; and
- Driving without headlights after dark.
After a traffic stop is conducted, law enforcment officers in Pasco County are trained to make certain observations while performing traffic stops. Officers will observe whether the driver pulled over safely and immediately and whether he or she gave any explanation for the observed difficulty driving. The officer will request the driver's license, insurance card and vehicle registration.
During the initial observation, the officer is trained to look for the following clues of impairment:
- Bloodshop eyes, slurred speech, crying;
- Irrational behavior or belligerence;
- Disheveled or soiled (e.h., vomit, urine) clothing;
- Inability to operate windows and/or doors, or lack of dexterity and inability to find ID;
- The odor of an alcoholic beverage or marijuana.
The officer will also look for contrabacnk within plain view including open containers of an alcoholic beverage, legal or illegal controlled substances, or drug paraphernalia. The officer is also trained to document any pre-Miranda questions or admissions that can be used to assist the officer in determing reasonable suspicion for impairment.
Call 813-250-0500 to Discuss your Pasco County DUI Case with an Experienced DUI Attorney
Each Pasco County DUI case is different. Call the attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm today to discuss your Pasco County DUI case. We provide consultations over the phone or in the office.
Pasco County DUI Resources
Pasco County DUI School -
New Port Richey DUI School with Pride Integrated Services, Inc.
7619 Little Road, Suite 350
New Port Richey, FL 34654
(727) 847-3411
fax (727) 847-3513
Zephyrhills DUI School with Pride Integrated Services, Inc.
5014 Mission Square
Zephyrhills, FL
813-780-8282
Bureau of Administrative Review for DUI Arrests in Pasco County, FL
4585 140th Avenue
Clearwater, Florida 33762
727-507-4404 or 727-507-4405
DUI Information Center
Pasco County Sheriff's Office DUI Enforcement Unit - Driving under the Influence Enforcement in Pasco County Sheriff's Office - Read more about the Wolf Packs and Selective Traffic Enforcement Patrol Unit (called "STEP) for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. STEP is made up of six deputies and a sergeant who are on the look out for suspected drunk drivers. STEP focuses patrol efforts near high crash intersections as determined by traffic statistician. STEP and the Motor Unit and Patrol Operations use Strategic Traffic Accident Reduction Tactics (called "START) to find locations to target. Find STEP Unit activities in Pasco County including scheduled sobriety checkpoints (roadblocks), aggressive driving enforcement, and DUI saturation patrols. Also find statistics on Pasco County DUI crashes and arrests.
New Port Richey Police Department - In 2009 the New Port Richey Police Department made 1,154 arrests. Most of the arrests were made by patrol officers.
Port Richey Police Department - Law enforcement officers with the Port Richey Police Department take part in special DUI Wolf Pack details as well as other city and county wide traffic enforcement efforts.
Zephyrhills Police Department - Read more about the Uniform Patrol Section and Operations Division for DUI investigations in Zephyrhills.
Dade City Police Department - Ray Velboom, Chief of the Dade City Police Department, represents 24 sworn officers and more than 16 civilian employees for the county seat of Pasco County, FL.
Drunk Driving Defense Resources
Penalties and Punishments for Florida DUI - If you have been arrested for DUI in Pasco County, FL, find out more about the statutory minimum mandatory sentence that the Pasco County Judge must impose if you are convicted of DUI in New Port Richey or Dade City, FL.
DUI Administrative Hearings - Find out more about protecting your driver's license administrative suspension that can otherwise occur after your arrest in New Port Richey or Dade City, Pacso County, Florida, even if you are not ultimately convicted of DUI.
Felony DUI with Serious Bodily Injury - Where you arrested for the felony DUI charge of DUI with serious bodily injury in Pasco County, Florida. If so, visit this page to find out more information about defenses that exist fight a charge of Felony DUI in Pasco County, FL.
Defending Women Against DUI - If you are a woman arrested for DUI in Dade City or New Port Richey, Pasco County, FL, visit this page for more information about special defenses and considerations that can apply to defending women charged with DUI.
DUI Roadblock or Checkpoint Cases - Where you arrested during a roadblock or checkpoint in Pasco County, Florida? Visit this page for more information about filing and litigating a motion to suppress all evidence that occurred after a roadblock or checkpoint case in New Port Richey or Dade City, FL.
FR-44 Insurance - What are the real costs of a DUI conviction after a DUI arrest in Pasco County or Dade City, FL? Find out about how much your insurance will go up after a Pasco County DUI conviction.
DUI Refusal Cases - Find out more about DUI arrests that occur after an alleged refusal to submit to a chemical test of your blood, breath or urine. Special considerations apply to DUI refusal cases in Pasco County, FL. Find out more about the "good news" and the "bad news" about an arrest for DUI after an alleged refusal.