Police Officer Arrested For DUI

When you think of a DUI offender, police officers don’t typically come to mind. However, people from all walks of life have been arrested for drinking and driving.

A police officer from Florida was recently arrested for DUI. The man was arrested on the evening of February 4. He has since been terminated from his position with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

The 33-year-old man had crashed into another vehicle on I-275, near Fletcher Avenue, in Tampa. Police arrived and found that the man had sideswiped the vehicle. Police said the man showed signs of impairment. His speech was slurred and his eyes were glassy in appearance. He also smelled of alcohol and could not describe what happened before the accident.

The man was ultimately taken to a Hillsborough County Jail. He refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test. He was charged with DUI with property damage, with bond set at $500. The man posted the bond the next day.

The man was hired by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in September 2014. He served as a deputy in the patrol operations bureau. He was fired soon after his DUI arrest.

DUI Defense

If you have been arrested for a DUI, the good news is that there are various ways to defend yourself, but you have to act quickly. To save your driver’s license, you need to secure a DUI attorney right away. You have 10 days to file a written demand for an administrative hearing with the State of Florida Department of Motor Vehicle and Safety (DHSMV).

Your lawyer will use various defenses for your case, including:

• Inaccurate breath alcohol testing. Breathalyzers are not always accurate. There are things that can make the blood alcohol content (BAC) register higher than it actually is, such as improper calibration of the equipment, administering the test too soon, rising blood alcohol, contamination of the sample, health conditions, and medications. A defense attorney can use this defense.
• Inaccurate field sobriety test. These tests are supposed to be standardized, meaning that they are given and performed the same way every time. However, that is rarely the case. These tests are only about 60-70% accurate. Also, some tests, like “finger to nose” and reciting the alphabet are not standardized. Police officers should not be basing your sobriety on these tests.
• No evidence of actual control of the vehicle. Just because an intoxicated person was inside a vehicle does not mean they were driving. It’s possible that the driver was just a passenger or using the vehicle as a shelter before they regained their sobriety. Just because there is a key in the ignition or the engine is running does not mean the driver is in actual physical control. A judge has to look at the circumstances involved.

Seek Help for Your Criminal Defense Case

Drinking and driving is illegal, but it’s a common practice. Many accidents are caused by intoxication.

If you have been arrested on a DUI charge, you need to act quickly. A Dade City & Zephyrhills DUI defense attorney from Mander Law Group can help argue your case in court. To schedule a free consultation, fill out the online form or call (800) 557-0411.

Source:

foxnews.com/us/florida-deputy-arrested-alleged-dui-terminated-job-reports