Tampa DUI Lawyer Blog

March 17, 2023

March Madness: Avoid Shenanigans this St. Patrick’s Day | Florida DUI Lawyers Whittel & Melton

It is March Madness and St. Patrick’s Day weekend, so people everywhere will be buzzing around town to watch basketball games and celebrate the Luck of the Irish.

Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

Our Florida DUI Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are here to remind you to keep the “buzz” out of your car. Steer clear of drunk driving, distracted driving, and drug-impaired driving both now and throughout the rest of the year. If you have had a few green beers at the tavern and are asking yourself if you are OK to drive, then your answer is NO.

If you are out watching any of the games over this three-week tournament or head out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, then know these facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

In 2020, one alcohol-related driving death occurred every 45 minutes across the U.S.
In 2020, 11,654 people were killed in DUI-related fatalities

If you will be out drinking, then set yourself up for a safe way to get home. Consider these options:

Designate a sober driver among your friends
Get a taxi or schedule a ride through Uber or Lyft
If you are hosting a March Madness or St. Patrick’s Day party, then make sure guests have non-alcoholic beverages and that they all have a safe/sober ride home
If you see someone on the road that is possible driving drunk, safely pull over and call law enforcement immediately

Drug-Impaired Driving is Dangerous

Drugs can negatively impact your ability to drive without you even noticing it, so refrain from getting behind the wheel after taking any medications or substances that can affect your ability to drive. You can still get a DUI for driving under the influence of prescription drugs, OTC medications, and other legal/illegal substances.

Distracted Driving is Just as Dangerous as Drunk or Drugged Driving

Before you grab your phone to check the latest stats or check out the buzz on social media, please know that 3,142 people died in 2020 in distracted driving accidents. Just reading a text or glancing at your email while driving is considered distracted driving. Other distracted driving behaviors include talking on your phone or to others that are in your vehicle, streaming on your phone, eating, drinking, playing with radio dials or other forms of entertainment, and fiddling with your navigation system.

Plan Ahead, Be Responsible, and Enjoy the Madness Continue reading

December 29, 2022

Do Not Start 2023 with a DUI Arrest | Florida DUI Defense Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

As New Year’s Eve approaches and we start thinking about how we are going to bid 2022 farewell, it is important to remind ourselves how serious drunk driving is. Drunk and drugged driving is still a leading cause of death in the United States, so it is something that we must always keep in mind.

If you are drinking this NYE, then plan accordingly and secure alternative transportation before you head out to celebrate the new year. If you are opting to be designated driver, then take your role seriously and do not allow yourself to get behind the wheel of a car if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

NHTSA Spreading the Message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and If You Feel Different, You Drive Different – Drive High Get a DUI

Drunk driving has remained a problem on roads across the U.S. every year, but the problem only increases during the holidays. During Christmas and New Year’s 2020, data from the NHTSA shows that there were 209 fatalities due to drunk or drugged drivers. This same year, 11,654 people were killed in drunk driving crashes nationwide, accounting for almost one-third of the crash fatalities for 2020. These deaths were 100% preventable.

Just like drunk driving, driving under the influence of drugs is also illegal. Regardless of whether the drug in question is obtained legally or illegally, including OTC and prescription medications, driving under the influence of drugs can be dangerous and lead to unnecessary injuries and deaths for drivers, passengers, and others sharing the road.

Make Your NYE 2022 Plans Now

If you have a NYE party or other celebration on your calendar, then make smart decisions on how you plan to get home safe once 2023 is here. Remember, if you have committed to being the DD, then stay true to your promise so that you and your friends can stay safe. If you happen to see a drunk or drugged driver on the road, then you should contact local law enforcement right away. You could save a life by doing so. On that same note, if you notice a friend attempting to drive after having a few drinks, then take away their keys and help them make alternate arrangements so that they can get home safely.

Impaired drivers make risky decisions when they are behind the wheel. As 2022 ends, this is the time to make it a point to drive sober every single day.

Contact Florida DUI Defense Lawyers Whittel & Melton – 866-608-5529

A DUI arrest is something no one wants to deal with, but they happen. We can help you navigate the complexities of drunk driving cases and gather necessary evidence that may be able to help with your case, including chemical test results and police camera footage. Continue reading

February 2, 2022

Super Bowl Sunday Is Approaching – Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk | Florida DUI Defense Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Super Bowl LVI is Sunday, February 13 and regardless of whether you are cheering for the Cincinnati Bengals or Los Angeles Rams, your Super Bowl plans should include how to get home without drunk driving.

The truth is that drunk driving kills. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports show that there were 10,142 car crashes that involved drunk driving in 2019.

For Super Bowl Sunday, and every day, our Florida DUI Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton urge you to make the smart decision to not drink and drive. You and everyone sharing the road with you can win when we all follow these safety cues:

Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher is illegal, so if you are driving drunk and get pulled over, you will be arrested and prosecuted. Even if this is your first offense, the prosecution will throw the book at you so that they can really drive home how dangerous it is to drive drunk. Do not expect them to go easy on you. Save yourself the headache and the hit to your wallet (most DUI cases cost about $10,000) and play it safe.
If you are drunk and need to get home safe, the best plan is to get a sober ride home. You have options – from public transportation and taxis to rideshare services, like Uber or Lyft.
If you are staying sober at a Super Bowl party, volunteer to be a designated driver for your friends. If anyone needs a safe and sober ride home, then you can be there for them.
If you see someone that has been consuming alcohol try to drive home, then tell them no and help them find a sober ride.
If you are the host of a Super Bowl party, make sure to provide food and plenty of non-alcoholic beverages. You can also ask for car keys from anyone that is drinking in case they try and drive home later after having a few too many.

We all want to prevent drunk driving crashes, so let’s all do our part this Super Bowl Sunday and stay safe. Remember to always buckle up when driving as this is your best defense if you are involved in a car accident.

If you do find yourself facing a DUI arrest this Super Bowl, or any day, then know our Florida DUI Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are here for you. Call us at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free case evaluation. We serve the entire state of Florida and can provide you with the strongest legal defense for your specific DUI charges. Continue reading

December 27, 2021

Don’t Start 2022 with a DUI | Florida New Year’s Eve DUI Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

On any regular day, DUI accidents account for about 35% of traffic deaths. On New Year’s Eve, these numbers almost double to around 62%, making New Year’s Eve and the start of New Year’s Day a very dangerous time to be on the roads. You can expect that law enforcement agencies around the state of Florida will be setting up DUI checkpoints on New Year’s Eve in an effort to stop drunk drivers from causing any unnecessary and deadly accidents.

The hours of midnight to 6 am on New Year’s Day have been slated as the most dangerous time to be on the road. With New Year’s Eve falling on a Friday this year and more bars open following prior year’s COVID restrictions, you can expect that more people will be out partying, thus more impaired drivers on the streets.

The legal BAC (blood alcohol content) limit to drive is .08, but reports show that more than half of all arrested on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day involve impaired drivers that have BAC over .15. To break these numbers down, at .05 BAC depth perception begins to diminish and focusing can become tricky. At .08 BAC you can expect your depth perception to be nonexistent and your reaction time extremely delayed. At .15 BAC, you may not be able to remember anything at all and cannot react to anything as your reality is significantly blurred.

Expect DUI Checkpoints New Year’s Eve

If you are heading out to a bar, restaurant, or party on New Year’s Eve, then do not get behind the wheel of a car if you have been drinking. You should be fully sober if you plan to drive. It does not matter if you are in the city or suburbs, you will likely pass a DUI checkpoint on your way home. If you try and avoid the checkpoint, officers often notice this behavior and will stop you anyways.

Once you are at a DUI checkpoint, law enforcement officers will ask for your license, registration, and proof of insurance. They will also ask if you have had any alcohol prior to driving and if there is any in the vehicle with you. Just a tip: you do not have to answer their questions – all you are required by law to do is provide them with your basic information and paperwork. If the police officer asks you to perform a breathalyzer test or perform field sobriety testing, you have the right to submit or refuse. Keep in mind that if you submit to the test and fail, you will be arrested for DUI and taken to jail. If you refuse, then you will also be arrested and will have to submit to chemical testing once you have been taken to jail.

If you are arrested for DUI at a checkpoint or elsewhere this New Year’s Eve/Day, then you want to contact our Florida DUI Lawyers at Whittel & Melton as soon as you are able to so that we can get started helping with your case. You want to remember as many details about your arrest as possible so that we can use this information to your advantage. Time frames, the arresting officer’s name, witnesses, etc. can all be helpful to your case.

How You Can Avoid a DUI on New Year’s Eve/Day

If you find yourself out on New Year’s Eve and without a sober ride home, Florida does have other options for getting home safe. You can use ride sharing apps, like Uber and Lyft, call a cab, or use public transportation. AAA also has their “Tow to Go” program that will be in full effect from 6pm Friday, December 24th – 6am Monday, January 3^rd. This program is available to AAA members AND non-members. You can call (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246 to get a sober ride to a location within a 10-mile radius.

Call Whittel & Melton at 866-608-5529 for DUI Help in Florida

November 24, 2021

AAA Offering Tow to Go Program for Floridians this Thanksgiving | Florida DUI Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The Thanksgiving holiday is right around the corner, and AAA Tow to Go is back just in time. This is a sort of last-ditch effort to keep impaired drivers off the roads.

AAA Tow to Go has removed more than 25,000 impaired drivers from the road since 1998. In Florida, Tow to Go is available Wednesday through Monday in certain locations. Once AAA is called, a tow truck will come and transport the impaired driver and their vehicle to a safe spot withing a 10-mile radius. The service is completely free, but AAA warns that this should only be used as a backup plan.

AAA is offering this service so that no impaired drivers have an excuse to get behind the wheel this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. They encourage drivers to have a safe ride home planned in advance and only use Tow to Go as a last resort.

The NHTSA reports that DUI car crashes in 2019 resulted in 10,142 deaths. Of those fatalities, 417 happened over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Drivers operating under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol in the state of Florida from November – December 2020, caused 1,052 motor vehicle crashes, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Moreover, 5,442 DUI citations were issued across the state. AAA Tow to Go program hopes to eliminate the number of these DUI cases and offer impaired motorists a safe ride home.

AAA TOW TO GO OVERVIEW

Dates of Service:

6:00PM Wednesday, November 24 – 6:00AM Monday, November 29

Service Areas:

FL, GA, IA, MI, ND, NE, TN, WI, CO (Denver), NC (Charlotte) and IN (Fort Wayne/South Bend)

Phone Number: (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246

Free and available to AAA members and non-members.

Confidential local ride for one person and their vehicle to a safe location within a 10 miles radius.

AAA service vehicles are limiting passengers to one (1) per vehicle, with face mask/covering, in accordance with established COVID-19 safety protocols. Additional passengers need to make other arrangements.

Appointments cannot be scheduled in advance to use Tow to Go. As mentioned previously this is a service to be used as a backup plan for drivers who failed to plan ahead or had their plans fall through. You should always have a safety plan in place for how you will get home safe before celebrating with alcohol and or drugs.

In some situations, AAA may need to make other arrangements to get an impaired individual a safe ride home.

Tow to Go may not be available in rural areas or during severe weather conditions.

Our Florida DUI Lawyers at Whittel & Melton strongly urge everyone to make a plan for a safe ride home if you plan to drink this Thanksgiving weekend. We know that “Blackout Wednesday” often brings out many people looking to party and have a good time. If you plan to partake in any festivities involving alcohol, please be safe and DO NOT get behind the wheel intoxicated. There are many options out there, including Uber and Lyft, taxis, buses, staying at a friend or family member’s house to sleep it off, or even using AAA’s Tow to Go program.

If you are arrested for a DUI this Thanksgiving weekend, our Florida DUI Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are here for you. We will be available 24/7 to assist you, so call us first at 866-608-5529 before you make any statements to police. We understand that good people make mistakes, and we will never judge you. We just want to help you through this stressful situation. You can always contact us online if you need assistance.
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December 30, 2020

Steer Clear of a Tampa DUI New Year’s Eve 2020-2021 | Tampa DUI Defense Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

2020 has been a crazy year, and it is pretty much safe to say that everyone is ready to say hello to 2021. You do not want to start your new year facing DUI charges, so here are some tips from our team of attorneys at Whittel & Melton to keep you safe and away from a jail cell.

Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

Remember that the legal blood alcohol level in Florida and the rest of the U.S. is 0.08%. If you are at or over this limit then you can be charged with driving under the influence. If you are driving while under the influence of illegal drugs or even over the counter or prescription meds that can impair your faculties, you can also be charged with DUI.

December 2, 2020

Former Defensive Tackle for Bucs Charged with DUI and Child Neglect | Tampa DUI Defense Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested Chris Hovan, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle, Monday night for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol while a child was riding in the front passenger seat in the car.

The incident occurred around 7:40 p.m. Monday, according to reports. Deputies pulled over 42-year-old Hovan on Tampa Road just west of Forest Lakes Boulevard. The arrest affidavit alleges Hovan was asked to perform field sobriety tests that indicated he was impaired.

Hovan was given a Breathalyzer which apparently showed that his blood-alcohol content level was 0.309 and 0.315, which is more than three times 0.08 – the level at which Florida law says a driver is impaired.

Hovan was booked into the Pinellas County jail on a misdemeanor DUI charge and a felony charge of child neglect. The child suffered no harm from the incident.

Hovan was released from jail Tuesday morning after posting $5,500 bail.

Hovan is a 10-year NFL alum who was first drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2000. In 2005 he signed with the Bucs, and after playing five seasons he was released in 2010.

Since his time in the NFL he has been an assistant coach with the University of South Florida and some other schools in the area.

Hovan has been in trouble for DUI before. He was convicted of a DUI in 2015. In 2018 he was involved in a domestic abuse case.

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in Florida is a serious criminal offense on its own, however once you add a minor being present during the offense, the potential penalties will only be enhanced. Fines could be raised and you could be looking at increased time behind bars. The State implements these harsh consequences in an effort to deter citizens from placing themselves and any children at risk.

To be clear: any crime involving a minor is taken very seriously by judges and juries, which includes a DUI offense where a child is present. There are steep penalties involved in cases like these, and you could be facing damage to your personal and professional reputation. You need to be ready for whatever the prosecution may try and use against you. That is why if you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI where a minor was present, you must act fast and protect your rights by contacting a criminal defense attorney. Our Tampa Bay DUI Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are ready and able to take on your case and help you understand exactly what you are up against.

A DUI with a child in the car can result in numerous penalties. If this is your first offense, you could be looking at a fine between $1,000 and $2,000, up to 9 months in jail, 50 hours of community service, a driver’s license suspension of 6 months, DUI classes, vehicle impoundment, and the mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device for 6 months. If this is your second offense, you could be facing a fine between $2,000 and $4,000, up to 1 year in jail, 50 hours of community service, a driver’s license suspension of 12 months, DUI classes, vehicle impoundment, and the mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device for up to 2 years. If this is your third offense, then you could be facing a fine up to $5,000, up to 5 years in prison, 50 hours of community service, a driver’s license suspension of 10 years, DUI classes, vehicle impoundment, and the mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device for up to 2 years. The amount of time between DUIs plays a pivotal role in how penalties are applied, and our Tampa DUI Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can make sure you understand how the laws apply to your specific case.

November 16, 2020

Tampa Native and Baseball Legend Tony La Russa charged with DUI | Tampa DUI Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Tony La Russa, now the manager of the White Sox, has been officially charged with driving under the influence stemming from a February incident that happened in Phoenix.

Charges were apparently filed Oct. 28, just a day before his position with the White Sox was announced.

A White Sox spokesperson said that they knew of the 76-year-old’s DUI case when he was hired.

November 15, 2020

Florida DUI Defense Attorney Robert Whittel Top 3 Mistakes in DUI Defense Strategy

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Tampa, FL – DUI Defense Attorney Robert Whittel of Whittel & Melton has tried many jury trials and can speak with incredible context about the mistakes DUI lawyers make in defense of DUI charges. Although it’s true that Florida DUI Manslaughter and Florida DUI Serious Bodily Injury charges bring greater penalties, no matter the type of DUI case, no matter if filed in Tampa, Gainesville, Ocala, Clearwater or beyond, the elements of DUI in Florida are consistent.

To that end, DUI Attorney Robert Whittel gives us 3 mistakes that he has seen over the years in the defense of DUI charges in Florida.

(1) Visit the scene of the DUI Arrest. It seems obvious to someone in school or reading about DUI Defense strategy, but it is very common that attorneys hired, and certainly public defenders, never visit the scene of the arrest. Because a DUI arrest will often involve an accident, allegedly poor driving, a road side physical test and observation and also may involve very dark surroundings (if at night); visiting the scene will undoubtedly help the DUI Attorney with cross examination, but will also spark ideas regarding a defense strategy.

(2) Get the DUI Tow Slip. Very commonly a DUI arrest will include a towing of the client’s vehicle. When a vehicle is towed, law enforcement should be taking an inventory of the vehicle. This inventory could include not only the contents of the vehicle, but also the physical condition of the vehicle. In some cases the allegations of the DUI officers are inconsistent with the DUI Tow Slip.

(3) Did the officer have Probable Cause for the Arrest? On its face this seems like an obvious item, how could it be a mistake. Too often, DUI Defense Lawyers mistake the entire Arrest Form and all that it includes for what was actually the basis of the DUI Arrest. Put another way, think about what constitutes an actual arrest in Florida, when in the timeline did that occur and what information was the DUI arresting officer in possession of when that critical decision was made. It is very often the case that a DUI case is substantially based on information collected after the arrest, not before.

Florida DUI Attorney Robert Whittel and Whittel & Melton are ready to consult on DUI cases in Tampa, Clearwater, Gainesville, Ocala and surrounding jurisdictions. Please contact us today 866-608-5529 or email us info@theFLlawfirm.com today.

May 7, 2019

68-Year-Old Charged with 3rd DUI After Crashing into Police Car on Lawn Mower

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 68-year-old Haines City man was charged with his third DUI over the weekend after allegedly crashing a lawn mower into a Haines City Police Department vehicle.

The police department said that an officer was tending to a matter on Saturday when a man on a lawn mower crashed into the back of his patrol vehicle.

According to the report, the officer heard a loud noise and walked outside to find the accused on a lawn mower with an attached trailer and noticed minor damage to the rear of the police vehicle.

The man apparently admitted to hitting the police vehicle and said he was drunk. Police said his demeanor ranged from laughing to aggressive.

After failing to complete the field sobriety tests, according to police, the man was taken to the Haines City Police Department where they said he claimed that he had been poisoned by police and asked to be taken to a hospital.

The man was then transported to Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center in Davenport, where he provided a breath sample. Police said his blood-alcohol concentration was .241, which is more than three times the legal limit.

There was also cocaine is his system, according to the report, which he accused police of putting into his system.

Police said the man’s driver’s license has been suspended since March 1978 and that he has two previous DUI convictions, with the last one coming in 1987 in Osceola County.

Under Florida’s DUI laws, even a lawn mower is classified as a “motor vehicle.” You can essentially receive a DUI for being intoxicated while operating anything that moves. While it may be surprising, you can receive a DUI for boating under the influence, biking under the influence, operating a forklift or lawnmower under the influence, and even riding a horse under the influence.