DUI with Property Damage

June 28, 2017

Avoid a DUI Arrest this 4th of July

The 4th of July is almost here, so it is important to bring up DUI arrests. The holiday is celebrated with barbecues, picnics, fireworks, and alcohol. Because this is a peak time for drinking and driving, law enforcement throughout the Tampa Bay area will be stepping up patrols over the holiday weekend.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has dubbed July 4th as the deadliest day for Americans on the road. Alcohol is a factor in 41 percent of 4th of July traffic deaths. July 3 and July 5 also have high numbers of alcohol-related collisions.

This year, the 4th falls on a Tuesday, so many people will be celebrating a three day or even four day weekend.

With the increased likelihood of a deadly accident, you will see more DUI patrols and checkpoints starting as early as Friday, June 30 and continuing through Wednesday, July 5. Please keep this in mind if you plan to get behind the wheel after drinking. Our Tampa Bay DUI Lawyers at Whittel & Melton encourage you to plan ahead and secure a safe ride home before you start drinking. Designate a driver to stay sober, call a taxi, or use Uber or Lyft.

June 21, 2017

Ex-NFL Player Lawrence Taylor Pleads Guilty to Florida DUI

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor has pleaded guilty to a DUI charge in Florida.

Taylor pleaded guilty Monday in Palm Beach County to DUI with injury or property damage. He was sentenced to one year of probation and a nine-month license suspension. He must also pay $1,500 and perform community service.

The Florida Highway Patrol claims Taylor was arrested after crashing into a motor home and a patrol vehicle on Florida’s Turnpike in September 2016. Breath tests conducted five hours after the crash record blood alcohol levels of 0.082 and 0.084 percent. You are considered impaired at 0.08 percent.

Taylor played 13 seasons with the Giants, helping the team win Super Bowl titles in 1987 and 1991.

If you’re a fan of professional football, you may have noticed that DUI charges are a common occurrence amongst athletes. Athletes are not immune to criminal charges, just like the rest of us. In fact, many NFL players have had recent issues with DUI-related charges. In the past two years, there have been many pro football players arrested for DUI, including Michael Floyd, Dak Prescott, Alvin Bailey, Troy Hill, Josh Huff, Damontre Moore, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TJ McDonald, Jonathon Williams, and Shiloh Keo.

May 10, 2017

Laurence Fishburne’s Daughter Arrested for DUI in Fort Lauderdale

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Dashcam video released Wednesday show actor Laurence Fishburne’s daughter arrested for DUI during a traffic stop in Broward County.

The woman was arrested for DUI on March 11 near the Oakland Park Blvd. exit of I-95 after the Toyota Corolla she was driving hit another vehicle that has slowed down to avoid a different crash.

In the video, the woman can be seen failing a field sobriety test before being handcuffed by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper.

The 25-year-old, who moved to Fort Lauderdale two years ago and started a career as an exotic dancer and porn star, was given a breathalyzer test and blew over twice the legal limit. She pleaded not guilty to six charges and was released on bond while awaiting trial later this year.

Anyone can be arrested for DUI. These charges can be scary and leave you feeling overwhelmed. DUI consequences can be severe, even for first-time offenders. Our Florida DUI Lawyers at Whittel & Melton know how to handle these cases and what to do to achieve the best possible outcome for your particular situation.

April 19, 2017

Former State of Florida Parks Director and Utility Regulator Faces DUI Charges

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Lisa Edgar, who served 12 years on the Florida Public Service Commission before a brief stint as state parks director, was arrested Saturday on two charges each of DUI with property damage and leaving the scene of a crash with more than $50 in property damage.

According to reports, the Florida Highway Patrol troopers received a call about 11 p.m. from a motorist who said a Mercedes Benz was unable to stay in its lane on Centerville Road in Tallahassee and hit his driver’s side mirror. Troopers said they later determined the Mercedes was driven by Edgar, who lives in Tallahassee.

Reports indicate that Edgar, 53, pulled over at first and spoke to the other driver before abruptly rolling up her window and driving away. Other motorists apparently called law enforcement to say that the Mercedes was driving erratically and running people off the roadway.

Edgar resigned in February as Florida park’s director after just two months on the job, citing a family emergency. Edgar had earlier served three terms on the PSC, which regulates Florida utilities. She was appointment in 2005 by then-Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

December 8, 2016

Brandon Woman Accused Of 2nd DUI In 5 Months

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Brandon woman has been arrested Tuesday on DUI charges for the second time in five months.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office claims the 36-year-old hit another vehicle while traveling on Lakewood Drive.

Deputies believe the woman was attempting to turn right on Thomas Street when she struck the front of a 2014 Mazda 3. The woman was allegedly driving a 2016 Jeep Wrangler and caused $800 in damage to the Mazda, according to police.

Deputies allege the woman had slurred speech, glassy eyes, unstable balance, and was emitting a strong odor of alcohol.

During field sobriety tests, police claim the woman showed “extreme” signs of impairment.

She was arrested and charged with driving under the influence with property damage, along with a charge of a DUI over .15 blood alcohol level.

Reports indicate the woman was arrested on the same charges July 29.

DUI charges in Tampa Bay are no joke. The consequences of a conviction are pretty serious and prosecutors will do everything they can to persuade the judge to enforce maximum penalties. With that said, a second DUI conviction in a 5 year time span carries the following punishments:

Fine: Up to $2,000. With BAL of .15 or higher: Up to $4,000.
Jail: Up to 9 months. With BAL of .15 or higher: Up to 12 months. If this is a second conviction within 5 years, mandatory imprisonment of at least 10 days.
Vehicle impoundment for 30 days.
License Revocation: Minimum 5 years revocation. May be eligible for hardship reinstatement after 1 year.

October 11, 2016

Tarpon Springs Woman Arrested for DUI After Allegedly Driving Wrong Way

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Police said a woman was arrested and charged with DUI after she drove the wrong way on U.S. 19.

The incident occurred early Sunday.

Police have video of the incident and claim the 43-year-old woman was driving north in the southbound lanes near Klosterman Road. She apparently passed an officer, who turned around and stopped her.

Before she was stopped, police believe she hit the bumper of a vehicle that tried to avoid her.

The man and woman inside that vehicle were not harmed.

Fighting DUI charges can be an uphill struggle. An overzealous prosecutor may seek maximum penalties, which can cause you much stress and hardship.

Because of this, if you have had the misfortune of being charged with DUI, it is always a good idea to seek the advocacy of an experienced attorney. It is very important that you understand all of your legal options. Depending on the circumstances of your arrest, you may want to seek a plea agreement or fight the charges in court. Our Tampa Bay DUI Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can advise you on your best course of action and make sure that your rights are protected.

September 7, 2016

Man Charged With DUI After Crashing Car Into Pasco County Home

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 23-year-old Hudson man was arrested and charged with DUI with property damage after he allegedly crashed into a home overnight.

According to FHP, the man was traveling northbound on Balsam Avenue approaching the intersection of Shadow Lake Boulevard around 2:20 a.m.

Troopers claim he failed to slow or stop and collided with a posted stop sign and then the front of a home on the 13000 block of Shadow Lake Boulevard.

The crash caused an estimated $75,000 worth of damage to the home and caused minor injuries to the 71-year-old occupant of the home.

The man is also facing careless driving charges.

The man was a probationary Sheriff’s County deputy in Pasco, working in corrections since 2013. He has resigned following his arrest.

August 11, 2016

Study Shows Florida Has Strict DUI Penalties

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Drinking and driving in the great state of Florida has some pretty steep consequences.

Wallet Hub compiled a ranking of the strictest and most lenient states in the U.S. with DUI penalties and Florida took the No. 14 spot.

The strictest state in the country is Arizona, followed by Georgia, Alaska, Oklahoma and Nebraska while South Dakota, the District of Columbia, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Vermont were the most lenient.

According to the site, the data was found by examining 15 categories including minimum jail time, minimum fines, and average insurance rate increase after an arrest. The overall findings showed that the average fine for a first DUI is $347. Wallet Hub also reports that 92 percent of states “require offenders to equip their vehicles with Ignition Interlock devices after DUI.”

In Florida, there is no minimum jail time sentence for a first-time conviction. A second conviction mandates a 10 day minimum time. A DUI becomes a felony after the third offense with older DUI offenses factoring into penalties for up to 10 years.

April 18, 2016

Disney Star Debby Ryan Charged with DUI

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Debby Ryan, star of the Disney Channel show “Jessie,” was recently arrested for DUI.

According to reports, the arrest happened sometime last week, when Ryan was driving around in Los Angeles. She allegedly hit a Mercedes and injured the driver.

When police arrived at the scene, they arrested the 22-year-old actress for felony DUI after she performed a sobriety test.

Ryan allegedly blew a .11 — the legal limit is .08 — and the authorities dropped her arrest to a misdemeanor.

She’s has been released on bail, which was set at $100,000, but has been charged with driving under the influence and driving with a .08 blood alcohol level or higher.

Anyone can be charged with a DUI – and this case shows that even celebrities are not immune from being arrested. Even consuming just one or two drinks and getting behind the wheel could result in disastrous consequences. Alcohol affects every person’s body differently, so it is best to refrain from drinking and driving at all times.

A DUI arrest resulting from an accident can enhance the consequences of a conviction. If another person was injured, this further complicates the DUI charges. Instead of a misdemeanor offense you could be looking at a serious felony.

DUI charges are nothing to mess around with. Not only can these charges hurt your wallet, but they could cause you to lose your job, your driver’s license and possibly require jail time. The state of Florida takes DUI charges very seriously, and prosecutors look to make examples out of even first-time offenders. With that said, just because you have been charged with a DUI this does not mean you cannot beat these charges. Each DUI case is unique, and depending on the circumstances surrounding your arrest, our Florida DUI Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton may be able to help you achieve a successful outcome. In certain scenarios, it may be possible for the charges against you to be reduced or dropped altogether.

March 17, 2016

Stay Lucky On St. Patrick’s Day – Don’t Drink & Drive

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

St. Patrick’s Day is here! This holiday celebrates Irish heritage with food, green attire, music, dancing and, often, the consumption of alcohol. According to reports from the National Highway Safety Administration, St. Patrick’s Day sees one of the biggest increases in drunk driving arrests and accidents compared to the rest of the year. In fact, during the 2014 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, more than 28 percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. Moreover, from 2010 to 2014, nearly three-fourths of the drunk-driving fatalities during this holiday period involved drivers who had blood alcohol contents (BACs) above the 0.08 limit. Of those crashes, 266 resulted in death.

If you are arrested for a DUI in Florida, you can face very harsh consequences. For a first offense, you could potentially serve time behind bars along with heavy fines, probation, suspension of your license and even the mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device. DUIs that involve bodily injury or death are even more serious and carry even more severe consequences.

The increased number of drunk drivers on the road on St. Patrick’s Day not only leads to an increased risk of becoming involved in an accident, but also an increased chance of being arrested. Law enforcement is well aware that holidays lead to more DUIs. Because of this, they increase patrols and set up DUI checkpoints in hopes of catching anyone drunk behind the wheel. They are ready to make arrests, so be aware of this as you are out celebrating.