Oct 19, 2017	Case: 2017-CT-006889	Judge Starr
Facts:	The defendant was stopped for speeding. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and an orbital sway. The officer also noticed some plastic wine bottles in the car. The defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests. For example, on the walk and turn test, she stepped off the line, did not touch heel to toe, and took an incorrect number of steps. On the one leg stand, she swayed and used her arms for balance. She was arrested for DUI.
Defense:	The defendant was stopped for speeding. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and an orbital sway. The officer also noticed some plastic wine bottles in the car. The defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests. For example, on the walk and turn test, she stepped off the line, did not touch heel to toe, and took an incorrect number of steps. On the one leg stand, she swayed and used her arms for balance. She was arrested for DUI.The officer concluded she was actually impaired by a chemical or controlled substance versus alcohol based on general conversations at the scene about drug and alcohol consumption. The State couldn't prove by what "specific" chemical and/or controlled substance allegedly impaired the defendant as required by the DUI statute 316.193. The DUI was Dismissed.
Result:	The DUI was dismissed.

Oct 19, 2017	Case: 2017-CT-006889	Judge Starr
Facts:	The defendant was stopped for speeding. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and an orbital sway. The officer also noticed some plastic wine bottles in the car. The defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests. For example, on the walk and turn test, she stepped off the line, did not touch heel to toe, and took an incorrect number of steps. On the one leg stand, she swayed and used her arms for balance. She was arrested for DUI.
Defense:	The defendant was stopped for speeding. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and an orbital sway. The officer also noticed some plastic wine bottles in the car. The defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests. For example, on the walk and turn test, she stepped off the line, did not touch heel to toe, and took an incorrect number of steps. On the one leg stand, she swayed and used her arms for balance. She was arrested for DUI. The officer concluded she was actually impaired by a chemical or controlled substance versus alcohol based on general conversations at the scene about drug and alcohol consumption. The State couldn't prove by what "specific" chemical and/or controlled substance allegedly impaired the defendant as required by the DUI statute 316.193. The DUI was Dismissed.
Result:	The DUI was dismissed.

Oct 17, 2017	Case: 17-CT-501117	Judge Gonzalez
Facts:	The defendant was stopped after being observed doing "burnouts" and "donuts" in a parking lot. The officer observed an an odor of alcohol, a flushed face, and his coordination was slow. The defendant then performed the field sobriety tests. For example, on the one leg stand test, the defendant almost fell once, miscounted, and used his arms for balance. He was arrested for DUI and then refused the breath test.
Defense:	Parks & Braxton announced ready for trial. On the day of trial, the State Dropped the DUI after there were pretrial negotiations.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 17, 2017	Case: 17-CT-501117	Judge Gonzalez
Facts:	The defendant was stopped after being observed doing "burnouts" and "donuts" in a parking lot. The officer observed an an odor of alcohol, a flushed face, and his coordination was slow. The defendant then performed the field sobriety tests. For example, on the one leg stand test, the defendant almost fell once, miscounted, and used his arms for balance. He was arrested for DUI and then refused the breath test.
Defense:	Parks & Braxton announced ready for trial. On the day of trial, the State Dropped the DUI after there were pretrial negotiations.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 12, 2017	Case: A3PVH6E	Judge Denaro
Facts:	An officer was dispatched to a car with individuals drinking inside the car. When he walked up to the car, the defendant was in the driver's seat. He asked the defendant to step out and then observed an odor of alcohol, watery eyes and low/slurred speech. The defendant then performed poorly on the field sobriety tests. For example, on the one leg stand test, the officer had to stop it for the defendant's safety. He was then arrested for DUI and then blew a .200 and .184 in the breath machine.
Defense:	In order for the police to order someone out of their car in this situation, there must be reasonable suspicion of a crime. Here, there was no suspicion of any crime. When the officer went up to the car, he saw no one drinking and yet still ordered the defendant out. It wasn't until after the initial illegality of ordering him out did the officer make the DUI observations.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 12, 2017	Case: A3PVH6E	Judge Denaro
Facts:	An officer was dispatched to a car with individuals drinking inside the car. When he walked up to the car, the defendant was in the driver's seat. He asked the defendant to step out and then observed an odor of alcohol, watery eyes and low/slurred speech. The defendant then performed poorly on the field sobriety tests. For example, on the one leg stand test, the officer had to stop it for the defendant's safety. He was then arrested for DUI and then blew a .200 and .184 in the breath machine.
Defense:	In order for the police to order someone out of their car in this situation, there must be reasonable suspicion of a crime. Here, there was no suspicion of any crime. When the officer went up to the car, he saw no one drinking and yet still ordered the defendant out. It wasn't until after the initial illegality of ordering him out did the officer make the DUI observations.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 6, 2017	Case: 2017-CT-004264	Judge Bell
Facts:	The defendant was the at fault driver in a crash whereby he had swerved in front of another car. The officer noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slightly slurred speech, and he appeared to be very confused. The defendant's gait was slow and unsteady. He was then asked to submit to field sobriety tests to which he refused. He was then arrested for DUI.
Defense:	The firm had pretrial talks with the State. After those talks, the State agreed to drop the DUI.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 6, 2017	Case: 2017-CT-004264	Judge Bell
Facts:	The defendant was the at fault driver in a crash whereby he had swerved in front of another car. The officer noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slightly slurred speech, and he appeared to be very confused. The defendant's gait was slow and unsteady. He was then asked to submit to field sobriety tests to which he refused. He was then arrested for DUI.
Defense:	The firm had pretrial talks with the State. After those talks, the State agreed to drop the DUI.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 5, 2017	Case: 2017-CT-005861	Judge Jeske
Facts:	The defendant was stopped for weaving inside his lane of travel and drifting over the lane markers. The officer observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slurred/thick tongued speech, and bloodshot eyes. The defendant admitted to consuming a few drinks. He had clumsy movements, was unsteady, and he also swayed. A Coors light bottle was found in the car. He then performed field sobriety tests. For example, on the walk and turn test, the officer wrote he stepped off the line, raised his arms for balance, and missed heel to toe. After performing the one leg stand and finger to nose exercises, he was arrested for DUI. After his arrest, he refused the breath test.
Defense:	Based on the officer's reports, he had made the defendant out to be a falling down drunk. However, the videotape contradicted those reports. Those inconsistencies were pointed out to the State by the firm.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 5, 2017	Case: 2017-CT-005861	Judge Jeske
Facts:	The defendant was stopped for weaving inside his lane of travel and drifting over the lane markers. The officer observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slurred/thick tongued speech, and bloodshot eyes. The defendant admitted to consuming a few drinks. He had clumsy movements, was unsteady, and he also swayed. A Coors light bottle was found in the car. He then performed field sobriety tests. For example, on the walk and turn test, the officer wrote he stepped off the line, raised his arms for balance, and missed heel to toe. After performing the one leg stand and finger to nose exercises, he was arrested for DUI. After his arrest, he refused the breath test.
Defense:	Based on the officer's reports, he had made the defendant out to be a falling down drunk. However, the videotape contradicted those reports. Those inconsistencies were pointed out to the State by the firm.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 4, 2017	Case: 2016-CT-032188	Judge Koenig
Facts:	The defendant was stopped after an officer observed him drifting to the right and over the fog line numerous times over the course of about two miles. Upon contact, the officer observed the defendant to have slightly slurred speech, dry mouth, bloodshot/glassy eyes, and the defendant admitted to having consumed one or two drinks earlier in the night. That officer then called for a DUI officer to come to the scene. The DUI officer made similar observations. That officer also observed the defendant exit his truck slowly, walk slowly, and sway while he stood. The defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests. For example, on the walk and turn test, he took 24 steps instead of 18, used his arms for balance, and did not touch heel to toe. On the one leg stand, he hopped all over the place, started kicking his leg forward and backwards, and used his arms for balance. He was then arrested for DUI. After his arrest, he refused the breath test. The entire incident, including the driving pattern, was captured on video. This was the defendant's Second DUI within a five year period.
Defense:	Parks & Braxton announced ready for jury trial. Upon cross examination of the officer who stopped the defendant, the defense got the officer to admit that he never even smelled an odor of alcohol. Upon further questioning on cross examination, the officer stated "maybe it was the wind." The defense then asked the officer sarcastically if there was wind in the defendant's truck as he looked in and spoke with defendant. The testimony was not credible. After he testified, the State agreed with the defense that his testimony was not credible and agreed to Drop the DUI in the middle of trial, before the arresting officer even took the stand.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 4, 2017	Case: 2016-CT-032188	Judge Koenig
Facts:	The defendant was stopped after an officer observed him drifting to the right and over the fog line numerous times over the course of about two miles. Upon contact, the officer observed the defendant to have slightly slurred speech, dry mouth, bloodshot/glassy eyes, and the defendant admitted to having consumed one or two drinks earlier in the night. That officer then called for a DUI officer to come to the scene. The DUI officer made similar observations. That officer also observed the defendant exit his truck slowly, walk slowly, and sway while he stood. The defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests. For example, on the walk and turn test, he took 24 steps instead of 18, used his arms for balance, and did not touch heel to toe. On the one leg stand, he hopped all over the place, started kicking his leg forward and backwards, and used his arms for balance. He was then arrested for DUI. After his arrest, he refused the breath test. The entire incident, including the driving pattern, was captured on video. This was the defendant's Second DUI within a five year period.
Defense:	Parks & Braxton announced ready for jury trial. Upon cross examination of the officer who stopped the defendant, the defense got the officer to admit that he never even smelled an odor of alcohol. Upon further questioning on cross examination, the officer stated "maybe it was the wind." The defense then asked the officer sarcastically if there was wind in the defendant's truck as he looked in and spoke with defendant. The testimony was not credible. After he testified, the State agreed with the defense that his testimony was not credible and agreed to Drop the DUI in the middle of trial, before the arresting officer even took the stand.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 3, 2017	Case: 2017-CT-007789	Judge Farr
Facts:	An officer came into contact with defendant as she was sitting at a traffic light when he observed her car to have heavy front end damage and smoke coming from under the hood. Upon contact, airbags had been deployed and the defendant stated "she thinks she may have hit a mailbox." The officer observed her to have an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and the defendant admitted to having consumed shots of Hennessy. After performing the HGN (eye test), walk and turn, one legs stand, and finger to nose exercises, she was arrested for DUI. After her arrest, she blew a .094 and .095 in the breath machine.
Defense:	Due to the .02 margin of error in the breath machine, the firm was able to show that both breath results could have been under the legal limit of .08. Also, the officer did not have an in-car camera, nor did he ever call for one. His police reports were not detailed and provided no specifics of the defendant's performance on the field sobriety tests.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 3, 2017	Case: 2017-CT-007789	Judge Farr
Facts:	An officer came into contact with defendant as she was sitting at a traffic light when he observed her car to have heavy front end damage and smoke coming from under the hood. Upon contact, airbags had been deployed and the defendant stated "she thinks she may have hit a mailbox." The officer observed her to have an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and the defendant admitted to having consumed shots of Hennessy. After performing the HGN (eye test), walk and turn, one legs stand, and finger to nose exercises, she was arrested for DUI. After her arrest, she blew a .094 and .095 in the breath machine.
Defense:	Due to the .02 margin of error in the breath machine, the firm was able to show that both breath results could have been under the legal limit of .08. Also, the officer did not have an in-car camera, nor did he ever call for one. His police reports were not detailed and provided no specifics of the defendant's performance on the field sobriety tests.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 2, 2017	Case: 2017-CT-004862	Judge Starr
Facts:	The defendant was the at fault driver in a rear end crash. When officers arrived, they noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, a flushed face, and red eyes. Her demeanor was slow and she had slurred speech. The defendant was then asked to perform the field sobriety tests. She performed poorly and was arrested for DUI. After her arrest, she blew a .211 and .213 in the breath machine.
Defense:	After the firm had pretrial talks with the prosecutor, the State agreed to Drop the DUI on the day of trial.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 2, 2017	Case: 2017-CT-005773	Judge Drake
Facts:	The defendant was found passed out in the driver's seat of his car. The car was parked in a parking space in the parking lot of the restaurant he had just ate at. The officer who found the defendant, noticed a pile of vomit outside his car. After the officer knocked on the window, the defendant stepped out of the car. The officer noticed an odor of alcohol and other signs of impairment so he called for a DUI unit. That officer made similar DUI observations including slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. The defendant also admitted to having consumed at least 5 drinks. He then performed the field sobriety tests. He performed poorly on video and was arrested for DUI . After his arrest, he refused the breath test.
Defense:	Under Florida law, a person who is actual physical control must have the "capability" to operate that vehicle. Here, the defendant had the keys to the rental car in his pocket according to the first officer. The DUI officer, on tape, kept trying to tell the defendant that the other officer told him that the engine was on and the keys were in the ignition. That was a lie as the first officer overheard it and even came over and told him the keys were not in the engine. Thus, the arresting officer's credibility was clearly called into question. In addition, the defendant had "no capability" of operating that vehicle while not only sleeping, but the keys were in his pocket. The State Dropped the DUI and the defendant received NO conviction at all on his record.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.

Oct 2, 2017	Case: 2017-CT-004862	Judge Starr
Facts:	The defendant was the at fault driver in a rear end crash. When officers arrived, they noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, a flushed face, and red eyes. Her demeanor was slow and she had slurred speech. The defendant was then asked to perform the field sobriety tests. She performed poorly and was arrested for DUI. After her arrest, she blew a .211 and .213 in the breath machine.
Defense:	After the firm had pretrial talks with the prosecutor, the State agreed to Drop the DUI on the day of trial.
Result:	The State dropped the DUI.