Parks & Braxton, PA: Miami DUI Lawyer | Criminal Defense

OUR RECENT VICTORIES

Aug 17, 2017 Case: 2017-CM-000865 Judge Lelfler
Facts: The defendant was stopped for weaving. The officer observed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and his movements were slow and uncoordinated. The defendant was asked several times to put his slice of pizza away, yet he kept eating. At one point, he was removed by force by the police as he would not exit the car and continued to keep eating the pizza. No field sobriety tests were conducted due to the defendant's belligerence and disregard for police commands. He was arrested for DUI and also resisting an officer without violence.
Defense: Parks & Braxton announced ready for trial. Days before trial, after negotiations, the State Dropped the DUI and the defendant received no conviction on the resting charge.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 15, 2017 Case: 16-022638MU10A Judge Pole
Facts: The defendant was found passed out in his car at a traffic light. Upon waking the defendant, he took his foot off the brake and started rolling forward. The defendant's car eventually stopped after rolling up on a curb. Officers immediately noticed a Corona bottle in the car and the defendant was sweating profusely. They then noticed an odor of alcohol, flushed face, and glossy eyes. The defendant was asked to perform the roadside tests, to which he refused after being advised of the adverse consequences of refusing. He was then arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test.
Defense: The firm announced ready for trial. Although the officer stated in her reports that the defendant refused the roadside tests, the video contradicted that allegation. In fact, after being placed in cuffs, the defendant asked several times to be allowed to take the tests. The officer's credibility was now being called into question as her reports were contradicted by the video tape. On the morning of jury trial, the State Dropped the DUI.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 15, 2017 Case: 16-009972MU10A Judge Solomon
Facts: The defendant was the at fault driver in a rear end crash. When officer arrived, they noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and she was very unsteady on her feet. The defendant used her vehicle for support on a few occasions. The defendant then performed the field sobriety tests. For example, on the walk and turn, she almost fell and the exercise was terminated for her safety. On the HGN (eye test), she did not follow the stimulus with her eyes and looked straight ahead. She was then arrested for DUI.
Defense: Parks & Braxton took pre trial depositions of the officers and civilians involved in the case. All of the officers' sworn testimony contradicted each other’s and also the testimony of the civilians involved in the crash. The firm announced ready for trial and on the day of trial, the State Dropped the DUI.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 15, 2017 Case: 16-022638MU10A Judge Pole
Facts: The defendant was found passed out in his car at a traffic light. Upon waking the defendant, he took his foot off the brake and started rolling forward. The defendant's car eventually stopped after rolling up on a curb. Officers immediately noticed a Corona bottle in the car and the defendant was sweating profusely. They then noticed an odor of alcohol, flushed face, and glossy eyes. The defendant was asked to perform the roadside tests, to which he refused after being advised of the adverse consequences of refusing. He was then arrested for DUI and later refused the breath test.
Defense: The firm announced ready for trial. Although the officer stated in her reports that the defendant refused the roadside tests, the video contradicted that allegation. In fact, after being placed in cuffs, the defendant asked several times to be allowed to take the tests. The officer's credibility was now being called into question as her reports were contradicted by the video tape. On the morning of jury trial, the State Dropped the DUI.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 15, 2017 Case: 16-009972MU10A Judge Solomon
Facts: The defendant was the at fault driver in a rear end crash. When officer arrived, they noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and she was very unsteady on her feet. The defendant used her vehicle for support on a few occasions. The defendant then performed the field sobriety tests. For example, on the walk and turn, she almost fell and the exercise was terminated for her safety. On the HGN (eye test), she did not follow the stimulus with her eyes and looked straight ahead. She was then arrested for DUI.
Defense: Parks & Braxton took pre trial depositions of the officers and civilians involved in the case. All of the officers' sworn testimony contradicted each other’s and also the testimony of the civilians involved in the crash. The firm announced ready for trial and on the day of trial, the State Dropped the DUI.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 14, 2017 Case: 2017-CT-000815NC Judge Denkin
Facts: The defendant was stopped for speeding and swerving. Upon contact with the defendant, the officer observed an odor of alcohol and bloodshot/watery eyes. The defendant stated he had been drinking beer that night. He was then asked to perform the roadside tests. According to the officer, he exhibited several signs of impairment and was arrested for DUI. After his arrest, he blew over the legal limit by providing breath samples of a .088 and .082 in the breath machine.
Defense: Parks & Braxton filed a pretrial motion to suppress the breath test results. In our motion, we alleged that the officer coerced the defendant into taking a breath test by advising the defendant that he can get a work permit and continue to drive if he took a breath test, however, if he refused, he would not be able to get a hardship license nor continue to drive. The Judge watched the video, read the applicable case law, heard argument of counsel, and then Granted the motion. The breath test results were then excluded from evidence. On the day of trial, the State Dropped the DUI and the defendant received no conviction at all on his record.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 14, 2017 Case: 17-CT-000533 Judge M. Brown
Facts: The defendant was stopped for running a red light. The officer smelled an odor of alcohol and the defendant appeared very confused as to her direction of travel. EMS was called to the scene to check the defendant out for any medical issues. After being cleared medically, the defendant then performed the field sobriety tests. She then performed the HGN (eye), walk and turn, and one leg stand tests. According to the officer, she did not perform to standards and was arrested for DUI. After her arrest, she refused the breath test.
Defense: In order to conduct field sobriety tests, an officer must have "reasonable suspicion" of a crime (i.e. that the defendant was impaired) in order to administer roadside tests. Here, there was a lack of "reasonable suspicion" thus the roadsides would have been excluded from evidence.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 14, 2017 Case: 2017-CT-000815NC Judge Denkin
Facts: The defendant was stopped for speeding and swerving. Upon contact with the defendant, the officer observed an odor of alcohol and bloodshot/watery eyes. The defendant stated he had been drinking beer that night. He was then asked to perform the roadside tests. According to the officer, he exhibited several signs of impairment and was arrested for DUI. After his arrest, he blew over the legal limit by providing breath samples of a .088 and .082 in the breath machine.
Defense: Parks & Braxton filed a pretrial motion to suppress the breath test results. In our motion, we alleged that the officer coerced the defendant into taking a breath test by advising the defendant that he can get a work permit and continue to drive if he took a breath test, however, if he refused, he would not be able to get a hardship license nor continue to drive. The Judge watched the video, read the applicable case law, heard argument of counsel, and then Granted the motion. The breath test results were then excluded from evidence. On the day of trial, the State Dropped the DUI and the defendant received no conviction at all on his record.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 14, 2017 Case: 17-CT-000533 Judge M. Brown
Facts: The defendant was stopped for running a red light. The officer smelled an odor of alcohol and the defendant appeared very confused as to her direction of travel. EMS was called to the scene to check the defendant out for any medical issues. After being cleared medically, the defendant then performed the field sobriety tests. She then performed the HGN (eye), walk and turn, and one leg stand tests. According to the officer, she did not perform to standards and was arrested for DUI. After her arrest, she refused the breath test.
Defense: In order to conduct field sobriety tests, an officer must have "reasonable suspicion" of a crime (i.e. that the defendant was impaired) in order to administer roadside tests. Here, there was a lack of "reasonable suspicion" thus the roadsides would have been excluded from evidence.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 3, 2017 Case: 2016-CT-023394 Judge Jeske
Facts: The defendant was stopped for weaving. The officer observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and he was unsteady exiting his car. The defendant admitted to drinking and there were some beer bottles in the car. The defendant then performed the field sobriety tests on video. According to the officer, he failed and was arrested for DUI. After his arrest, he refused the breath test.
Defense: The firm pointed out to the State that the video contradicted the officer's police reports. For example, the officer wrote that the defendant had stepped off the line on the walk and turn test. Yet on video, that was not the case. Also, he had written that the defendant was unsteady, however, he was not off balance or unsteady at all on tape. Since the officer's credibility was being called into question, the State Dropped the DUI just prior to the trial date.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 3, 2017 Case: 2017-CF-000120 Judge Barber
Facts: The defendant was stopped after being observed squealing his tires in a gas station parking lot and attempting to exit at a high rate of speed. Once stopped, the officer observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and noticed an unopened 18 pack of of beer in the front seat. While waiting for the DUI unit to arrive, he observed the defendant to be unsteady while exiting his truck. When the DUI unit arrived, he made similar observations and then conducted roadside tests. After the defendant performed them, he was arrested for DUI. After his arrest, he blew a .164 and .166 in the breath machine. The defendant was later charged with a Felony DUI by the State as this was his Third DUI within ten years.
Defense: Parks & Braxton took pretrial depositions of both the officer who stopped the defendant and the arresting officer. Subsequently, the firm filed a motion to suppress the lawfulness of the traffic stop. In our motion, we alleged there was no reasonable suspicion of a crime, nor probable cause to believe an infraction occurred. Under Florida law, it is not an infraction to squeal one's tires unless other people or vehicles are affected. At the motion hearing, although the officer testified that he thought maybe a robbery had just occurred, that explanation was not "reasonable" because in the same breath on cross examination he also testified maybe the defendant was having a medical emergency. It was obvious he was speculating and and had no rational basis for giving those opinions. In addition, at the motion hearing, the defense called the DUI officer as a witness. He testified that the stopping officer told him he that he only "heard" the squealing of the tires, not seeing it as he had testified. Thus, his credibility was now be called into question. The Judge Granted the motion, threw out all of the evidence, and the Defendant's Felony DUI was Dismissed.
Result: The DUI was dismissed.
Aug 3, 2017 Case: 2016-CT-023394 Judge Jeske
Facts: The defendant was stopped for weaving. The officer observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and he was unsteady exiting his car. The defendant admitted to drinking and there were some beer bottles in the car. The defendant then performed the field sobriety tests on video. According to the officer, he failed and was arrested for DUI. After his arrest, he refused the breath test.
Defense: The firm pointed out to the State that the video contradicted the officer's police reports. For example, the officer wrote that the defendant had stepped off the line on the walk and turn test. Yet on video, that was not the case. Also, he had written that the defendant was unsteady, however, he was not off balance or unsteady at all on tape. Since the officer's credibility was being called into question, the State Dropped the DUI just prior to the trial date.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 3, 2017 Case: 2017-CF-000120 Judge Barber
Facts: The defendant was stopped after being observed squealing his tires in a gas station parking lot and attempting to exit at a high rate of speed. Once stopped, the officer observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and noticed an unopened 18 pack of of beer in the front seat. While waiting for the DUI unit to arrive, he observed the defendant to be unsteady while exiting his truck. When the DUI unit arrived, he made similar observations and then conducted roadside tests. After the defendant performed them, he was arrested for DUI. After his arrest, he blew a .164 and .166 in the breath machine. The defendant was later charged with a Felony DUI by the State as this was his Third DUI within ten years.
Defense: Parks & Braxton took pretrial depositions of both the officer who stopped the defendant and the arresting officer. Subsequently, the firm filed a motion to suppress the lawfulness of the traffic stop. In our motion, we alleged there was no reasonable suspicion of a crime, nor probable cause to believe an infraction occurred. Under Florida law, it is not an infraction to squeal one's tires unless other people or vehicles are affected. At the motion hearing, although the officer testified that he thought maybe a robbery had just occurred, that explanation was not "reasonable" because in the same breath on cross examination he also testified maybe the defendant was having a medical emergency. It was obvious he was speculating and and had no rational basis for giving those opinions. In addition, at the motion hearing, the defense called the DUI officer as a witness. He testified that the stopping officer told him he that he only "heard" the squealing of the tires, not seeing it as he had testified. Thus, his credibility was now be called into question. The Judge Granted the motion, threw out all of the evidence, and the Defendant's Felony DUI was Dismissed.
Result: The DUI was dismissed.
Aug 1, 2017 Case: 2017-CT-003435 Judge Lefler
Facts: The defendant was stopped for speeding. Upon contact with the defendant, the officer observed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. The defendant admitted to consuming two Crown Royals with ginger ale and two shots of Jack Daniels over the course of the evening. The defendant then performed the HGN (eye test), walks and turn, one leg stand, and finger to nose exercises. He was then arrested for DUI and subsequently blew a .098 and a .091 in the breath machine.
Defense: Due to the .02 margin of error in the breath machine, the firm was able to place the defendant under the legal limit on both breath tests results.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Aug 1, 2017 Case: 2017-CT-003435 Judge Lefler
Facts: The defendant was stopped for speeding. Upon contact with the defendant, the officer observed an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. The defendant admitted to consuming two Crown Royals with ginger ale and two shots of Jack Daniels over the course of the evening. The defendant then performed the HGN (eye test), walks and turn, one leg stand, and finger to nose exercises. He was then arrested for DUI and subsequently blew a .098 and a .091 in the breath machine.
Defense: Due to the .02 margin of error in the breath machine, the firm was able to place the defendant under the legal limit on both breath tests results.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 28, 2017 Case: 2016-CT-024093 Judge Bryson
Facts: The defendant was stopped for speeding and swerving. The officer noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, a sarcastic attitude, and slurred speech. Once outside the car, the defendant swayed while she stood. The defendant performed the field sobriety tests and was then arrested for DUI. After her arrest, she blew a .144 and .138 in the breath machine.
Defense: Parks & Braxton had numerous pretrial negotiations with the State prior to trial.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 28, 2017 Case: 2017-CT-004023 Judge Cunningham
Facts: The defendant was stopped for weaving and speeding. The officer observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and he admitted to drinking four cups of rum. According to the officer, he performed poorly on the walk and turn, one leg stand, and finger to nose tests. He was arrested for DUI and subsequently blew a .196 and .195 in the breath machine.
Defense: After numerous negotiations with the prosecutor, the State agreed to drop the DUI.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 28, 2017 Case: 2016-CT-024093 Judge Bryson
Facts: The defendant was stopped for speeding and swerving. The officer noticed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, a sarcastic attitude, and slurred speech. Once outside the car, the defendant swayed while she stood. The defendant performed the field sobriety tests and was then arrested for DUI. After her arrest, she blew a .144 and .138 in the breath machine.
Defense: Parks & Braxton had numerous pretrial negotiations with the State prior to trial.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 28, 2017 Case: 2017-CT-004023 Judge Cunningham
Facts: The defendant was stopped for weaving and speeding. The officer observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and he admitted to drinking four cups of rum. According to the officer, he performed poorly on the walk and turn, one leg stand, and finger to nose tests. He was arrested for DUI and subsequently blew a .196 and .195 in the breath machine.
Defense: After numerous negotiations with the prosecutor, the State agreed to drop the DUI.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.
Jul 25, 2017 Case: 2017-CT-003006 Judge Starr
Facts: The defendant was the at fault driver in a rear end crash. When the officer arrived on the scene, he observed the defendant to have an odor of alcohol and bloodshot/watery eyes. The defendant then performed the HGN (eye test), walk and turn, and one leg stand exercises. According to the officer, she failed and was arrested for DUI.
Defense: On video, the defendant was stating repeatedly that she had to "pee" really bad prior to and during the roadsides and it was an emergency. The officer would not let her urinate until after she performed the tests. The defense then pointed out to the State that she was "coerced" into doing them under duress. After reviewing the case law, it was clear the roadside tests would have been excluded from evidence.
Result: The State dropped the DUI.

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