Police in South Florida are gearing up for a three-day weekend kicked off by St. Patrick's Day, which will undoubtedly lead to an increase in the number of drunk driving arrests in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Fort Lauderdale DUI defense lawyers urge you to celebrate responsibly and call if you get into trouble. A number of law enforcement agencies are announcing saturation patrols (wolf packs) and DUI roadblocks, or so-called sobriety checkpoints.
Do "wolf packs" sound to you like a group of well-reasoned officers looking out for your best interests? They don't sound that way to us either. They sound like what they are -- aggressive enforcement blitzes designed to stop motorists and make drunk driving arrests. Such aggressive holiday enforcement tactics virtually ensure that law enforcement will stop innocent motorists or make arrests in marginal cases.
And the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is reporting the cost of a DUI conviction is estimated at $5,000 to $20,000, including fines, court costs, increased insurance premiums, probation requirements, jail, and mandatory treatment.
If stopped for suspicion of DUI in South Florida:
-Be quiet and polite. Volunteer no information. Make no statements. Your attempts at humor will not be funny before a judge or jury.
-You are not required to submit to sobriety testing. Field testing is nothing more than an officer's opinion of your guilt -- considering that it is his job to collect evidence of your guilt, you are unlikely to pass.
-You are not obligated to take a breathalyzer test. You should do so only if you are certain you will pass. Refusing to test will result in the automatic suspension of your driver's license. But you will lose your license anyway if you are convicted and not submitting to a BAC will deny prosecutors one of the key pieces of evidence used against you.
-Save restaurant receipts and other information. Write down everything you remember about the stop and arrest. Have the passengers in your vehicle do the same.
-Speak to a qualified drunk driving defense lawyer as soon as possible after you are charged.
Fort Lauderdale DUI Attorney Carlos Canet is an aggressive and experienced drunk driving defense attorney, representing clients facing DUI charges in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach. Call 866-7ASKDUI to discuss your rights.
