Broward DUI Lawyer Blog

Two men now face charges of DUI in Boca Raton, as well as drug possession after allegedly being involved in a chase with police, ABC News reports.

DUI in Boca Raton and elsewhere can lead to serious penalties. But it doesn't have to. An experienced Boca Raton DUI defense lawyer recognizes that for many people, this is their first time in the criminal justice system.

It can be terrifying and many defendants have a lot of questions and wonder what could happen to them. Answers depend on what evidence the police were able to get against the defendant, but that's not the whole story.

A skilled DUI defense lawyer looks beyond the police reports because sometimes the personnel issues of the officers involved can be a factor. Eye witness accounts, which may differ from what law enforcement officers say happened can often benefit the defendant as well.

There are many aspects to these cases that must be explored because the defendant requires a fair trial and a competent defense lawyer who can look at all the evidence and see where the prosecution's holes are.

In this case, ABC News reports that two men were on a dune buggy in a restricted construction zone that was unlit one recent late night. An officer pulled up to the work site and shined a spotlight on the dune buggy, which caused the two men to turn around and drive off.

The officer caught up with the men and pulled them over. Once the officer was able to talk with the suspects, neither had a weapon, but one of the men admitted to having marijuana in his possession.

The driver, who allegedly failed a field sobriety test, was charged with DUI. His friend faces a charge of drug possession.

What will be interesting to see in this case is whether the friend's observations of the field sobriety test being failed were the same as the officer's observations. Field sobriety tests and whether a driver passes or fails can be very subjective.

A police officer is trained on how to administer them, but most people in public can see whether a person is failing or passing a test. Most sober people can walk, heel-to-toe in a straight line and stand on one leg. It's obvious when someone fails or passes.

And, in this case, the reason for the initial stop should be looked at as well. Are police saying they had probable cause for the stop because the dune buggy was in a restricted construction zone? There are many four-wheeler riders who enjoy their machines on restricted land and in rural areas that are off-limits. Police know they're out there, but they don't bother them.

It will be interesting to see why police were called out there in the first place and all the events that transpired from the start to the arrest. Sometimes, what police say happened isn't the whole story and it takes a trial to uncover all the facts.