Drunk Driving

Drunk driving, or DUI, has become an increasing problem in Sarasota and Florida. Many times people are stopped for weaving, speeding or not wearing a seat belt, and if they have an odor of alcohol, they will likely be investigated for DUI. Police will request you to perform field sobriety exercises and submit to a breath test. If you are arrested for DUI and blow over .08, you will loose your driver's license for 6 months. If you are arrested for DUI and refuse to blow, your license will be suspended for a year.

Prescription Narcotics

Sarasota and Manatee police have been focusing a lot on prescription drug crimes. The use of prescription drugs has increased in both Sarasota and Manatee counties. Those arrested with even a small amount of oxycodone or other prescription drugs could be facing mandatory jail sentences if they do not have a prescription. Fraudulent prescriptions have also been increasing, as well as arrests for such use. If you do not have a prescription for a drug such as xanax or oxycodone, it is important to know that you are committing a felony just by possessing such prescription drugs in Florida. If you are facing such a criminal charge, it is important to know your rights and contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately.

Arrest down in Sarasota

Some feel the recent reduction in arrest in Sarasota are the result of better police work in reducing the amount of crime in Sarasota. However, others feel that it is a result of less police work. It has been expressed that the police are more reluctant to make arrests now after the negative publicity last year involving a police officer arresting an hispanic man for disorderly conduct and then kicking him to the ground after he climbed out of the window of the police patrol vehicle which was captured on video. Compounding the problem, it came out that the police then tried to quickly settle any lawsuit with the suspect by offering him a small amount of money. Things like this certainly will have an effect on police morale. However, it is not evident that any crimes, such as DUI, domestic battery, robbery, larceny, murder, drug crimes involving marijuana or prescription narcotics like oxycodone, are actually occurring less. Any view as to why arrests are down in Sarasota would be greatly appreciated. Or if someone has information that arrests in Sarasota are up, those views would be appreciated as well.

Drug Arrests

Many people seem to be driving with marijuana, cocaine, or other prescription drugs in their cars. With the new seat belt law, police are stopping cars when they see the driver does not have a seat belt fastened. Once stopped, if the law enforcement officer suspects drugs may be in the car, he or she will ask to search your vehicle. You will be pressured, and many people feel they have no other choice but to agree. Once the vehicle is searched and any illegal drugs are found, the person is arrested. Many times the officer will say they smell marijuana in the vehicle, thereby gaining authority to search your vehicle. If the law enforcement officer finds marijuana, the search will likely be held valid and a charge of possession of marijuana will now have to be dealt with.

Also, any felony amount of drugs found in a vehicle, subject the vehicle to government seizures.

Any person convicted of a drug charge will automatically have his license suspended, in addition to any other condition of probation. Crime is only getting harder to deal with, and hiring a criminal defense lawyer is much more important nowadays.

DUI Suspensions

If you are arrested for DUI, your driver's license will be suspended immediately. You will have 10 days from the date of arrest to request a hearing with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). After requesting the hearing, you will receive a permit to drive for business purposes only. The permit typically will last between 30 and 45 days, or until the hearing has been held and the DHSMV has ruled on the license suspension. It is imperative to seek a lawyer within those 10 days, or you will loose your opportunity to challenge your suspension.