Drug Offenses

Many drug crimes are charged after police stop a vehicle for a traffic violation or suspicion of DUI. After the stop, if law enforcement detects the odor of marijuana or sees a controlled substance in plain view in the vehicle, it allows them to search the vehicle. Upon searching, they find prescription narcotics, cocaine or any other drug. On the other hand, a law enforcement office may request consent to search a vehicle. If consent is given, they can search the car and if drugs are found, an arrest may be made if probable cause exist that the drugs were in the possession of someone in the vehicle. or the drugs are found on a person. As always, it is important in every case to request to speak to a lawyer before answering any questions by law enforcement regarding any drugs, including cocaine, prescription narcotics, or marijuana.

Drunk Driving in Sarasota and Manatee

DUI arrests appear to be up in Sarasota and Bradenton. New law enforcement officers have been assigned to patrol for DUI suspects. Remember, if you are stopped for any reason and law enforcement requests you to do field sobriety exercises, ask for a lawyer. Be polite and request a lawyer be present. Although law enforcement may tell you there is no right to have a lawyer present at field sobriety exercises, you can refuse to perform. You can also refuse to perform a breath test. However, if you do, if it is your first refusal, you may loose your license for a year as opposed to 6 months for a blow over .08.

Many defenses are available in every DUI case, and it may be possible to reduce the charge to a reckless driving. Always ask for a lawyer, and after any arrest, for DUI, drug charges, suspended license or any other crime, it is important to contact a lawyer.