DUI Arrests and Road Safety

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office was recognized for its efforts in fighting DUI with new equipment.

While the state at large is cutting back on law enforcement spending, arrests for DUI in Sarasota County are up 29%. As part of the recognition for these efforts, the Florida Department of Transportation donated a "DUI Checkpoint in a Bag" to the department. This will permit the department to continually hold DUI checkpoints throughout the holiday season, when more are planned than any other time of the year.

Sarasota County carries out both standard checkpoints and saturation patrols, meaning there are a larger number of deputies on the road specifically looking for signs of DUI driving. According to leaders within the organization, DUI has been a priority over the past year.

Monetary and equipment rewards to departments with high DUI arrest numbers lead to one question: can a department be too focused on DUI enforcement? Questions have been raised in New Mexico regardingwhether officers have an actual DUI quota. Similarly, a notable Chicago case shows that DUI arrest tactics can be skewed in order to drive up numbers and, in turn, profits to the police department and the state.

While DUI driving is a dangerous behavior that police play an important role in combating, many are questioning whether they have gone too far? The majority of arrests are of first-time offenders with low-level BACs. Most of these individuals will receive minimum sentences, but the cost of the DUI will be astronomical. The result is often a roadway that is no safer.

Pointing to this fact, some figures show that while DUI arrests may be up , fatalities remain constant. Some researchers say this trend indicates it is highly dangerous drivers, those repeat offenders with a habit of driving with high BAC, that pose the most significant risk on the roadway. 29% increases in DUI arrests do not necessarily mean these people are being removed from the road.

Being arrested for DUI is serious, and you should always seek legal help when trying to resolve your case. Call 941-365-4000 for a free consultation.

Drug Arrests in Manatee County

Manatee County Sheriff's deputies arrested 27 people last month on prescription drug related charges. Deputies conducted a round up with 79 warrants on 47 suspects.

The suspects face charges ranging from the sale of a controlled substance, to trafficking in prescription narcotics. Others were arrested for attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud.

Deputies are continuing their investigation into the sale of Hydromorphine, Oxycodone, Xanax and other drugs obtained without a prescription. More arrests are expected.

Being arrested on such charges is serious and defendants could be facing minimum mandatory prison sentence. With such serious consequences, it's very important to speak with an attorney about any possible defenses or negotiate a sentence to reduce any possible jail sentence. There are many ways to defend such charges. The warrants must be examined, and the search must be investigated to determine if law enforcement exceeded their authority under the warrant. Also, any confessions must be looked at in an effort to see if any constitutional challenges could be made to suppress the statements. As always, speak to a lawyer before speaking with any law enforcement.