Law Offices of Russo Pelletier & Sullivan

How to Find Best Pinellas DUI & Criminal Defense Attorney... Ask About Their Training & Experience

Our DUI & criminal defense law firm has been representing clients in Pinellas County for over thirty years. During that time, we have observed a surprising number of new law schools open for business. Scores of new lawyers have entered the local practice of law. But, that does not mean they are all alike. To the contrary, you are likely to be surprised about changes that have taken place in the legal profession.

In a 2014 article we examined the dilemma of a college graduate in choosing to attend a private or public law school in Florida. Today's article delves into a more serious topic that many commentators warn may be effecting the public's best interest.

Can Your Lawyer Think on Your Feet?

The traditional method of teaching law in the United States for the past 100 years has been the Socratic Method. The general public first became aware of this practice as a result of a best selling 1971 novel entitled the "Paper Chase." The book was turned into a movie and the movie became a television series.  

Most lawyers consider the Socratic method of teaching a "right of passage" in their pursuit of a Juris Doctorate degree. This advanced degree is a necessary pre-requite to sit for the state Bar examination. The Socratic method entails having the professor choose a law student in the classroom at random. The student is then required to stand and participate with the teacher in a series of continual probing questions about a legal case. The method of teaching was designed to stimulate critical thinking, draw out ideas and advance public speaking skills. The law student in the "hot seat" literally must "think on his feet," much as he would in a courtroom responding to a judge's inquiries or his opponents arguments. Put simply, learning to think like a lawyer is equally as important as learning the law. 

The Watering Down of a Legal Education?

If you are contemplating retaining the services of a lawyer, it is imperative that you inquire about their background, education and training. You might conclude there has been a "watering down" in the education of some law school graduates.

Consider these new developments in our legal education system:

• Forty-four universities now offer a six year program to achieve both a bachelor and Juris Doctor Degree. The bachelor's degree is awarded after a student concludes his first year of law school. In other words, the first year of law school counts double toward both the undergraduate and post graduate degree. Seven years of education have been summarily shortened to six years.
  
  
• U.S. News & World Report has surmised that because of student concerns over tuition and the opportunity cost associated with foregoing a salary for three years (typically required to complete a law degree), there has been an emerging trend to develop accelerated Juris Doctorate programs. As a result, twenty one law schools (including one in Florida) now offer an accelerated two year program to secure a juris doctorate degree. Did your prospective attorney participate in legal studies for two or three years?
  
  
• Currently, there are eighty law schools that offer part time programs. These students work during the day and attend law school at night. Balancing a career and raising a family while attending law school can be very challenging. Typically, three hours of homework and preparation are required for each hour of classroom session time. Showing up for an evening class tired or less than fully prepared does not contribute to a valuable learning experience. Valuable hands-on externships, clinics, and summer clerkships are likely unavailable to a part time law student as they would interfere with his obligations to his employer. It is also important to note that there is a lower admissions criteria for part time law students. This means that the lawyer you are considering may not have been qualified to enter study as a full time law student and was forced to attend part time. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that approximately one out of every ten lawyers attended law school on a part time basis.
  
  
• Did you know that it is now possible to obtain a law degree by limiting your attendance at law school to only on weekends? That's correct, the American Bar Association has approved weekend study for would be lawyers at various law schools nationwide.
  
  
•  If you are concerned about a lawyer who only attended law school on weekends, you should be aware that the "watering down" of a legal education has fallen further down that "slippery slope." William Mitchell Law School, located in St. Paul, Minnesota is the first law school to achieve ABA accreditation for their online law degree. After achieving their online degree, William Mitchell Law School graduates are eligible to take the bar exam in all fifty states. 

Law schools have varying degrees of success in their preparation of students to become effective advocates. Nevertheless, we believe that the "experimental learning" or short cut methods as described above create a crisis of confidence in a law school's ability to train future effective attorneys. In our opinion, if this is the "new normal" of law school education, it represents a poor method of shaping the legal talent pipeline for the needs of the public.

Selecting the Right Attorney...
Ask Us About Our Education & Experience

The lawyers in our St. Petersburg / Clearwater office obtained a four year undergraduate degree and thereafter attended law school in the traditional and rigorous fashion. It is axiomatic that a good legal education can be key to later success in the courtroom. Our attorneys mastered their effectiveness in making legal arguments through the Socratic method of legal education. They benefited from participation in extra curricular legal activities, trial advocacy competitions and judicial clerkships. Before graduating law school they worked as law clerks in a criminal defense firm and completed clinical internships at the Pinellas County State Attorney's Office. Thereafter, they went on to serve as Pinellas County State Prosecutors.  You can feel confident that they possess the skills necessary to provide you with highly effective representation.

 Related Links:
The Crisis in Legal Education
Best DUI Lawyer in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Pinellas
Best Criminal Defense Attorney St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Pinellas
Law Schools Duel For The Worst Bar Passage Rates Ever
How to Find Best Criminal Defense Lawyer Pinellas, St. Petersburg, Clearwater
Many Law School Degrees "Worse than Worthless"
Highest Rated Lawyer, Pinellas, Clearwater, St. Petersburg
Who is Attorney Marc Pelletier?
Who is Attorney Tim Sullivan?

The Law Offices of Russo Pelletier & Sullivan, P.A.
Attorneys at Law
Former State Prosecutors
9721 Executive Center Drive North
Suite #120
St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Call our office to discuss your options
(727) 578-0303
Free consultations

Visit our Comprehensive Criminal Defense website: www.defensehelp.com
Visit our DUI Defense Website for FAQ:  www.duistpetersburglawyer.com

How Long Will a Drug Test be Positive?

Your body processes an illegal drug or a medication in the same manner it processes any other substance, such as food or water. Everything that enters your body must go through the same biological steps of metabolism until the substance ultimately ends up as waste material in your urine.  However, even at this last state, a substance is still detectable.

Drug Detection Times

There is a certain window of time known as the “Drug Detection Time” in which a substance is detectable in urine, blood, saliva and hair. After that time, your body flushes out any trace of that substance. The Detection Time is the amount of time after consumption that a positive result will show on a drug test.

While the substance may still be in your system, drug test also employ the guidelines of “Cutoff Levels”. Each drug has a designated cut off level in which a minimum amount must be present in the urine in order for the test to return a positive result. However, it is important to know that substances are detectable for a much longer amount of time in urine than in other specimen types.

Other Factors to Consider

Although drug tests have detection times and cutoff levels, there are many other factors that may affect the results of a drug test:

• Age – our metabolism slows with age, resulting in substances being present in our systems longer.
• Body Fat – our metabolism also slows with the more body fat we have, causing substances to stay in our system longer. Also, certain drug metabolites are stored within fat cells, causing them to be present longer in individuals with high amounts of body fat.
• Physical Condition- when a person is sick, their metabolism is slowed, resulting in a longer window of detection.
• Metabolism- those whose bodies have a higher metabolisms are able to flush toxins much quicker than those with slow metabolisms.
• Urine Ph- the more acidic a person’s urine, the shorter the drug detection times.
• Administration Method – depending on if the substance was inhaled, ingested, injected or snorted affects detection time.
• Frequency of Use – habitual users have a higher tolerance of the substance and their bodies are able to metabolize the substance out of their system in a shorter period of time.
• Half-life of Drug- each substance has a specific length of time in which its active components is reduced by half, or 50%. Substances with longer half-life's stay in the system longer.

How Long Will Marijuana Show up in Urine? How Long Will Opiates Show up in Urine? How long Will Valium Show up in Urine? How Long Will Xanax Show up in Urine? How Long Will  Clonazepam Show up in Urine? How Long Will Diazepam Show up in Urine?  How Long Will Ativan Show up in Urine? How Long Will Cocaine  Show up in Urine? How Long Will Oxycodone Show up in Urine? How Long Will Heroin Show up in Urine?

The chart below  provides general detection times within a urine specimen for various drugs and medication, but keep in mind, these time frames do not take into consideration the above listed factors.

 

Windows of Detection for Drugs in a Urine Sample

  

Classification	Street Names	Window of Detection in Urine
Opiate Morphine Heroin Codeine	Oxy Oxycodone Heroin Codeine	Generally 3-5 days
Benzodiazepines	Valium Ativan Clonazepam Xanax Lorazepam Halcion Diazepam	Oxazepam:  5 days Temazepam: 5 days Clonazepam: 5 days Lorazepam:  5 days Alprazolam: 5 days Diazepam:  10 days
Cocaine	Coke Crack Snow Flake	Generally 2-3 days
Amphetamine / Methamphetamine	Bennies Crystal Speed Uppers Crank	Generally 5 days
Marijuana	Pot Grass Wee THC	Single Use: Up to 3 days Moderate Use: Up to 5 days Heavy Use: Up to 10 days Chronic Use: Up to 30 days
Barbiturates	Downers Goofball Seconal Phenobarbital	Phenobartial: 10-30 days Butalbital: 7-18 days Pentobarbital: 4-6 days Amobarbital: 3-8 days
Phencyclidine	Angel Dust PCP Hog	Generally 7 days
Methadone	Methadose Dolophine	Generally 3-11 days

 

Dirty Urine Violations of Probation

If you are anticipating a misdemeanor or felony:  Pinellas County Violation of Probation caused by dirty urine, we are lawyers who can help. Each violation of probation case is unique. We will start by looking at the aggravating and mitigating circumstances of the facts associated with your original criminal charge. it is important to develop a a strategy in anticipation of the violation of probation court proceedings.

Sometimes, with a client’s proactive efforts, he might actually benefit from a simple termination of further probation supervision. (Early termination of probation) There are other times that the judge can be persuaded to ‘reinstate” or put our client back on probation. Obviously, our mutual objective is to avoid  a Pinellas county jail or state prison prison sentence. See: Alternatives to serving jail If you originally received a withhold of adjudication, we will want to ask the judge to “maintain the withhold” so as to avoid a formal misdemeanor conviction or you becoming a convicted felon.

Related Links:

We are highly experienced with Florida DUI and Medication cases, DUI and  Urine Testing and DUI and Ambien
Understanding Urinalysis by the Mayo Clinic
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Will Florida Extradite Me For an Outstanding Violation of Probation Warrant?
What does “no contest’ and “Withhold of Adjudication Mean?
Pinellas County Felony Administrative Violations of Probation

 
The Law Offices of Russo, Pelletier & Sullivan, P.A.
Attorneys at Law
Former State Prosecutors
9721 Executive Center Drive North
Suite #120
St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Contact our office to discuss your options
(727) 578-0303
Free consultations

Visit Our St. Petersburg / Clearwater / Pinellas Criminal Defense Website: www.defensehelp.com
See our Florida Prescription Drug Fraud Website: www.floridaprescriptionfraud.com
An extensive Website Dedicated only to Pinellas DUI: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com

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Can I be Arrested for DUI if the Other Motorist Caused the Accident?

Under Florida law, it is not necessary that the prosecutor present any evidence of bad driving in order to to seek a conviction for drunk driving. The State Attorney’s Office need only show under Florida Statute Section 316.193 that you operated a vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, a chemical substance listed in Florida Statute Section 877.111 or any substance controlled under Chapter 893.  Further, that the alcoholic beverage, chemical or controlled substance affected you to the extent that your normal faculties were impaired. Keep in mind that If you had a breath alcohol level of a .08 or above at the time you operated or were in actual physical control of the vehicle, it is presumed under Florida law that your normal faculties were impaired.

Being in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

Someone who has consumed alcohol could be exercising extreme caution in their efforts to safely drive home. Without violating any traffic infractions he normally could not be lawfully stopped by a police officer for suspicion of DUI. However, his vehicle could be struck by an impaired driver and they suddenly find himself also subject to field sobriety testing and arrest for DUI. In other words, he was simply in the wrong place, at the wrong time. As the links below reveal, it is not uncommon for both motorists involved in an auto accident to be arrested for DUI. 

Both Drivers in April Dunedin Crash Arrested for DUI
Both Drivers in Head-On Collision Arrested for DUI
Both Drivers Arrested for DUI, Passenger Treated for Life Threatening Injuries
Both Drivers in Crash Arrested for DUI
First motorist struck pedestrian, Second Motorist Ran Over Body – Both Arrested for DUI Manslaughter

It can get much worse if someone dies as a result of the accident. In that situation, one or both drivers are likely to find themselves charged with the serious offense of DUI Manslaughter.  That is because in Florida, it is not necessary to show that you “caused” the accident that led to the fatality. Only that in some way you “contributed” to the accident. Watch our video: Pinellas DUI Manslaughter Causation 

Other Related Videos 
St. Petersburg / Clearwater DUI Manslaughter Attorneys – Qualifications
Pinellas DUI Manslaughter Defense - Blood Evidence in Your Case
Preserving Exculpatory Evidence in Your Pinellas DUI Manslaughter Case

Factors That Can Reduce Your Risk for an Inadvertent DUI Arrest

With the availability of inexpensive Uber transportation, it makes no sense to consume alcohol and then get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Yet, a study by the American Journal of Epidemiology recently revealed by the Washington Post found no noticeable impact on the number of drunk driving fatalities in cities serviced by Uber. It is believed that those drinkers using Uber tended to be the same responsible individuals who previously called a taxi. Rather then shelling out money for a ride sharing service, other people leaving a bar choose to gamble that they won’t get caught by law enforcement. The stakes are high and it is clearly a “bad bet” when you consider the ramifications of going to jail and losing your driving privilege or life. However, let us not forget that when you drink alcohol, it is easy to exercise poor judgment and make bad choices. See: DUI Manslaughter... an “Unintended Crime” in Florida. 

There are things you can do to reduce your risk:

• Stay off the road after midnight - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 75% of fatal crashes involving alcohol occur between midnight and 3 AM;
• Stay off the road on the weekend - An alcohol related auto accident is more than twice as likely to occur on the weekend, as opposed to a week day;
• Avoid using your cell phone - Using your cell phone could jeopardize your ability to avoid an accident. “A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver.”
• Drive at a safe speed – Traveling at a slower speed could help you take evasive action to avoid becoming involved in a DUI related accident “Traffic Safety Facts: 2007 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment—Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities.”
• Always Wear Your Seat Belt - Your failure to wear a seatbelt gives the police officer the right to pull you over and issue you a traffic ticket. If he smells alcohol on your breath, you can bet a roadside DUI investigation is going to commence.
• Get Advance Notice of DUI Checkpoints – When our office receives information of an upcoming Pinellas county DUI Checkpoint, we do a blast email informing our clients of the place, date  and time. If you would like to get on our mailing list, simply call our office and provide one of our legal assistants with your email address. See: Pinellas Criminal Defense Attorney Says DUI Checkpoint Illegal – Court Agrees

If You Have Been Arrested for DUI We are Attorneys Who Can Help!
If you are arrested for a  misdemeanor or felony criminal charge arising out of the St. Petersburg / Clearwater area, we are lawyers who can help.
If you believe there is an “outstanding Pinellas county warrant” for your arrest, we can discuss your possible remedies right over the phone.

The Law Offices of Russo Pelletier & Sullivan
Former State Prosecutors
9721 Executive Center Drive North
Suite #120
St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Contact our office to discuss your options
(727) 578-0303
Free consultations

Visit Our St. Petersburg / Clearwater / Pinellas Criminal Defense Website: www.defensehelp.com
See our Prescription Drug Fraud Website: www.floridaprescriptionfraud.com
Take Advantage of a Website Dedicated to only Pinellas DUI Defense at: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com

Links:

Check Your Florida Drivers License Status
Driving on a Suspended License Charge in Pinellas County
How to Seal Your Record of Arrest in St. Petersburg / Clearwater / Pinellas
Finding the Best DUI Lawyer in Pinellas County

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Fighting the DUI Breath Test

The results of a polygraph or “lie detector” examination are normally not admissible in Florida courtrooms. If the results from this machine were admissible as evidence, this would circumvent the responsibility of a jury who is charged with the duty of assessing witness credibility and deciding the guilt or innocence of the accused.

The Intoxilyzer... Trial by Machine?

The results of a polygraph machine may not be admissible in court, but the results of an Intoxilyzer machine are routinely introduced as lawful evidence by Pinellas County prosecutors. At the conclusion of the trial, the judge reads Jury Instruction 28.1 to the members of the jury panel who have previously been sworn to follow the law:

“To prove the crime of Driving under the Influence, the State must prove the following two elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. (Defendant) drove [or was in actual physical control of] a vehicle;

2. While driving [or in actual physical control of] the vehicle, (defendant) had a breath alcohol level of .08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.”

This jury instruction is premised on Florida Statute 316.1934(2)(C) which states: 

“If there was at that time a blood-alcohol level or breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher, that fact is prima facie evidence that the person was under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties were impaired. Moreover, such person who has a blood-alcohol level or breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher is guilty of driving, or being in actual physical control of, a motor vehicle, with an unlawful blood-alcohol level or breath-alcohol level.”

Mechanized Justice?

The evidentiary weight given to breath test readings in Florida carries a “presumption of impairment.” One legal scholar adeptly recognizes that “Human witnesses now often give way to gadgets and interpretive software, juries’ complex judgments about moral blameworthiness give way to mechanical proxies for criminality, and judges’ complex judgments give way to sentencing guidelines and actuarial instruments.” Andrea L. Roth Georgetown Law Journal, Vol. 104, No.5. 2016.

If you have been arrested for DUI in St. Petersburg, Clearwater or other city within Pinellas County, it is imperative that you have experienced legal counsel carefully and systematically review every aspect of the breath testing process. This includes, but is not limited to, scrutinizing the calibration, ascertaining substantial compliance with the testing protocol and examining the licensing credentials of those individuals involved in the maintenance and operation of the machine. See: Can We Keep Your Breath Test Results Out of Court?

Your Right to Challenge the Breath Test Results

“Over the years, the public’s perception of drunk driving has evolved. What the public once viewed as a common indiscretion it now views as a serious crime and public health hazard. The state’s drunk driving statutes now are enforced rigorously, prosecuted zealously, and provide for substantial punishments. This is proper. It is also proper however,that we remain vigilant in safeguarding the rights of individuals, and ensure that those accused of serious crimes such as DUI have the aid of the process necessary for them to defend against such charges.” Dennis Snyder v. State of Alaska

Florida’s Implied Consent Law requires a driver arrested for DUI to submit to Intoxilyzer testing or suffer an administrative driver license suspension. However, a burden is also placed upon the prosecution to show that law enforcement has complied with a multitude of rules and regulations associated with FDLE and agency inspection, calibration and operation of the machine. Inclusive is the proper certification of those persons responsible for its care and accuracy.

The three criminal defense attorneys in our office are well acquainted with the various statutory and administrative laws associated with Intoxilyzer breath testing in Florida. You can recognize the passion we have in this area of the law by visiting our Breath Test Museum. Through our careful review of documentation in your case, we can look for non compliance, irregularities and machine repairs that could result in the disqualification of your breath test results.

Lawyers Who Aggressively Defend DUI Cases
St. Petersburg – Clearwater – Pinellas

 

Call a Former State Prosecutor! 

 

Free Consultation with a Criminal Defense Attorney
(727) 578-0303

For More information...
See Our Extensive Pinellas DUI Website

Related Links:
Should I hire a Lawyer for a First Time DUI?
The Decision – Blow or Refuse the Intoxilyzer?
Florida DUI Penalties
Evaluating the Strengths & Weaknesses of Your DUI Case 
How to Get a DUI Reduced
Locating the Best DUI Lawyer in Clearwater / St. Pete

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How to Emotionally Survive a DUI

No one ever wakes up in the morning and decides to commit a DUI offense. This criminal charge is somewhat unique to most illegal conduct because the prosecutor need not prove “Mens Rea” or “specific intent.” A DUI arrest typically follows the exercise of poor judgment, as opposed to a deliberate and conscious decision to violate the law. Alcohol clouds the judgment and the individual simply exercises a poor choice in getting behind the wheel.

You are Going to Get Through this

We counsel clients that a first time DUI offense absent serious injury or death is not a felony or a crime involving untruthfulness or dishonesty. Yet, people charged with a first time DUI offense can often be “hard on themselves.” They regret the conduct  that resulted in their arrest. The stress caused by their arrest can weigh heavily on them a result in sleepless nights. Clients who visit our office after a DUI arrest are often hard on themselves. Last year, there were 61,852 arrests for DUI in just the state of Florida. If you were arrested for a DUI, you can see from the statistics, you are certainly not alone. The lawyers in our office have to encourage clients to keep the proper perspective. We remind them that although this is a serious charge, “it is not the end of the world.” Together, we are going to get through this problem.

Top Five States For DUI Arrests in 2015

California: 214,828
Texas: 90,066
Florida: 61,852
Pennsylvania: 53,319
North Carolina: 49,599

A DUI Arrest Can Happen to Anybody

Over 1.5 million people are arrested each year for DUI in the United States. This includes many notable people. However it is important to remember that in the overwhelming number of cases, getting arrested for a DUI offense did not serve as an impediment for their success in both their professional and personal lives:

• President George W. Bush
• Vice President Dick Cheney (Twice)
• Tim Allen (Comedian & Television Actor)
• Reese Witherspoon (Actress)
• Charles Barkley (Professional Athlete)
• Diana Ross (Entertainer)
• Sam Donaldson (National News Anchor)
• William Levada (Catholic Cardinal)
• Wynonna Judd (Entertainer)
• Nick Nolte (Actor)
• Tracy Morgan (Twice) (SNL Comedian & Television Host)
• Robbie Knievel (Motorcycle Daredevil)
• Michael Phelps (Twice) (Olympic Athlete)
• Carlton Fisk (Baseball Hall of Famer)
• Bobby Dale Earnhardt (Race Car Driver)
• Crystal Davis (Eastern Kentucky Police Chief)

Taking Steps to Address Your Anxiety

Clients worry if their arrest will appear in the local newspaper. They contemplate the embarrassment they will suffer if their friends or family members learn about the incident. They typically express concern that their DUI could jeopardize their employment, result in a jail sentence or cause their privilege to drive to be suspended. All of this can result in sleepless nights.

If you have been arrested for DUI, you may be experiencing fear, shame or humiliation. It is normal to experience some anxiety. However, you are likely to gain a greater peace of mind by meeting with a qualified DUI Defense lawyer to answer your immediate questions.

You can take advantage of significant insight from a defense lawyer who has first-hand experience with the Pinellas County Criminal Court system. We have an established professional working relationship with the Pinellas prosecutors and will be in a good position to evaluate the chances for a reduction of your DUI charge to the lesser offense of reckless driving. You can inquire who is the judge assigned to your case and learn what to expect. Another way to effectively cope with stress is keeping busy. We can teach you the proactive steps you can take in your effort to save time and money in connection with your DUI charge. We can answer your question as to whether we can keep your driving privilege uninterrupted, as well as, educate you on the topic of hardship licenses.  

We have helped thousands of people charged with DUI. Spending time with us at a free consultation could remove some of the weight from your shoulders and enable you to get your life back on track.

Let Your Arrest & Concerns Become Our Responsibility

We invite you to meet with us so that we can learn what goals and objectives are most important to you. Together we can tailor a strategy that is focused on attempting to achieve the best possible outcome according to your individual needs.

Lawyers Who Aggressively Defend DUI Charges
St. Petersburg & Clearwater Area

 

Call a Former State Prosecutor! 

 

Free Consultation with a Criminal Defense Attorney
(727) 578-0303

For More information...
Visit our Comprehensive Pinellas DUI Website

Related Links:
DUI Arrest Statistics
Pinellas DUI Wolfe Pack – Nets 40 Arrests in one Night
The Tricks & Traps of Attending DUI School in Pinellas County
Do I Need a Lawyer for a First Time DUI?
DUI – Blow or Refuse the Intoxilyzer?
Florida DUI Penalties

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Do I Need a Lawyer for a First Time DUI?

If you have recently been arrested for a first time DUI offense in Pinellas county, it is perfectly natural to feel a sense of uncertainty. You might also be tempted to quickly resolve your case so that you can put the experience behind you and “move on with your life.”

Handle the Case Yourself?

You might be asking yourself “Do I really need a lawyer for a first time DUI offense? Friends or relatives may have even expressed their opinion that perhaps you should “go at it alone.” After all, there was no accident, minor children in your car or other aggravating factors associated with your arrest. Perhaps you have been reassuring yourself that you are “only a first time offender” or that you should consider “saving a few bucks.”

Keeping the Right Perspective

Currently, you find yourself facing a criminal offense with mandatory court appearances in a complex legal system. If you were suffering a medical problem, you would surely consult with a doctor. Facing a DUI is unlike battling the common cold. You can’t just muddle your way through by waiting for your body to fight off the cold. There are likewise no “over-the-counter” remedies.

It is important to keep in mind that our legal system is “adversary” in nature. You will be up against an experienced prosecutor. In addition, the laws pertaining to driving under the influence offenses are complicated. Your case will necessitate hearings in both a courtroom and at the Department of Highway Safety Division of Drivers Licenses. Seeking help from a qualified lawyer is imperative, since in most cases, you only have one opportunity to get the best possible result.

A first-time DUI conviction can have far reaching effects on your reputation, privilege to drive, employment opportunities, and your ability to hold or obtain professional licensing. Facing a DUI charge is definitely not the same thing as getting a speeding ticket. See: How Can a DUI Affect My Vehicle Insurance Coverage in Florida?

A Great Outcome Despite Evidence That Seems Stacked Against You

The facts of your case might entail Intoxilyzer results over the .08 presumptive level of impairment. Perhaps you made some incriminating statements to the police officer about your consumption of alcohol. See: What if the Police Fail to Read my Miranda Rights. You might also be second guessing your performance of roadside field sobriety tests. In sum... the facts and evidence in your case may seem stacked against you.

Although your personal assessment of the case may be unfavorable, the truth is that an experienced DUI defense attorney will be focused on the legal and scientific aspects of your case.  These are important areas for which you are likely unfamiliar. See: Keeping Your Breath Test Out of Court

A Sampling of DUI Issues You Probably Never Considered

• Did the officer establish probable cause that a traffic infraction occurred to justify the initial stop of your vehicle and did you receive a separate traffic ticket?
• Did law enforcement develop “reasonable suspicion” that you were impaired by alcohol or a controlled substances to legally justify a prolonged detention to conduct his DUI investigation?
• Will a review of the videotape reveal improprieties or a failure of law enforcement to conduct a fair and honest appraisal of your state of sobriety?
• Did the officer properly administer field sobriety testing in a manner that was consistent with the guidelines set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration?
• Was the officer a qualified “expert” in the administration of HGN or  Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus testing? (The test where the officer moved a pen or light in front of your eyes.)
• Were the field sobriety tests conducted in an area that was level, well lit, and free of debris?
• Were the shoes you were wearing appropriate for the roadside field sobriety testing?
• Do you suffer from any medical conditions or physical disabilities that would have affected your performance of the roadside field sobriety testing?
• If you are a diabetic, was your blood sugar checked by a paramedic or an Emergency Medical Technician?
• Did your fasting or consuming of a low calorie diet cause you to experience ketoacidosis?
• Did the officer develop sufficient “probable cause” to place you under arrest for DUI?
• Did the officer properly fulfill the requirement of a mandatory “twenty minute observation period” prior to requesting a breath test?
• Prior to taking the breath test, did you place anything into your mouth?;
• Prior to taking the breath test, did you regurgitate any contents from your stomach?
• Do you suffer from GERD?’';
• Was the breath test officer properly certified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct evidentiary “breath testing” on the Intoxilyzer 8000?
• Was the “Agency Inspector” properly certified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct monthly “agency inspections” of the machine that was used in your case?’
• Did the machine properly pass its calibration inspections both before and after your breath test?;
• Was the machine inspected by a “Department Inspector” from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Alcohol Testing Program during the calendar year of your arrest?
• Was the volume of your breath sample sufficient to qualify as a “valid” breath test (1.1 liters of air)?
• Using “retrograde extrapolation” can we establish that, although your breath alcohol level was above .08 at the time that you blew into the machine, your breath alcohol level was under a .08 at the time of driving. (Florida DUI law focuses on “at the time of driving and not “at the time of testing.”)
• If you refused the breath test, the prosecutor has been deprived of an important piece of evidence. Can your “refusal” serve as a tactical advantage in negotiations?

A DUI conviction is a serious matter that can affect you for the rest of your life. For that reason, the lawyers in our office are committed to “leaving no stone unturned.”

Clients are sometimes surprised to learn that key pieces of evidence in their case may be inadmissible in court. Using our background, experience and training, we can sometimes leverage a plea bargain to result in having a DUI charge reduced to the lesser offense of reckless driving.

 

We are Attorneys who Aggressively Defend DUI Charges Arising out of St. Petersburg / Clearwater / Pinellas County.

Call a Former State Prosecutor! 
Free Consultation with a DUI Lawyer
Pinellas / St. Pete / Clearwater DUI Lawyers

Our Comprehensive DUI Website: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com

Free consultations
(727) 578-0303

Related Web Links:
How to Keep Legally Driving After a DUI Arrest
The 5 Common Mistakes People Make in DUI Cases
How to Find the Best Pinellas County DUI Lawyer
FDLE Alcohol Testing Program Staff
FDLE Department Inspectors by Region

 

 

 

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What is Florida’s DUI Actual Physical Control Law?

In every Florida DUI or DUI Manslaughter case, there must be proof of “driving” or “actual physical control.” If a police officer or another witness is able to identify you as the individual who moved the vehicle (however short the distance,) then the element of “driving” is satisfied. In some cases, the prosecutor will attempt to prove that you were the driver by your own admissions.

The Prosecutor’s Use of Circumstantial Evidence in a DUI 
                  Can They Prove You “Drove” a Vehicle?

The prosecutor may have greater difficulty in meeting their burden when they are forced to prove your driving through circumstantial evidence. A “circumstantial evidence” scenario typically arises in the context of a motor vehicle accident where the accused was never seen in control of the car. For example, consider the following situation:

• A Pinellas County Deputy Sherriff is on routine patrol in an isolated area when he observes a vehicle stuck in a drainage ditch.
• The driver’s side door is open and an adult male is observed standing on the paved road adjacent to the vehicle.
• There are no other persons in the area.
• The hood and front grille of the vehicle are warm to the touch. This suggests that the vehicle’s motor was recently running.
• Further investigation reveals that the vehicle is registered to the suspect who smells of alcohol.
• The bottom of the suspect’s pant legs are wet. His wet pant legs are consistent with someone who was forced to exit the vehicle and walk though the watery ditch to gain access to the roadway.

Under these facts, the deputy lacks an eye witness (commonly referred to as a  “wheel witness”) to testify that they saw the male individual drive the vehicle into the ditch. Yet, everyone knows that the vehicle could not have driven itself. Thus, it is a reasonable inference under the circumstances that the male suspect had swerved off of the roadway and crashed the vehicle into the ditch. Thus, through “circumstantial evidence” a judge or jury may conclude that the male suspect “drove” the vehicle.

Every case is different. In fact, most DUI cases that rely on circumstantial evidence are typically not as straight forward as the aforementioned example. In fact, when a prosecutor lacks a “wheel witness,” it can often spell trouble in proving the case.   It is therefore important to have an experienced lawyer evaluate your DUI case. A circumstantial evidence DUI case can sometimes be a good candidate for a Pinellas County DUI Defense attorney to have his client’s DUI charge reduced to a reckless driving offense.

What is “Actual Physical Control” in Florida

Many clients come to us after their arrest for DUI or DUI Manslaughter and we determine that the prosecutor will not be able to prove “driving” through direct or circumstantial evidence. At this juncture, our DUI defense team must look to whether the prosecutor can alternatively prove that our client exercised “actual physical control” of the vehicle. In order to prove “actual physical control,” (commonly referred to as “APC”,) the prosecutor must show that:

• The accused was observed seated “in” a motionless vehicle. (In the case of a motorcycle, “on” the bike);
• The accused had the capability to operate the vehicle. (This includes the present ability to operate, move or park the vehicle);
• The vehicle was operable. (Capable of being started and driven)

Again, the facts of every case are different. However in determining the sufficiency of evidence to establish an APC case, the courts must look to the “totality of the circumstances.” There are generally three major considerations:

1. Whether the accused had actual or constructive possession of the key to the vehicle’s ignition. Note that the key need not necessarily be in the ignition or found on the person of the accused. Under the “constructive possession” theory, the key need only be shown to be accessible to the accused and evidence exist that he knew of its whereabouts;
2. Whether the accused was observed positioned in the driver’s seat behind the wheel; and
3. Whether the vehicle was “reasonably capable of being operated.” (Pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.190(c)(4), the Judge is required to dismiss the DUI charge if the undisputed facts affirmatively establish inoperability. See: Fla. Std. Jury Instr (Crim) 28.1  and  Jones v. State.

What if I Never Intended to Drive?

Motorists often pull their vehicle over and park their car when they realize that they may be unfit to drive. This sets them up for a DUI APC arrest. As a result, the Florida law seems to impliedly encourage impaired motorists to continue driving in an effort to “make it home.” It then becomes a dangerous challenge to make it to their destination without detection by law enforcement or involving themselves in an accident.

An individual who gets behind the wheel of a parked car with no intention to drive, (for the limited purpose of sleeping off the effects of the alcohol or drug) also sets himself up as an easy target for a DUI arrest. Remember, that the prosecutor need not prove that you intended to drive. He only needs to show that you either drove or were in actual physical control.

It is not hard to find fault with Florida’s statutory APC provisions. Not surprisingly, some states, such as Ohio, have made APC cases a lesser offense than a DUI. See: O.R.C. 4511.194 In those states, an APC case carries fewer penalties, less stigma and is preferable to motorists holding commercial drivers licenses. Yet, the Florida appellate courts have upheld the constitutional validity of our APC statute on the following grounds:

• A legitimate government interest exists in apprehending impaired individuals who are in Actual Physical Control of a vehicle “before they strike” and endanger others on the road. See: Lamore v. State;
• The APC statute protects the public from the danger of an impaired person who places himself behind the wheel and could with little difficulty start the vehicle and drive away.

APC Cases.. Good Candidates for Reckless Driving Reduction

In Florida a single DUI statute FS 316.193 contemplates both “Driving” and “Actual Physical Control.” Therefore, to have a DUI charge reduced in Florida means having your lawyer secure a reduction to a “Reckless Driving” offense. Fairness and equity can sometimes be called upon in convincing the prosecutor that reducing the DUI charge is in the best interests of justice. Consider some of the following compelling scenarios:

• Drivers who began to feel the effects of alcohol and elected to do the prudent thing by pulling over and lawfully parking their vehicle;
• A person who exited a drinking establishment, recognized that he was unfit to drive and elected to enter his vehicle for the sole purpose of sleeping;
• Spouses or “significant others” who were consuming alcohol and then became embroiled in an argument. Whereupon one left the residence and sat in his vehicle to avoid a further escalation of the domestic dispute;
• A driver who safely makes it home to his driveway, but is then apprehended by the police because he delayed exit from his vehicle due to completing a cell phone call.
• An individual phones a friend to drive him home, but imprudently sat in his car with the air conditioning running while await his friend’s arrival.

As discussed above, a Pinellas prosecutor faces a greater challenge when he attempts to prove an Actual Physical Control case. As a result, a St. Petersburg DUI lawyer can sometimes use both legal arguments and mitigating factual circumstances as combined leverage to secure a reduction from a DUI to a Reckless Driving offense. See the numerous benefits of getting a DUI charge reduced to a Reckless Driving offense.

We Can Help in Your DUI Case

If you have been arrested for a Pinellas County Actual Physical Control DUI, we are lawyers who can help. We will want to discuss the facts of your case and closely review the allegations in the narrative police report. Your case could be a good candidate for a motion to dismiss the DUI charge. In the alternative, perhaps it might be appropriate to prepare affidavits to support your contention that you never intended to drive the vehicle.

We need to direct the prosecutor’s focus on the fact that there was no accident or injury in your case. Further, that by not driving, you intended to do “the right thing.” Our team of former state prosecutors can closely examine all aspects of your case and can consider any available defenses. It could be your objective to have us aggressively  litigate your case in the courtroom. In the alternative, you may seek our services for the purpose of negotiating an amenable plea bargain. Either way, the long term ramifications of a DUI conviction makes it critical that you retain a law firm for whom you have the highest degree of trust and confidence.

Call us to schedule a free consultation: (727) 578-0303

Related Links:

How to Select the Best Pinellas County DUI Lawyer
DUI Manslaughter... an “Unintentional Crime” in Florida
Get a DUI & Get Fired: The Pinellas Sheriff’s Flawed Zero-Tolerance Policy
Consumption of Alcohol after the Accident and Inoperability of Vehicle

We are Attorneys who Defend Actual Physical Control DUI Charges Arising out of St. Petersburg / Clearwater / Pinellas County.

Call a Former State Prosecutor! 
Free Consultation with an Actual Physical Control DUI Attorney
(727) 578-0303

Pinellas / St. Pete / Clearwater Actual Physical Control DUI Lawyers: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com
Possible Solutions For Your Pinellas Criminal Charge: www.defensehelp.com
FAQ Florida Ignition Interlock Laws: www.floridaignitioninterlocks.com

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Florida DUI Manslaughter... Taking a Proactive Approach

If you have been involved in a Pinellas county vehicular accident that resulted in a fatality, you could be facing the threat of an impending arrest for DUI Manslaughter. These types of cases often entail hospital or legal blood draws. (See our video below on “Challenging Blood Evidence in DUI Manslaughter Cases”.) Because of the serious nature of the this criminal offense, local law enforcement will sometimes await the blood test results from the hospital or lab before making an arrest.

How an Early Intervention Can Help

By meeting with our defense team early, we can discuss an effective strategy to quickly secure your release from the Pinellas County Jail - in the event you are arrested for the charge. We can also discuss timely “proactive steps” that could later benefit your defense to the charge.

Preserving Exculpatory Evidence

• We need to start the process with the discovery of any helpful witness testimony or helpful evidence in your case. The memory of witnesses can fade over time or be forever lost.  So, contacting these potential witnesses early to preserve their statements could be highly beneficial.
• Our private investigator can take immediate proactive steps to protect exculpatory evidence, such as the measuring of skid marks or photographing property damage.
• There are even times when our investigator may be able to locate security videos from local businesses. These cameras may have captured the driver of the other automobile operating their vehicle in an unsafe manner.

Event Data Recorders – The Black Box

Many clients are surprised to learn that vehicles sold in the United States are often equipped with a “black box” or “event data recorder. When an accident occurs, these devices automatically save data from before, during and after the crash. The black boxes track speed, steering, braking, acceleration, seatbelt usage and force of impact.

Timely securing this critical evidence could give us a valuable “head start.” If the data fails to demonstrate careless or negligent driving on your part, this could facilitate our early intervention with the prosecutor and a strong argument that a DUI Manslaughter charge is not warranted in your case. (See our video below on “Causation Issues in DUI Manslaughter Cases.)

Taking the First Step

If you are facing a DUI Manslaughter prosecution, this is a serious matter and the stakes are high. You need lawyers with the necessary background and experience to thoroughly investigate and defend your case. Your careful selection of a law firm will give you the confidence and trust you deserve.

Call us to schedule a free consultation: (727) 578-0303
Find a Pinellas DUI Manslaughter Attorney

 

 

Related Links:
The Required Protocol for Labeling and Collection of Blood Samples
Florida Blood Alcohol Analyst Qualifications
Florida Blood Alcohol Test Methods-Approved Processes


We are attorneys who defend DUI Manslaughter charges arising out of St. Petersburg / Clearwater / Pinellas County.

Call a Former State Prosecutor! 
Free Consultation with a DUI Manslaughter Attorney
(727) 578-0303

Pinellas / St. Pete / Clearwater DUI Lawyers: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com
Possible Solutions For Your Pinellas Criminal Charge: www.defensehelp.com
FAQ Florida Ignition Interlock Laws: www.floridaignitioninterlocks.com

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Pinellas DUI Manslaughter Charges and the Element of “Causation”

One of the legal strategies we sometimes employ when defending clients accused of a DUI Manslaughter charge is the element of “causation.” In other words, was the cause of the accident our client’s fault, or can we demonstrate another “intervening cause.”

You should never rely on the accuracy of a potentially over-zealous law enforcement officer who drafted the accident investigation report in your case.  Police departments will sometimes conduct a less than thorough investigation. They can be very quick in drawing conclusions, assessing blame and pointing the finger.

Retaining the Services of an Expert

In DUI Manslaughter cases, we are able to retain our own independent Accident Reconstructionist expert to do “drag coefficient” checks on the asphalt and to carefully examine the vehicles that were involved in the crash.

Sometimes, our expert can gain additional valuable insight by accessing information from a vehicle’s “event data recorder” or “black box.” Using the laws of physics and engineering principles, our Accident Reconstructionist will be able to render an opinion as to the speed of the vehicles and most of the events leading up to the accident. More importantly, an accident Reconstructionist can identify the cause of the accident, the roles of both drivers, possible mechanical defects and the impact of the roadway or the environment.

Perhaps, the cause of the accident was not our client’s fault. In fact, there are times when an Accident Reconstructionist will conclude that the person who died, was in fact, the cause of their own death.

We may also want to employ the services of a forensic “Human Factors” consultant. These are experts within the scientific discipline of “human error,” and accident analysis. A “Human Factors” consultant does a calculation and assessment of “perception time,” “decision time” and “reaction time.” His analysis is designed to determine whether it is appropriate to assign human error in an accident.

A Human Factors expert may be able to say that given the facts and circumstances in your case, no person would have been able to consciously recognize the impending danger and thereafter undergo the necessary thought process to make an appropriate timely response. For example, no matter who the driver might have been, there simply wasn’t enough time for them to apply their brakes or to steer clear of the other vehicle. In other words, sometimes an “accident” is just that, “an accident” that nobody could have avoided whether they had been drinking alcohol or not.

Improving Your Position to Negotiate

If you are threatened with a DUI Manslaughter charge, the stakes are high. But, DUI Manslaughter cases can be defended. You need an attorney who will investigate and question every aspect of your case to protect your freedom and your privilege to drive. It is sometimes possible to show the Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office defects in their case. Finding a weakness or a conflict in the evidence could open up discussions for a reduction or a dismissal of the charge.

How We Can Help

If you are convicted of a Florida DUI Manslaughter charge, the Florida Criminal Punishment code provides for harsh sentencing penalties. This can be rather disturbing to someone facing a prosecution for this offense. After all, you certainly never “intended” to hurt anyone. See: DUI Manslaughter... an Unintended Crime in Florida. If you are facing a Pinellas DUI Manslaughter charge, you need a team of lawyers who can closely examine the issue of causation and other available defenses. Whether your focus is on successful courtroom litigation or having your lawyer negotiate an amenable plea bargain, the serious nature of these cases makes it critical that you retain lawyers for whom you have the highest degree of trust and confidence.

Call us to schedule a free consultation: (727) 578-0303

Learn About Other Defenses to DUI Manslaughter Charges: Pinellas DUI Manslaughter Attorney
Review Our Qualifications:  Our DUI Defense Qualifications

Related Links:
Challenging the Blood Evidence in DUI Manslaughter Cases
The Proper Labeling and Collection of Blood Samples
Blood Alcohol Analyst Qualifications
Approval of Florida Blood Alcohol Test Methods
ACTAR - Accident Reconstructionist Accreditation


At Russo Pelletier & Sullivan, we are attorneys who defend DUI Manslaughter charges arising out of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and all of Pinellas County.

Call a Former State Prosecutor! 
Free Consultation with a DUI Manslaughter Attorney
(727) 578-0303

Pinellas / St. Pete / Clearwater DUI Lawyers: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com
Possible Solutions For Your Pinellas Criminal Charge: www.defensehelp.com
FAQ Florida Ignition Interlock Laws: www.floridaignitioninterlocks.com

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Defending Florida DUI Manslaughter Cases by Challenging Blood Evidence

In order to aggressively defend your Pinellas county DUI Manslaughter charge, it is important that we look to the areas of pharmacology and toxicology. We will want to carefully examine the blood evidence that was collected and analyzed in your case.  If statutory quality assurance procedures were not followed and proper calibration tests were not conducted, it could cause your blood test results to be inadmissible as evidence.

Consider These Preliminary Issues:

• Did the nurse, paramedic or Phlebotomist clean their hands with an anti-bacterial soap or did they use an alcohol based hand sanitizer before palpitating the vein in your arm in preparation for your blood draw? If they used an alcohol based hand sanitizer, then they would be transferring alcohol directly to the injection site.
• During the collection of your blood sample did the nurse, paramedic or Phlebotomist use a “betadine swab” or an “alcohol swab” to clean your skin before drawing your blood? If they used an alcohol swab, this could compromise the injection site and could also cause an unfairly inflated blood alcohol test result.

Multiple Blood Testing May Result in Multiple Results

There can be as many as three separate blood samples tested by three different entities. 

1. There is a “hospital blood draw” which is taken for medical treatment purposes and tested by hospital technologists using automated clinical analyzers.

2. There is also a blood draw taken at the direction of law enforcement, which is permitted by Florida law in cases where an accident results in serious bodily injury or death. See: Florida Statute Section 316.1933(1)(a) This “legal blood” will be tested at either the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office Forensic Science Center or by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s lab.

3. Lastly, we can secure an independent blood alcohol analysis from a commercial laboratory using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry

Serum vs. Whole Blood Testing

The “hospital” blood test is performed on blood “serum” samples. On the other hand, testing of the blood secured by law enforcement and any “independent” testing is performed on “whole blood.” The science of Hematology requires that a proper mathematical formula be applied when comparing these two distinct types of samples

Because of variability in the conversion, and potential inter-laboratory differences, we can sometimes end up with three different blood test results that may conflict with one another. Blood alcohol results that differ can often raise questions as to the reliability of the testing procedures. In turn, this can create evidentiary proof problems for the prosecutor in meeting his burden to show that you were impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident.

Questions That Need to be Asked

• Was EDTA or a Heparin powder anticoagulant inside the blood collection tube?
• Was the blood collection test tube properly labeled or improperly “shaken?”
• If the blood collection tube was not inverted several times during the process of mixing the blood with the anti-coagulant, it could result in fermentation and produce an artificially enhanced blood alcohol level.
• Was the blood refrigerated during transportation and analyzed by a lab within the prescribed period of time after collection of the sample?
• If blood was drawn in connection with your medical treatment at a hospital, did the hospital have your informed consent?
• Did the State Attorney’s Office lawfully send you notice pursuant to Florida Statute Section 395.3025(4)(d) of their intent to seek a subpoena for the purpose of securing your hospital blood test results?
• Will the prosecutor be able to prevail at a Daubert hearing? At such a hearing, the Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office would have to prove to the judge that the blood testing was conducted in a manner that was consistent with reliable scientific principles. If they could not, the judge is required to disallow any and all testimony related to your blood test results.

How a Toxicologist Can Help

After examining these threshold issues, it will be important for us to utilize the services of an expert ”Toxiciologist.” This expert can tell us whether you drank enough alcohol to reach the blood alcohol level the prosecutor intends to introduce in court.

Sometimes, our clients consume alcohol just prior to the accident. The Toxicologist can calculate a “retrograde extrapolation” of your blood alcohol results to determine if you have a “rising blood alcohol defense.” In other words, our expert will determine what your blood alcohol level was at the time of driving” and not at the time the blood was drawn.

How We Can Help

As might be expected, there are harsh criminal sentencing penalties associated with a Florida DUI Manslaughter conviction. This can be particularly disturbing to someone facing a prosecution for this offense, since it was never a crime they “intended” to commit. See: DUI Manslaughter... an Unintended Crime in Florida. If you are facing a Pinellas DUI Manslaughter charge, you need a team of lawyers who understand the complexities associated with blood analysis.  Whether the focus is on achieving success in the courtroom or negotiating an acceptable plea bargain, the high stakes nature of these cases makes it critical that you secure the services of a law firm for whom you have the highest level of trust and confidence.

Call us to schedule a free consultation: (727) 578-0303

For more information: on defending a DUI Manslaughter charge, see our website page: Pinellas DUI Manslaughter Attorney
We are well qualified to help:  Our DUI Defense Qualifications

 

 

The First Step Is To Preserve Evidence That May Help in Defending Your Case

 

Understanding the Prosecutor’s Burden of Proving the Element of “Causation”

Related Links:

The Proper Labeling and Collection of Blood Samples
Blood Alcohol Analyst Qualifications
Approval of Florida Blood Alcohol Test Methods
Can We Keep Your Breath Test Results Out of Court?

At Russo Pelletier & Sullivan, we defend clients who are facing DUI Manslaughter charges arising out of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and throughout Pinellas County.

Call a Former State Prosecutor! 
Free Consultation with a DUI Manslaughter Attorney
(727) 578-0303

Pinellas / St. Pete / Clearwater DUI Lawyers: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com
Solutions That Should be Considered For Your Criminal Charge: www.defensehelp.com
FAQ Florida Ignition Interlock Laws: www.floridaignitioninterlocks.com

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