When a police officer pulls you over for a suspected DUI in Florida, he or she does so based on what’s known as a reasonable suspicion. If you’re ever pulled over by the police for any reason, invoke your right to remain silent and seek guidance from a Ft. Lauderdale DUI lawyer as soon as you’re able.
In order to have legal grounds to pull you over, the police offer must have a reasonable suspicion that you were committing or had committed a traffic violation or other legal infraction at the time you were pulled over. The police must be able to pinpoint the precise factors that led them to believe you were disobeying a law. It could be a single reason, such as speeding, or a combination of factors, such as drifting in and out of your lane and failing to use your turn signal.
If the officer cannot justify the basis for the stop, then your attorney will file a motion to suppress all the evidence that was collected after the stop was made, whether it’s bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and even refusal to submit to a breath test. Without these observations in evidence, it’s unlikely that the case against you will be strong enough for a conviction.
How a Ft. Lauderdale DUI Lawyer Can Help
An attorney can evaluate the circumstances of your DUI case inFloridafor a no-cost consultation and determine if the facts conclude that the officer had a reasonable basis to pull you over. If not, the State’s case against you is severely weakened, and you may be able to put this unhappy affair behind you for good and move on with your life. Speak with a Ft. Lauderdale DUI lawyer who will defend all of your rights under the law.
Reasonable suspicion is determined based on what a “reasonable” person would conclude based on the available and observable facts. It’s slightly less stringent than the “probable cause” standard for warrants and arrests and pertains mostly to vehicle stops for DUIs and pedestrian stops. If you’ve been stopped and arrested for a DUI in Florida, and the arresting officer didn’t have reasonable suspicion to stop your vehicle, or you’re unsure whether or not the arresting officer had reasonable suspicion to stop you, speak with a lawyer.
Indicators thatFloridapolice officers often use to identify drivers who may be intoxicated can include one or several of the following:
- turning with an unusually wide radius;
- lane straddling (driving in the center of the road or in between lanes);
- striking, grazing or nearly colliding with an object or vehicle in the road;
- weaving in between lanes;
- driving your vehicle out of the lane or off the road, such as on the shoulder or in a turning lane;
- sudden swerving;
- driving unusually slowly (10 miles or more below the speed limit);
- sudden stopping for no reason;
- following other vehicles at an unsafe distance;
- erratic braking;
- slow response to traffic signals;
- abruptly turning, accelerating or decelerating;
- driving with headlights off; and
- inconsistent signaling.
If a police officer observes you performing a combination of the above, or even one of them, you may be pulled over under suspicion of driving under the influence. A DUI in Florida is a serious charge, and the odds of a favorable outcome dramatically increase when you hire an attorney for your case. A DUI attorney has a comprehensive understanding of the Florida statutes that govern the basis for reasonable suspicion and driving under the influence and will fight to oblige the State to meet its burden of proof.
Contact a Ft. Lauderdale DUI Lawyer
If you are facing a DUI in Florida, your legal team is your best defense. The lawyer you choose to represent you in court, defend your rights, and relentlessly pursue your case could be the difference between jail time and getting on with your life. Contact the Ft. Lauderdale DUI defense team at Falk & Ross for a no-cost evaluation of your case – 1-877-663-5110.