1. What percentage of your practice is dedicated to DUI defense? The higher the percentage, the more likely it is that the attorney has litigated complicated DUI issues. The more an attorney practices in a certain area, the more the attorney knows about it.
2. How many DUI cases have you brought to trial? A good DUI attorney should not be afraid to try a case. Picking juries and presenting evidence is a skill that gets better every time an attorney does a trial. The more a lawyer goes to trial, the more comfortable they become with the process. When the attorney is comfortable with what they know and what they do, you will be more comfortable too.
3. Have you kept up with current trends in DUI enforcement? The best DUI attorneys are the ones who keep up with the newest methods that law enforcement uses to make a DUI arrest. These methods change with time. The best attorneys keep up with the changes.
4. Will you represent me at my DMV hearing? If you hire an attorney within the 10 period needed to challenge the license suspension from a DUI arrest, then that attorney should represent you at the hearing. Important information is gained at these hearings that can help your case later. In addition, it may help you keep your driving privilege.
5. Are you available to answer my questions? You are the one who is arrested and the outcome of the case affects you. Make sure your attorney will take the time to answer all of your questions. Also make sure they will be willing to answer your call or e-mail rather than send you to an answering service.

Many times people want to know “how many cases have you won?” An attorney should not be afraid to answer this question. HOWEVER winning is not always a good indicator of a good attorney. It is always the client’s decision whether or not to go to trial. The attorney may tell the client he does not have a good case, but if the client wants to go to trial then the attorney goes to trial. The same is true with good cases. If the attorney tells the client “I think you can win at trial” but the client does not want the stress, then the attorney can not take the case to trial. So it is better to ask the attorney how many favorable outcomes they have gotten for their client.

If an attorney is unwilling to answer these questions then they are not a good attorney for you! Make sure the attorney you hire knows the law. But more importantly, make sure they are willing to take the time to know a little bit about you.

#2 – Challenge the stop. If the officer had no reason to pull you over, any information that was learned after the pull might be thrown out. This includes field sobriety exercises and breath test results.

#3 – Challenge the field sobriety exercises. Did the officer have any training in administering the exercises? Did the officer administer the exercises correctly? Do you have a physical disability that explains your poor performance? Did you perform well on the exercises but the officer took you in anyway?  These are all questions that can affect the outcome of your case.

#4 – Challenge the HGN. HGN stands for Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus. Most people who are not familiar with HGN refer to this exercise as “the eye test” or “the thing with the light in your eyes.” HGN is very specialized and can give an inaccurate result if it is not done exactly right. If the officer was not certified to perform HGN, or if the HGN was done incorrectly, the State may not be able to use it against you.

#5 – Challenge the breath test. In order to be able to ask for a breath test, the officer must have a reason to think you are impaired by alcohol. Before you take the test, the officer must read you the implied consent and observe a 20 minute observation period. Then a licensed operator must administer the test properly with an authorized machine. If any of these steps are not done properly, it can help your case.

#6 – Challenge the urine test. Urine tests are not always necessary. There are rules that tell an officer when it is proper to ask for a urine sample. A good attorney knows the rules. If the officer breaks the rules, then the attorney can ask the judge to throw out the results.

#7 – Challenge the blood results. Did a nurse or an officer take a blood sample from you? The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that your blood can only be taken under very specific circumstances. If your blood was not taken under an approved circumstance and in an approved manner, then the results can’t be used against you. If the blood results can’t be used, you may be able to beat your DUI charge.

By challenging all of the evidence that the State plans to use against you, a good attorney can help you beat your DUI case.

Gasparilla events include the “Gasparilla Invasion,” the Gasparilla Invasion Brunch,” and the “Parade Fest Street Festival” along with live music, food, costumes and partying.  And drinking.   Drinking has become synonymous with the Gasparilla festivities and it seems everyone participating imbibes on the ‘liquid pirate booty.’   In response to the partying, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office seeks to protect those people on the roads through Hillsborough County and will be conducting “Operation 3D,” a public awareness campaign meaning Don’t Drink & Drive.”   HCSO deputies will be on the lookout for drunk drivers, specifically tonight, January 26^th.  There will be a checkpoint and deputy “saturation” in District II, Eastern Hillsborough County, State Road 60 and Parsons Avenue.

A DUI is a serious offense and the ramifications on your driving privileges and your livelihood can be severe.   If you or someone you know gets arrested for DUI and you want to know your rights, contact criminal defense DUI attorney Stephen Higgins at Stephen@fightyorucase.com  or call at 813-649-869, with offices at 3426 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33609. www.FightYourTampaDUI.com

1)      Do you have specialized training in DUI investigation techniques, drug recognition and field sobriety exercises?

2)      Are you an engineering expert who specializes in the inner workings of the Intoxilyzer 8000 including, but not limited to, software problems, the effect of air volume on BAC levels and the effects of electrical disruption and radio waves on BAC sampling?

3)      Do you have experience in estimating the physiological affect of alcohol on the human body?

4)      Are you trained in the rules of evidence and trial advocacy?

Unless you answered yes to all of those questions, you need a lawyer for your DUI! In today’s DUI world, having a lawyer who specializes in DUI defense is essential if you want to win your case.

Winning your DUI case depends on technical and biological knowledge. Police departments spend thousands of dollars to send their officers to specialized courses to have them labeled as “experts” in the field of DUI. The State ofFloridahas “experts” on the payroll who are paid to come to court to explain to juries how breath testing machines work. Other “experts” are paid to tell the jury how reliable breath test results are.

If you do not have an experienced attorney who knows more than the state’s “experts” you will lose your DUI case!! In order to win you need an attorney who has knowledge in all off the areas described above. Only experienced attorneys who have tried several DUI cases will have the experience needed to challenge all of the aspects of your case from the arrest to the test results. Don’t do it alone. Hire an attorney who focuses on DUI defense.

Although a criminology expert was quoted by the Sarasota Herald tribune as saying that deputies could have stopped the driver by offering him a cab, seizing his car keys or talking him as he walked down the beach, Sarasota DUI criminal defense lawyer Darren Finebloom states otherwise. “Without knowledge of a crime having occurred, police officers are not permitted to detain a person on a ‘hunch’ that they may do something illegal in the future,” says Mr. Finebloom. Doing so, he states, would allow police officers to bypass the 4th Amendment, which provides the right of people to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.

Mr. Finebloom is a partner with Finebloom & Haenel and can be reached at Darren@fightyourcase.com

My name is Darren Finebloom and I’m one of the law partners at Finebloom and Haenel. If you or a loved one has been charged or arrested for a DUI in Pinellas County, we’re here to help. Many times we get calls from people who have been charged with a first offense DUI or even a second or third offense, and they’re worried about the penalties. We are your Pinellas County DUI attorney’s. We have many cases in Pinellas County. We have tried cases in Pinellas County, and we’re here to help you. If you’re convicted of a DUI in Pinellas County, your sanctions could raise from probation to significant jail time and even prison time if you have a felony DUI. We have been successful in challenging felony DUIs, getting them reduced to misdemeanors. We to take a look at the facts of your case, and we promise to do everything in our power to defend you and fight for your rights. Please give us a call at 727-217-9795 in Pinellas County.

My name is Darren Finebloom and I’m one of the law partners at Finebloom and Haenel. Today I want to discuss with you the DUI penalties associated with getting charged or arrested for a DUI in Sarasota County. I want to talk about first offense DUIs because persons that are charged with a first offense DUI are obviously extremely nervous and scared. If you’re convicted of DUI in the State of Florida, you’re looking at anywhere between six to twelve months of probation, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel, 50 to 100 community service hours, fines and court costs, and license suspension. Here at Finebloom and Haenel, we’re here to prevent that from happening. We want to answer your questions and fight for your rights in your case of DUI. We’ve been practicing in Sarasota County for the last 10 years. Ni fact, this is our main county. Please give us a call at 953-2622.

Hi, I’m Steve Higgins. I want to take a minute and talk to you about the violation of a driver’s license restriction ticket. It’s a criminal ticket. If you’ve been issued this ticket, I encourage you to call us. It’s 813-649-8690. It’s a serious offense. Violation of a Driver’s License restriction is not something that the State Attorney’s Office here in Hillsborough County takes lightly. They look to pursue these charges vigorously. Why? The State Attorney’s Office feels that if you are driving on a restriction, then you should know that the restriction is, uh, a privilege. They want you to know that you’re driving privileges are restricted and you should only drive within the purview of whatever permit that you have. For example, if you’ve recently been charged with DUI and you’re driving with a hardship license, that hardship license allows you the opportunity to drive to work, to church if you attend, to school, if you’re still going, and certainly for medical appointments for yourself. That driving privilege is allowed so that you can continue to maintain your livelihood. It is not meant for you to continue to drive, uh, for reasons outside those restrictions.

That being said, I encourage our office at 813-649-8690 so that we can discuss with the State Attorney the reasons for your driving, to the extent that there’s a defense, and the opportunity to explain to the State Attorney whatever the issue is, uh, in terms of the issuance of the citation.

Again, the phone number is 813-649-8690. Thanks.

My name is Darren Finebloom, and I’m one of the law partners at Finebloom and Haenel. If you’ve been arrested or one of your family or friends has been arrested for DUI in Orange County, Florida, we’re here to help. At Finebloom and Haenel, we’re your Orange County DUI Attorney’s. Orange County consists of numerous cities including Orlando, Winter Park, several other cities within the county limits. We’re here to help you.

There are many times we get calls from clients who are worried about what could happen to them if they’re convicted of DUI. Let me tell you, the legislature is extremely difficult on DUIs, especially first time, second time, and third time offenders. If you’ve been charged with a DUI, and the State is proceeding with those charges against you, you’re looking at probation, fines, court costs, license suspensions, and even jail time. If you have a felony DUI, you could be looking at prison. It’s extremely important that you have qualified DUI attorney’s, like us, at Finebloom and Haenel, to help you with your case. Our office is located in downtown Orlando, and if you’re interested in our services and want us to fight your case, please give us a call at 407-472-1912. We’re here to help.

My name is Darren Finebloom and I’m one of the law partners at Finebloom and Haenel. Often times we get questions regarding what are the penalties if I’m convicted of a DUI. In Manatee County, and across the State of Florida, there are certain mandatory minimum requirements if you’re convicted. For example, you will generally have to go on 12 months probation, you will have to complete DUI school, you potentially could get a license suspension, fines, court costs, and numerous other requirements under the law based on the DUI statutes. We, at Finebloom and Haenel want to evaluate your case. We want to look at any defenses that you may have, and first, and foremost, we want to prevent you from being convicted of DUI. If you’ve been charged or arrested for DUI, or one of your loved ones has, please give us a call at 953-2622.