Pinellas County, FL DUI Attorneys

Arrested for DUI in Pinellas County, FL? If you have been, you should waste no time contacting a drunk driving attorney at Musca Law.

pinellas Pinellas County, FL DUI Attorneys

Free Consultation Available! Call 727-480-9675 today.

Being charged with a Florida DUI can be a confusing and most of all frightening experience. Penalties like jail time and high monetary fines you can’t afford make this understandable. However, while most people charged with drunk driving in Pinellas County merely plead guilty at the drop of the pin you shouldn’t! A DUI attorney at Musca Law can probably help you avoid a conviction if proper steps are taken in a timely manor.

Whether your arrest occurred in St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Port Orange, Clearwater or elsewhere in Pinellas County Musca Law can help you fight your charge. To get the process started simply contact a Pinellas County DUI attorney and schedule your free consultation (either in person or on the phone, your choice.)

Huntington Beach Police to Post DUI Arrests Online?

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Huntington Beach police have proposed posting the names of DUI offenders online in an effort to cut down on the city’s drunken driving problem.

Posting the offenders’ names would not be to embarrass people, but to send a message that the Huntington Beach Police Department is enforcing DUIs, police Lt. Russell Reinhart told the Huntington Beach Independent.

Police submitted a report to the City Council this month identifying drinking and driving as a “significant problem” in the city.

Some residents say the online list is a good idea.

“I actually think it might be effective and I don’t really see really any down side to it,” supporter Dan Harbs told KTLA.

But not everyone agrees with the idea.

“A DUI in itself is a deterrent usually, hopefully, and I don’t think you need to punish people any further,” said opponent Lorraine Keseloff.

Over the last three years the department has made, on average, a reported 1,700 DUI arrests a year.

In my opinion posting anyone’s name who is suspected DUI online is pure criminal. Being convicted of DUI is another story, but many DUI arrests are made in an unjustified way and many people suspected of drunk driving are innocent.

Source

Donte Stallworth Happy DUI is Behind Him

WESTMINSTER, Md. — Donte’ Stallworth is playing professional football again for the first time since December 2008.

The new Baltimore Ravens wide receiver donned shoulder pads on Friday, his first action since pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter last year.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Stallworth said that he intends to “move forward” and “try to continue my life as a I know it.”

In March 2009, the former Cleveland Browns standout was driving in Florida when his car struck and killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes. Stallworth served 24 days in jail and was suspended by the NFL for the entire 2009 season.

Stallworth said he will never forget what happened, but hopes be remembered for something other than what he termed “the situation.”

From a fantasy football perspective the addition of Stallworth as well as Boldin should only open things up for Ravens QB Joe Flacco and even star back Ray Rice as well. While quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Schaub, Phil Rivers, Tony Romo, Tom Brady and even Brett Favre will be drafted in all 2010 fantasy leagues before Flacco you can get some really good value on him in rounds 5-7 if you decide to draft backs, receivers and/or a star tight end in the first 4 rounds.

Been arrested for DUI? Contact a drunk driving lawyer for a free consultation before its to late.

Source

Daytona Beach DUI/Criminal Defense Law Firm

Have you been arrested for DUI in Daytona Beach, Florida? If so, you are going to need a lawyer and Musca Law is your answer.

Capture1 Daytona Beach DUI/Criminal Defense Law Firm

The attorneys at Musca Law have a proven track record, over 100 years combined experience and offer a free initial consultation to go over your DUI or other criminal charge. They can help you if have been charged with drunk driving in Daytona or elsewhere in Florida. Call 386-341-9882 today to get the process of protecting your rights started!

Although your initial case evaluation can be conducted over the phone, if you prefer to meet in person use the map below for directions:

View Larger Map

Not only can Musca Law help you with your criminal DUI charge, but they have time and time again been successful with administrative DUI charges (early license suspension). You would be a fool not to contact the Daytona Beach DUI lawyers at Musca law for a free consultation if charged with DUI anywhere in Florida. They truly are Florida’s best DUI law firm. Dial 386-341-9882 now.

What is an ignition interlcock device?

An ignition interlock device (IID), aka breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BIID) is a device that requires the testing of a drivers blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to start and continue drive a vehicle. The IID will not allow the car to start if the driver’s BAC concentration is over the programmed limit; which is usually .04 except in cases of multiple DUIs or DUI manslaughter/intoxication assault where the IID may require a .01 BAC or below. The device also requires breath samples at random times while driving to prevent others from taking the test for them.

Will I have to install an ignition interlock device in my car?

It’s unlikely if this is your first offense, but likely if this is your second or greater. Some states have it as possibility for a first offense only if you ,for example, caused injury or property damage, some states such as Arizona, New Mexico, Illinois and Louisiana require it for a first time offense in order to avoid license suspension and other states do not have it as a possibility for a first time offense; as I stated above it is likely you will have to install a IID if you are convicted of DUI 2 or more time. Every state now has it as a possibility for 2 o more offenses. Other states, such as Florida, are now allowing 4th time offenders to drive again with a IID installed. If you have been accused and not yet convicted of DUI/DWI I would recommend you talk to a drunk driving lawyer in your state about your situation.

Do I have to pay to have one installed?

Yes. Installation and other charges can be quite expensive actually. Installation commonly costs around $200 and you will be required to pay a monthly fee of around $100, for any maintenance expenses and calibration fees every 1-2 months of $50 or more. Failure to have the device calibrated at it’s scheduled time can be considered a violation of probation. In some states DUI fees can be applied to the expenses of the IID and in some states they cannot.

William Skupa Announces Criminal Defense for Domestic Violence Cases

William Skupa, a popular and renowned Las Vegas criminal attorney has announced criminal defense service for domestic violence cases. He offers assistance for driving under influence and personal injury cases also.

David D. Diamond Selected To Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2010

Attorney David D. Diamond was recently selected to the Super Lawyer Rising Stars 2010 for the second year in a row.

The DUI With No Driving – Part 1

 

DUI stands for driving under the influence. However, years ago Arizona, like many other states, changed its DUI laws to cover situations where the person was not actually driving. Instead, to be guilty of DUI, a person just needed to be "controlling" a vehicle. The classic example is the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road and the driver is passed out drunk. That is an obvious case of someone controlling a car without driving.

However, there are many situations, where it is not so obvious that a person is "actually controlling" a car. There has been a growing debate regarding as to what it means to be "controlling" a car in a DUI case. For example, people can legally use their car as a shelter after they have been drinking alcohol.  Someone who sleeps in their properly parked car after getting drunk is not "controlling" their car for purposes of Arizona DUI law. However, if they put the key in the ignition to turn on the air condition, does that action create a DUI? The Arizona Supreme Court Case recently attempted to end the debate in the case of State v. Zaragoza.

Zaragoza was convicted on an Aggravated DUI charge after he was found at an apartment complex:

•    Sitting in his car
•    The engine was off
•    His hand on the wheel, and
•    The keys in the ignition,
•    Alcohol in his system

Zaragoza claimed that he had no intention to drive, but only to sleep in his car. He claims the reason the keys were in the ignition was to roll down the window, and turn on the radio. 

He appealed his conviction based on the argument that the jury was provided inappropriate instructions regarding the law of actual physical control of vehicle.

The Arizona DUI statute does not define what “actual physical control” of a vehicle is, and there have been varying types of jury instructions on the meaning of this phrase through-out the courts. 

The Arizona Supreme Court took this case, and attempted to clarify the law’s definition. They stated that actual physical control has nothing to do with the intent of the driver to move or use the vehicle, but the actual and imminent danger to the him/her self or others at the time alleged to have control. This means that all facts must be looked at together in order to appropriately determine if there was an actual or imminent danger.

The Court also held that in this case, the instructions did not mislead the jury, but that they may have misstated the law. Because of the variations in instruction, and the result of Zaragoza's case, the Arizona Supreme Court decided to provide a new jury instruction for future cases.

The new instruction will be published in Part II of the blog post.

If you need assistance or additional information about an Arizona DUI case, please contact the Koplow Law Firm Online or by phone at (602) 494-3444.

Lawrence Koplow

 

Lindsay Lohan in Jail For Violating DUI Probation

Lindsay Lohan has turned herself in at a Beverly Hills court house  to serve her prison sentence. She remained calm throughout the proceedings, where she was ordered to begin her sentence of 90 days for violating probation on previous DUI and related convictions. TMZ and other media outlets have reported she will likely serve no more than 23 days.

Judge Marsha Revel prohibited photography of Lohan being taken into custody. She will serve her sentence at the Lynwood Correctional Facility, the same lock-up where Paris Hilton did time in 2007 for a probation violation.

Famed attorney Robert Shapiro stepped down as Lohan’s lawyer yesterday for unknown reasons. Shawn Chapman Holley returned as Lohan’s lawyer after resigning from the case earlier this month.

Source

I was arrested for drunk driving in Chicago. Will I get the bail I posted back?

90% of it. The bond money posted is just a temporary hold until your case is concluded. The same would stand true if you had been arrested for any other crime and been bonded out. In Illinois and many other states the money will automatically go towards your fines if you are convicted or plead guilty. However, I strongly encourage anyone accused of DUI in Chicago to fight the charge. You may not know it, but the prosecution probably doesn’t have enough on you.

Accused of DUI in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois? Visit the Illinois DUI Attorney directory. Schedule a free consultation and learn the facts about what you’re up against.