| Read Time: 2 minutes | DUI

The End of Florida’s “Liquor Wall”?

 Florida residents may soon have more options when it comes to purchasing liquor. On April 26 the House of Representatives approved a bill that would end most of Florida’s restrictions on selling alcohol with other merchandise by 2021. Proponents argue lifting this “liquor wall” will benefit consumers and free markets, while critics say it will hurt local businesses and...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Drug Charges

THC DUI Blood Test Bill Proposed in Florida

Florida legislators continue to struggle with last year’s decision by voters to legalize medicinal cannabis through an amendment to the state constitution. Some legislators, concerned that medical marijuana might lead to a rash of people “driving while stoned,” have proposed new laws to expand existing DUI laws to cover THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. However, medical and law...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | DUI

Florida’s DUI Ignition Interlock Bill Advances

Under certain circumstances, Florida residents convicted of DUI may be required to install special “ignition interlock” devices in their cars in order to regain their driving privileges. Interlock devices contain a breath analyzer that determines if the driver’s blood-alcohol content is below the Florida legal limit of .08 percent. If the driver is above the limit, the vehicle will...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Criminal Defense

5 Things You Didn’t Expect From a Drunk Driving Charge

by David W. Bate Emotional As a criminal defense lawyer in Bangor, ME, I have been practicing for over 20 years and it still surprises me every time: Ordinary people charged with drunk driving are devastated by the prospect of facing real criminal charges with real criminal consequences.  You are afraid to face family and friends.  Through mere negligent conduct,...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | DUI

Impaired Driving: Prescription Drug Use Can Lead to DUI Accusation

We often think of DUIs as a charge related to drunk driving and forget that DUI charges are about driving while impaired. This means that you can be arrested for driving while using drugs prescribed to you by your doctor. Florida DUI laws focus on driving while under the influence of any unnatural substance. This includes prescription drugs. There...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | DUI

Have You Been Charged with a DUI?

We all enjoy those moments that make us happiest. We tend to enjoy not only the moment, but the people we around at the time. Our happiest moments are often times celebrated with alcohol, from grabbing a beer with a friend, to wine, liquor, and champagne. Though celebratory times call for celebratory measures, it is important not to drive...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | DUI

Underage Drinking: Understanding Florida’s MIP Laws

While it may seem fun, underage drinking is never a good idea. This is particularly true when you consider that the Florida laws that deal with underage drinking have become increasingly stringent over the years. Punishment for underage drinking can impact more people than just the intoxicated teen. There can be legal consequences for any minor who transports or...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | DUI

Charges Filed in Explosive Uber Accident

Prosecutors allege that a college student was speeding and drunk by twice the legal limit when he collided with an Uber driver, killing a passenger in Southwest Miami Dade. The accident captured the city’s attention after the victim’s family filed a negligence lawsuit against the defendant and Uber. Last month, the victim and friends called an Uber after a...

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| Read Time: < 1 minute | Criminal Defense

Supreme Court Taking Shot at DUI Law

The Supreme Court is taking another “shot” at the DUI laws and the drunk-driving test.  They will be examining three separate cases that will be argued together at a one hour hearing.  The issues presented in this case are defendants declining to take the tests.  In this case they are a blood test, a breath test, and finally a...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | DUI

Golf Cart DUIs in Florida

As golf communities become more and more popular throughout Florida, the number of golf carts on the road continues to increase. Outside of Orlando in the Villages, a man was arrested and charged with a DUI after residents found him drunk and parked in their driveway. When the officers attempted to give him a field sobriety test, he announced...

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