| Students Should Think Before You Drink | | | | motions asking a judge to "suppress" or |
| | | | exclude key portions of the prosecutor's case |
| During the 2005-2006 academic year, college | | | | and even dismiss the whole case. When a judge |
| students across the nation spent $5.5 billion | | | | determines that a police officer lacked |
| on alcohol alone - more than the total they | | | | legally sufficient reasons for pulling over |
| spent on books, school supplies, and other | | | | your vehicle, that judge may dismiss the |
| drinks combined. Recent studies have shown | | | | entire case. There are several other issues |
| that almost every problematic student | | | | which can arise; Improper administration of a |
| behavior issue has at its roots the over | | | | breath test can lead to artificially inflated |
| consumption of alcohol. And if you are | | | | alcohol readings. Police departments and |
| drinking and driving, you are exposing | | | | prosecutors often don't notify judges, |
| yourself to serious and far reaching | | | | attorneys and defendants when breath tests |
| consequences. The last thing you want is to | | | | were conducted improperly or when DUI breath |
| be arrested, charged and convicted of DUI! | | | | test machines are defective. That's why a |
| | | | criminal defense attorney will carefully |
| LETS FACE THE FACTS... DUI CONVICTIONS CAN | | | | review events occurring during the arrest and |
| RUIN CAREERS | | | | investigate the operational records of DUI |
| | | | breath test machines. When a DUI defense |
| Think a misdemeanor DUI arrest isn't serious? | | | | attorney or criminal defense attorney |
| Think again! For students already employed | | | | discovers improper police conduct or the use |
| and those seeking new jobs, being convicted | | | | of faulty DUI breath test equipment, that |
| for a DUI arrest can cause career chaos! | | | | criminal defense attorney will file legal |
| | | | pleadings asking the judge to dismiss some or |
| Florida has tough DUI laws. If pleading no | | | | all portions of the criminal case. Because |
| contest or guilty to DUI charges, or when | | | | police-administered DUI urine tests can |
| found guilty after trial, DUI defendants | | | | reveal findings which may be legally |
| receive permanent blemishes on criminal | | | | irrelevant and unfairly prejudicial, a |
| records, even when no jail time is imposed. | | | | criminal defense attorney will frequently |
| Unlike findings of guilt administered in many | | | | convince the judge to stop these test results |
| other types of criminal offenses, DUI | | | | from being admitted into evidence at trial. |
| convictions can never be sealed. That's why | | | | |
| it is very important to consult with an | | | | There are many factors that can lead a |
| experienced DUI defense attorney about legal | | | | prosecutor to plea bargain and dismiss DUI |
| strategies which may lead to the avoidance of | | | | offenses and substitute them with less |
| criminal convictions. | | | | serious charges, such as when a judge orders |
| | | | that certain evidence not be admissible at |
| WHY EMPLOYERS FEAR DUI CONVICTIONS | | | | trial or when case complications arise. These |
| | | | complicating factors can include the lack of |
| Students with career goals mistakenly | | | | witnesses or a defense attorney's discovery |
| underestimate the seriousness of DUI arrests. | | | | that the client has a health condition which |
| Fearing expensive jury awards, insurance | | | | mimics the symptoms of alcohol intoxication |
| companies often advise business clients to | | | | or drug use. |
| verify that job applicants and even current | | | | |
| employees don't have DUI convictions. | | | | When a judge agrees to the reduction of DUI |
| | | | charges and to "withhold adjudication" on the |
| More and more, employers are looking to see | | | | less serious charge of reckless driving, |
| if job seekers have DUI convictions. DUI | | | | defendants are not convicted of criminal |
| arrests and convictions can also have | | | | wrongdoing and may be eligible to seal their |
| consequences when seeking acceptance into | | | | DUI arrest records. Additionally, when found |
| college or the military or admission into | | | | not guilty after a trial or when their case |
| professions having licensing requirements. | | | | has been dismissed for technical reasons, DUI |
| | | | defendants having no prior arrests can seek |
| When a prospective employer discovers that a | | | | the expungement of their criminal records. |
| job applicant has been convicted of DUI, that | | | | |
| employer will often exclude the candidate | | | | Although DUI cases should be taken very |
| from further consideration. Many employers | | | | seriously, DUI cases are not always hopeless. |
| terminate longtime workers for recent DUI | | | | There are several ways to beat a DUI case, or |
| convictions. A DUI conviction can jeopardize | | | | at least keep the adverse consequences to a |
| your current job and future career! | | | | minimum. |
| | | | |
| DID YOU KNOW THAT ARRESTS & EVIDENCE CAN | | | | Richard G. Salzman, Esq. is an experienced |
| BE CHALLENGED? | | | | Broward County attorney; licensed to practice |
| | | | in New York and New Jersey since 1986, and |
| Police officers are only human and can make | | | | Florida since 1988. |
| mistakes. If it appears that law enforcement | | | | |
| officers have violated procedural rules, a | | | | Law Offices of Richard G. Salzman, P.A. |
| criminal defense attorney will prepare legal | | | | |