Florida police and sheriffs departments are actively pursuing stolen vehicles and drivers with suspended licenses. The technology, with the acronym ALPR, is assisting law enforcement in this endeavor as a device manufactured by NDI Technologies is in use across the State of Florida. Recently, the device was purchased by the Sarasota Police department and the officers use the technology on a daily basis. Atop of Sarasota police car 143 is a new 4 piece camera system. Prior to the start of the shift, police officers download all stolen car and wanted persons information from the state and Federal database. As the officers drive down the street, the cameras snap the license plate numbers of the vehicles and then match that information with the database. The cameras have the capability of capturing a vehicle tag every second. When a hit comes back, the police can then stake out the car or person and wait until the driver returns to the vehicle before making an arrest. In order to best utilize the technology, two officers ride in the vehicle that is equipped with the device, so that one officer can drive while the second officer reviews the laptop display. The device is so popular, that the officers are often called to DUI checkpoints or other locations where running individual tag numbers is not practical.
The law firm of Finebloom and Haenel represents motorists throughout the State of Florida on everything from a ticket, suspended license, DUI, and all misdemeanor and Felonies. They can be reached toll free at 1-800-FIGHT-IT.
Monthly Archives: April 2009
Tampa Police Officer Arrested for DUI
On Sunday April 26, 2009 at approximately 11:30 p.m, Tampa Police Sergeant James Simonson was arrested for DUI by a deputy from this Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Jolly stopped Sergeant Simonson, a 24 year veteran, for failure to maintain a single lane and following too closely. According to Deputy Jolly’s report, Sergeant Simonson did not perform well on the field sobriety tests and as a result was arrested for DUI and transported to Orient Road jail. Once at the jail, Sergeant Simonson submitted to a breath test and blew a .082 and a .08. He was released after posting a $500.00 bond and was placed on administrative leave by the Tampa Police Department.
Under Florida law the state attorney typically needs to prove two elements beyond a reasonable doubt in order to sustain a conviction for DUI. Aside from the element of driving, the state needs to prove that the person had a breath alcohol level above a .08 or that the person was driving to the extent that their normally faculties were impaired. In this particular case, the breath test result was right at the legal limit of .08, and the breath test machine (intoxilyzer 8000) has a margin of error of at least .005. Therefore, at the time of driving, it is very possible that Simonson’s breath test was below the legal limit of .08. In addition, the state attorney will not be allowed to get the ‘presumption of non impairment’ jury instruction. In other words, the Judge will not be allowed to read a sentence that would allow the jury to presume that Simonson was impaired by his breath test result alone. It’s probable that Deputy Jolly has a camera in her car that recorded the sergeant’s performance on the roadside tests. If the video looks decent, then Simonson has a very defendable case.
The Law firm of Finebloom and Haenel has a website specifically for Tampa DUI information.
www.FightYourTampaDUI.com Contact Stephen Higgins or David Haenel if you have been charged with DUI.
Speeding Ticket Numbers Jump in Sumter and Lake County, Florida
According to an article by Matt Dixon of the Daily Sun, Speeding Tickets Spike in Sumter, Lake Counties the number of speeding tickets issued in Sumter and Lake Counties has increased an incredible 391 percent since 2003. In these tough economic times, law enforcement is helping to fund the budget deficit faced by the Courts statewide. A recent change to the funding scheme developed by the Legislature ended the 18 percent reduction that motorists received when they elected traffic school. That additional funding has been shifted to the Judicial branch to fund the courts and prevent state furloughs. With the increase in citation money, the clerk’s office in Lake County has been able to enjoy “posh” seminars, as well as additional money for their bank account. A large percentage of money from speeding tickets ends up in the general revenue fund. The Sheriffs Office attributes the rise in speeding tickets to an increase in enforcement, including the creation of a new traffic unit. In addition, the Lake County is not alone in its increase in the use of unmarked cars. The Florida Highway Patrol continues to use unmarked Dodge Chargers in its attempt to combat speeders and aggressive drivers. If you have received a speeding ticket in Lake or Sumter County, Florida call our office at 1-800-FIGHT-IT so we can discuss the particular facts of your case and try to determine any possible legal defenses.