DUI AMENDED TO RECKLESS DRIVING – NO CONVICTION (OCTOBER 2009)
Defendant was traveling eastbound on 7th Avenue in Tampa, Florida without his headlights on. He was stopped by Tampa Police and was asked to perform Field Sobriety Excercises. Officers found a case of beer in his back seat. At the Hillsborough County Jail, he refused to provide a breath sample. Stephen Higgins, a Tampa, Florida DUI Criminal Defense Lawyer, was able to keep the defendant from being convicted of the lesser charge of Reckless Driving. (Ref. No. 6291-XAM)

NO CONVICTION (OCTOBER 2009)
Defendant was traveling west on Brandon Blvd. and then on Falkenburg Road in Tampa, Florida and was observed by a Hillsborough County Deputy to be speeding (90/70) and driving without headlights. The Deputy smelled an odor of alcohol on his breath and requested that he perform Field Sobriety Excercises. The Deputy claimed that defendant was stumbling, failing to follow instructions and failing to maintain his balance. Defendant was unable to count backwards from 100-79. At the Hillsborough County Jail, defendant refused to provide a breath sample. Tampa, Florida DUI lawyer Stephen Higgins kept the defendant from being convicted of any charge and was able to get the charge reduced to a Reckless Driving. (Ref. No. 2847-XDY)

DUI AMENDED TO RECKLESS DRIVING – NO CONVICTION (NOVEMBER 2009)
Defendant was observed driving on Jefferson Street and struck the raised median and several lane dividers as he was almost thrown from his motorcycle. The stopping officer observed bloodshot eyes and smelled an odor of alcohol and contacted a DUI officer. During Field Sobriety Exercises, defendant exhibited signs of impairment and was arrested. Defendant refused to provide a breath sample. Criminal DUI lawyer, Stephen Higgins, negotiated with the state attorrney to get the charge amended to a Reckless Driving with no conviction. (Ref. No. 1109-XCM)

NOVEMBER 2009
Defendant was stopped for weaving within his lane as well as speeding. On video, defendant exited the car and showed slight signs of impairment. Defendant refused to perform Field Sobriety Exercises and refused to provide a breath sample. Tampa DUI lawyer Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge amended to a Reckless Driving. (Ref. No. 0608-XCM)

NO CONVICTION (NOVEMBER 2009)
(Ref. No. 0289-FXS)

DUI AMENDED TO RECKLESS DRIVING, LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT – NO CONVICTION
(NOVEMBER 2009)
Defendant was observed by 3 independent witnesses hitting a vehicle and leaving the scene of the accident. The witnesses spoke to the arriving deputy and positively identified the defendant as the driver. Defendant was noticeably confused during the Field Sobriety Exercises and thought he was on McDill Air Force Base. On video, after being arrested, officer found a bottle of crown royal half empty in defendant’s vehicle. Despite the overwhelming evidence of impairment including a breath sample, DUI defense lawyer Stephen Higgins was able to get the DUI reduced to a Reckless Driving and keep defendant from being convicted of all charges. (Ref No. 6576-SPR)

NOVEMBER 2009
Defendant was stopped for speeding and was observed by the officer to have bloodshot eyes, wavering upon exiting the vehicle and slurred speech. Defendant was unable to maintain his balance during the walk and turn test and had difficulty understanidng the deputy’s instructions. Defendant was booked into Hillsborough County Jail on the charge of DUI. Tampa, Florida criminal defense attorney Stephen Higgins negotiated with the state to get the charge reduced to a Reckless Driving. (Ref. No. 8410-XAM)

DUI Amended to Reckless Driving
Defendant was stopped on Ashley Drive after Tampa Police officers observed him driving erratically on Kennedy Blvd, weaving in his lane, changing speeds and speeding. Upon contact with the officers, defendant appeared unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and failed the sobriety exercises. Defendant was arrested and refused to provide a breath sample. Despite the evidence, Tampa DUI lawyer Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge amended to Reckless Driving. (Ref. No. 0610-XCM)

DUI Amended to Reckless – .188, .190!! – No Conviction
Defendant was stopped at the corner of Florida Ave. and Bearss Avenue in Tampa for making an illegal u-turn. Deputies smelled an odor of alcohol coming from her breath and requested that she perform field sobriety exercises which she failed. She was arrested, transported to central breath testing and blew a .188 and .190. Despite the level of her breath sample and performance on the FSE’s, our Tampa DUI lawyer was able to get her charge amended to a Reckless Driving with no conviction! (Ref. No. 0837-XDY)

Case 1024-XCM

Charge: DUI

Result: No Conviction

Tampa Police Officer arrived at McDill AirForce Base at the request of military personnel stating that defendant was at the entry gate attempting to pay a toll, apparently thinking he was on the Crosstown Expressway. Officers requested that defendant perform Field Sobriety Exercises which he failed. Defendant also admitted to drinking ‘a couple of shots.’ Defendant was arrested, transported to Orient Road jail and provided a breath sample of .165. Arguing that a critical portion of the arrest report was missing, Tampa DUI lawyer Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge amended to a Reckless Driving. The lawyers at Finebloom & Haenel were also able to invalidate the suspension of defendant’s license meaning defendant was never without the privilege to drive.