Florida DUI Traffic Ticket Lawyer Blog

In just over a month, the red light cameras in Hillsborough County have been responsible for 1,100 citations for running red lights. Those citations have meant over $100,000 to the city’s coffers. As the money rolls in the debate continues on as to whether the cameras make Tampa’s streets safer or just make money.

Cpl. Darrin Barlow told My Fox Tampa Bay’s April Kellogg that the people who run red lights are endangering motorists but some of those very motorists disagree. Kellogg spoke to Tampa citizens who have witnessed increased danger on the roads due to the way people drive because of the red light cameras. That was a major concern for many when the cameras were first being discussed.

Continue reading "After 1,100 Tickets For Running Red Lights, Hillsborough’s Red Light Cameras Still A Hot Topic" »

One of the best ways to land in jail on drunk driving charges is to stumble out of your car after the police stop you and then puke during the DUI investigation. Apparently that is what happened during a Pasco County DUI stop this week. According to a story on TampaBay.com, a 36-year-old Zephyrhills man was weaving on I-275. After he was stopped he claimed that he doesn’t drink or do drugs. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that following his proclamation the man threw-up on his car.

Reports state the Michael Majesky was unable to stand without falling upon exiting the car after the traffic stop. He refused a breath test and was charged with DUI. Majesky has a criminal record that includes battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault with a weapon, escape and grand theft. He is currently on supervised release from jail.

Continue reading "Driver Pulled Over In Pasco County For DUI Proclaims His Innocence Right Before Puking On His Car" »

A 21-year veteran of the Melbourne, Florida Police Department is facing five felony charges of official misconduct and four misdemeanor charges for falsifying records according to a story on Florida Today and FDLE reports. Officer Frank Carter is accused of writing unwarranted traffic tickets due to video that was reviewed from his in-car dashboard camera. Carter’s attorney claims the traffic stops were warranted due to drug dealing in some Melbourne neighborhoods.

Some of the traffic citations handed out by Carter that FDLE flagged were for driving without headlights when they were not required or no tag lights when the car’s tag lights were working. Some residents in south Melbourne claim that Carter has been a “thorn in the side” to the town’s African-American population for years. Carter was released from the Brevard County Detention Center on a $2000 bond.

Continue reading "Florida Cop Facing Felony Charges For Writing Unwarranted Traffic Tickets And Making Illegal Traffic Stops " »

According to an Associated Press story, the Department of Transportation has instituted a ban on truck and bus drivers from texting and driving while operating a commercial vehicle. The ban is effective immediately. The punishment for this traffic ticket could be up to $2,750 in criminal and civil penalties according to a D.O.T. statement.

The ban on texting and driving applies to drivers of interstate buses and trucks over 10,000 pounds. Both major industries support the ban according to the story as both the trucking industry and wireless industry gave their support to the new prohibition. According to the AP story, the government reports that drivers on average take their eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds for every 6 second text they send.

Continue reading "Department Of Transportation Takes First Step In Nation-Wide Ban On Texting And Driving " »

Welcome to the red light camera controversy Tampa! City officials have decided to battle Tampa drivers who run red lights by installing the controversial red light cameras at 10 Tampa intersections according to TBO.com. If all goes according to plans, the red light cameras will be fining Tampa drivers by the end of 2010.

Hillsborough County recently installed cameras at 10 intersections as well. Those cameras began issuing fines for red light violators at the end of last year. The city of Tampa scrapped plans to install red light cameras in 1007 because, at the time, the city felt the cameras may cause more rear-end collisions and there were concerns about a private company issuing traffic citations. Well, what has changed? Budget shortfalls due to the economy seem to have made those concerns no longer a concern.

Continue reading "Run A red Light In Tampa? Cameras Are Coming To Take Your Picture And Fine You." »

Another lawsuit has been filed against Florida’s red light camera system. A Lakeland, Florida lawyer has filed a lawsuit against the city of Lakeland and the company that operates the cameras that target people who run red lights. This lawsuit, the third against red light camera operators in the state of Florida, claims the company that runs the cameras does not have the proper state licensing. Since the cameras went into operation in Lakeland, the city has collected more than $1 million in fines and issued traffic citations totaling more than $2 million.

The lawsuit is asking that there be a repayment of the traffic citation fines at up to four times the amount of the ticket, according to a story by the Lakeland Ledger. The city is in the midst of a three-year contract with American Traffic Solutions who operate the red light cameras. This current lawsuit does differ from the first two in that this one claims ATS has not received the proper private investigating license required in Florida.

Continue reading "Red Light Runners Ticketed By Cameras May Get Their Money Back If Florida Lawsuit Prevails" »

Florida Gator Dustin Doe had a warrant issued after he failed to do community service as part of his probation related to two misdemeanor traffic violations for driving without a license. Doe failed to do eight hours of community service over the past four-months. The warrant was issued January 5.

Doe was found guilty of the traffic violations. Record show he paid his fine but never followed through with his work crew assignment, according to a story on TBO.com. The fine was in the amount of $311. Doe was also sentenced to six months probation.

Continue reading "Warrant Issued For Florida Gator Dustin Doe" »

There is a reason red light cameras are showing up all over the state of Florida and you just need to look at Brooksville to see why. Since March, the city has collected nearly $300,000 in fines from red light runners. Not only is the city making money the accused offenders are finding it very hard to even challenge these traffic citations. There is no judge in these cases since they are civil infractions so the city hand picks a special hearing officer who decides if the red light runner has a case. Usually the answer is no they don’t.

Brooksville had a special master residing over these tickets but he felt the city ordinance was being enforced unfairly. So what did the City Council do? They found someone who had a point of view more in line with the city's and now very few of these fines are being overturned. That has left some Brooksville residents angry according to a story on TampaBay.com and even drove one man to join a class-action lawsuit fighting Florida’s red light cameras.

Continue reading "Red Light Camera Tickets Proving Tough Case To Beat In Florida" »

Red light cameras have been operating in Tampa and Hillsborough County since October 30 but for the past month red light runners have only received warnings. That is no longer the case. If you are photographed running a red light at any of the six intersections in Hillsborough County you will now receive a traffic ticket for $125. The traffic citations will be mailed out starting Tuesday, December 29. In just one month’s time, there have already been 2,770 warning letters sent out according to a story on TBO.com.

These citations are not handled like a regular traffic ticket since they are violations of a county ordinance. This is the way counties get around not having an officer witness you running the red light. Because of that, no points are assessed to your Florida driver’s license due to the traffic citation. There are plenty of legal battles currently going on over the red light cameras all across Florida but for the moment, Hillsborough County drivers better be on alert at Waters Avenue, Dale Mabry, Anderson Road, Fletcher Avenue, Bruce B. Downs, Sligh Avenue and a few others.

Continue reading "Tampa Drivers You Are Now On Alert As Red Light Cameras End Warning Phase And Citations Start Going Out" »

Not entirely sure what St. Petersburg man Robert Taylor was thinking when he decided to report his 1995 Thunderbird stolen but it seems like it was a bad decision in hindsight. Taylor is now under arrest for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, filing a false crime report and driving with a suspended license.

According to a story on TampaBay.com, Taylor tried to cover up two hit-and-run accidents by telling police his car had been stolen the night before. The only problem was Taylor had a passenger in the car who was a witness to the accidents. Pinellas police gave Taylor the chance to recant his false report that his car was stolen, but he stuck by the story. The police didn’t have to go far to find Taylor to arrest him on these charges as he was already in one of their jail cells on charges of DUI and child abuse.

Continue reading "St. Pete Man Charged With Hit-And-Run And Driving With A Suspended License After Filing A False Report" »

The National Motorists Association Foundation (NMAF) recently sent out an email warning America’s drivers of the dangers of having a bad driving record. While many motorists are still unaware of the damage points can have on insurance costs the NMAF even went a step further in their newsletter. The NMAF warns truck drivers that just a few citations could cause them to lose their job and maybe not be able to find a new one.

The release details how serious traffic violations like reckless driving, DUI or serious at-fault traffic accidents can stay on your record for a decade or more and in some states forever. Bad driving records will absolutely raise your car insurance rates but according to the NMAF those troubled records can show up on background checks when you apply for a job, rental property, life insurance or loans and credit cards.

Bad driving records can affect you in ways you haven’t even thought about years down the road. A DUI conviction on your record could stop you from entering Canada as that country does not allow DUI “criminals” to cross their border. That vacation, fishing trip or sight-seeing jaunt you planned with your wife can be derailed for something you did before the two of you ever met. If you have a bad driving record it can cause a professional license to be revoked or kill a scholarship you have earned. So if you have ever thought about just paying a traffic ticket rather than fighting the citation, keep the NMAF’s advice in mind.

Pew Internet recently released a study with some alarming numbers when it comes to teenagers and distracted driving. According to their findings, almost 50% of teens say they have been a passenger in a car when a driver has texted while operating a vehicle and more than 25% said they have done it themselves. The survey was based on a sample size of 800 teens and according to the research there is no gender divide when it comes to distracted driving among teenagers.

The report came out just as momentum has started to build for a texting ban in Florida which was recently supported by Governor Charlie Crist. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia already ban the practice of text messaging while driving. Numerous cities have banned their employees who drive trains and buses from the practice as well. Recent studies in numerous publications have backed up the bans as they have found distracted driving to be more dangerous than driving drunk.

Texting and driving has not been banned yet in Florida but if you have been cited for a moving violation anywhere in Florida and need aggressive legal representation, please do not hesitate to contact Florida Traffic Attorney David Haenel at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848) to discuss the matter or visit our website FightYourTickets.com. Also you can contact David via email. We have lawyers all over the state of Florida who can help you fight your traffic ticket.