Case 6321-XEL, May 12, 2010 Judge Courtney

NO CONVICTION FOR ANY CHARGE! – Defendant retained Stephen Higgins on his DUI. Defendant was stopped for following too closely and failure to maintain a single lane. Deputies smelled alcohol and requested that defendant perform field sobriety exercises, which defendant failed. He refused to provide a breath sample. Stephen was able to beat the license suspension at the DMV allowing defendant to reinstate his full driving privileges. On the criminal side of the case, Stephen was able to get the charge amended to a Reckless Driving, with no conviction, no probation and no community service hours.

Case 7153-XEF, May 11, 2010 Judge Conrad

NO CONVICTION FOR DUI –Defendant was stopped by Hillsborough Deputies after they observed her car hit and drive over a curb. Defendant had trouble exiting the car and was unable to perform the field sobriety exercises. She later admitted to drinking, but refused to provide a breath same. On the eve of trial, Stephen Higgins got the charge amended to Reckless Driving.

April 28, 2010 Case number 2849-XDY – Judge McNeil

NO DUI CONVICTION – Defendant was operating a motor vehicle in Hillsborough County and was stopped by Hillsborough County Deputies for an expired tag. Deputies smelled alcohol and the defendant admitted to drinking. He failed Field Sobriety Exercises but refused the breath sample. Stephen Higgins argued lack of probable cause to arrest and was able to get the charge amended to Reckless Driving.

April 20, 2010 Case Number 1537-XDY – Judge Huey

No DUI Conviction – Defendant, a CDL driver, was observed by Hillsborough County Deputy for speeding 70 in a 45 MPH zone. After being stopped, the Defendant performed field sobriety exercises and failed. Defendant was transported to Orient Road jail where he provided breath samples of .103 and .109. Defendant also admitted to drinking 4 Corona beers. Despite the evidence of impairment, Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge amended to a Reckless Driving.

April 14, 2010 Case Number 7565-XEF – Judge Lefler

NO DUI CONVICTION – .158!!! Defendant was stopped for traveling over the solid white bar at a pedestrian cross walk. The defendant was then observed driving straight in a right turn only lane. Tampa Police Officers smelled an odor of alcohol on her breath and she failed field sobriety exercises. At Central Breath Testing at the Orient Road Jail, defendant provided a breath sample of .158. Stephen Higgins argued that there was lack of probable cause for the stop of her vehicle, and despite the breath sample, kept his client from being convicted of a DUI.

April 6, 2010 Case number 6436-XAM – Judge Huey

NO CONVICTION – NO LICENSE SUSPENSION– Defendant was stopped on Howard Ave. for erratic driving and for almost rear-ending a taxi cab. Upon contact, Tampa Police Officers smelled an odor of alcohol on his breath. Defendant was unable to follow instructions during the field sobriety exercises and was arrested. The defendant refused to provide a breath sample. Stephen Higgins got the charge amended to a Reckless Driving with no conviction and he beat the DMV suspension of defendant's license.

April 2010 – Case 6468-XEL – Judge McNeil

NO CONVICTION FOR DUI –Defendant was stopped on Turkey Creek Road for speeding. Defendant had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and an odor of alcohol on her breath. She was unable to satisfactorily complete the FSE's and was arrested. She later provided breath samples of .102 and .100. Despite evidence of impairment, Stephen Higgins argued lack of probable cause for the arrest and was able to get the charge amended to a Reckless Driving.

April 2010 1778-XDY – Judge Conrad

NO CONVICTION FOR DUI – Defendant was observed to be sleeping behind the wheel at a green light on the corner of Duncan Road and US HWY 301. Deputies arrived and requested that she perform FSE, which she failed. Defendant refused to provide a breath sample. Pending a motion to suppress based on an illegal stop, Stephen Higgins was able to get the DUI charge amended to a Reckless Driving with no conviction.

March 2010 – Case 6661-XAM, Judge Thomas

NO CONVCTION FOR DUI – Defendant, a special operative with the British Army, was observed on the corner of Kennedy and Armenia stopped at a green light. Tampa police followed the defendant and observed him weaving over the double yellow lines. Defendant was stopped and asked to perform field sobriety exercises, which he failed. He provided breath samples of .124 and .126. Despite evidence of DUI, Stephen Higgins was able to get the DUI charge amended to a Reckless Driving with no probation.

March 2010 – Judge Lefler

NO CONVICTION FOR ANY CHARGE –Defendant was stopped for weaving and failing to maintain a single lane. Upon contact with the defendant, Tampa police officers smelled alcohol and asked her to perform FSE's. She failed. She was transported to CBT at Orient Road jail and refused to provide a breath sample. Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge amended to a Reckless Driving with no conviction.

March 2010 – Judge Huey

NO CONVICTION FOR ANY CHARGE AND NO LICNESE SUSPENSION-Defendant was stopped by Hillsborough County Deputies for weaving and interfering with other traffic. Defendant had difficulty communicating wit the Deputy and failed Field Sobriety Exercises. She was arrested and transported to CBT and provided breath samples of .099 and .096. Stephen Higgins was able to beat the license suspension allowing defendant to retain her full driving privileges and beat the DUI and get it amended to a Reckless Driving with no conviction.

Case 3437-XDY, Judge Huey

NO CONVICTION FOR DUI – 2nd OFFENSE in 5 YEARS – Defendant was stopped for speeding 75 in a 60 MPH zone. Deputies smelled the odor of alcohol on defendant's breath and requested that he perform field sobriety exercises, which he failed. Post Miranda, defendant admitted that he felt the effect of alcohol and that he should not have been driving. Despite this damaging evidence and a prior offense within 5 years, Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge amended to a Reckless Driving, saving client from jail and a 5 year driver's license revocation.

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING DESPITE A BREATH TEST OF 0.133

Hillsborough County Deputies received an anonymous call that a person was driving erratically and gave a last known location of the vehicle in a CVS parking lot. Deputies arrived and found defendant illegally parked in a handicap spot with vomit on the exterior of the door. Deputies approached and requested that defendant perform Field Sobriety Exercises which he failed. He was taken to Orient Road Jail and provided a breath sample of .133. Tampa DUI lawyer, arguing that the "stop" of defendant vehicle violated his 4th Avengement rights was able to get the DUI charges reduced to a Reckless Driving. (Ref. No. 5814-XEC)

CLIENT BLOWS TWICE THE LEGAL LIMT BUT KEEPS HIS LICENSE AND CHARGES ARE REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING

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. (Ref. No. 1024-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)

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)