Tampa DUI Attorneys

The Tampa DUI defense lawyers at Musca Law are experienced in every aspect of DUI defense, from your DMV administrative review hearing on your driver’s license revocation to plea negotiations and jury trials.  Musca Law is the premier Florida DUI defense law firm, with offices in Tampa and eight other locations throughout the state.  Contact us today for your free, confidential initial consultation.

Did the Police Have a Reason to Pull You Over?

The United States Supreme Court has laid down rules concerning the constitutionality of traffic stops and the use of evidence police officers find when they pull over a vehicle.  In order to pull over your car for a traffic stop, a police officer must have reasonable suspicion that a crime is occurring, has already happened, or is about to happen.  For instance, a police officer can pull over a car that is weaving erratically, because he has reasonable suspicion that the driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs – which is a crime.  Police cannot make a traffic stop simply because they have a “hunch” that the driver is committing a crime, nor can they pull over a vehicle based on the race of the driver.  A law enforcement official must be able to state a clear and valid reason for making a traffic stop.

If the police officer makes a traffic stop without reasonable suspicion, but then discovers that you are intoxicated or have drugs in the car, a Tampa DUI attorney may be able to prevent that evidence from being considered by a judge or jury in your case.  All of our DUI attorneys are well-versed in the technicalities of DUI law.

DUI Checkpoints

Florida law enforcement officials operate sobriety checkpoints from time to time, especially around the holidays or near major events.  The police must follow legal guidelines in order for the evidence they gather at a roadblock to be considered by a judge or jury.  Unlike a regular traffic stop, the police can stop you at a DUI checkpoint even if they do not have reasonable suspicion to believe that you have committed, are committing, or will commit a crime.  However, the law requires that they follow specific rules so that your constitutional rights are not violated. 

These technical rules require that the police decide in advance which vehicles they will pull over – every second vehicle or every seventh vehicle, for example.  The police officers at the DUI checkpoint cannot make the decision about which cars will be tested.  Instead, police supervisors must make that determination.  The Tampa DUI defense attorneys at Musca Law have decades of collective experience and unparalleled knowledge of the constitutionality of DUI roadblocks.  Call or email our team of DUI lawyers to arrange your free confidential consultation today.

Aggressive Tampa DUI Defense

DUI defense has become increasingly complex, even as penalties for DUI convictions have gotten harsher.  The importance of having a highly qualified team of Tampa DUI defense lawyers on your side cannot be understated.  The aggressive criminal defense team at Musca Law will fight your DUI every step of the way.