Alachua County Driver Pulled Over for Speeding
A Deputy from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office was traveling west on East University Ave when he observed a black four-door vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The Deputy visually estimated the vehicle to be traveling at 50 miles per hour (mph) and confirmed the speed by radar at 55 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour zone. The Deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver. While speaking with the Driver the Deputy noticed an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes and the driver admitted to drinking one (1) beer. The Deputy requested that the driver perform field sobriety exercise, which the driver agreed to perform. The Deputy stated he observed horizontal gaze nystagmus at maximum deviation, as well as nystagmus prior to the onset of forty-five (45) degrees. The Deputy also had the driver perform the walk and turn exercise, the one-leg stand and the finger to nose. The driver was placed under arrest for driving under the influence and was transported to the Alachua County Jail for a breath test. The Deputy requested that the driver provide a breath sample, which the driver refused to provide. The driver was also arrested for driving while license suspended and given a citation for unlawful speed.
The driver hired Meldon law. The attorneys at Meldon provided mitigation evidence for the prosecution, as well as potential factual issues with the case. Ultimately, the DUI charge was reduced to reckless driving, the driving while license suspended charge was dropped and the civil traffic citation that was consolidated was dismissed.
DISCLAIMER: The results are specific to the facts and legal circumstances of each of the clients’ cases and should not be used to form an expectation that the same results could be obtained for other clients in similar matters without reference to the specific factual and legal circumstances of each client’s case. (Date of Arrest: January 17, 2019).
