Gainesville Driver Pleas to a Reduced Charge
Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers were dispatched to a two-car accident that occurred at the intersection of SW 26th Avenue and West University Avenue.
One of the vehicles involved in the accident left the scene prior to the arrival of Gainesville Police officers. The vehicle was later located in a parking lot of an apartment complex. An officer from the Gainesville police department observed the driver of the vehicle still behind the wheel with the keys in the ignition.
A traffic crash investigation was conducted. At the conclusion of his crash investigation, an officer from GPD conducted a criminal investigation for driving under the influence. The officer stated he observed bloodshot eyes, that the suspect’s speech was slurred, that he smelled an odor of alcohol, and that the driver was unsteady on his feet.
The officer then asked the driver if he would perform a field sobriety exercise. The driver agreed to perform the exercise. The first test the officer performed was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test. The officer stated he observed a lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus prior to the onset of 45 degrees and at maximum deviation. The officer also noted that he observed three (3) clues on the walk and turn test and three (2) out of the four (4) clues on the one leg stand test.
The driver was placed under arrest for driving under the influence and felony leaving the scene of an accident and was transported to the Alachua County Jail to provide a breath sample. Upon arrival at the jail, an officer requested the driver provide a sample of her breath, which the driver agreed to, and blew 0.156 and 0.152.
The driver hired Meldon Law. The attorneys at Meldon Law were able to successfully negotiate a resolution to the case, which called for the third felony charge to be reduced to a second degree misdemeanor offense and to a misdemeanor DUI offense.
For more information, or help with your own legal case, email Meldon Law or call us at (352) 373-8000.
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: October 28, 2018).
