Recent Posts in DUI Category

In Staten Island, police were able to arrest a man that was connected to a deadly hit and run accident.  The accident led to the death of a 47 year old woman.

According to police, David Lozan was behind the wheel of a black four door sedan that hit the victim while she was pulled over.  The victim had stopped her vehicle and was checking on a mechanical problem when she was struck on the corner of Targee Street and Laurel Avenue.

Before the hit and run, a good Samaritan saw the woman in distress and had pulled over his jeep to help her.  Moments later, Lozano tried to squeeze between the two parked vehicles and hit the victim's car, the victim and the car that belonged to the 23 year old Samaritan. 

After hitting the woman, Lozano sped north and was later apprehended by police who charged him with DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.

Charged with hit and run in Orlando?  If so, contact Rivas Law Firm and consult with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer!

For the second time, a correctional officer from the Florida Department of Corrections was charged with driving under the influence (DUI).

The officer, 46 year old Christopher Eric Hudson, was arrested near Island Park Road and U.S. 41.  Hours after his arrest, he was released on pre-trial supervision.

A deputy said that he saw Hudson in a 2003 PT Cruiser speeding on U.S. 41 South.  He paced Hudson at 69 MPH in a 50 MPH zone.  When the deputy approached Hudson's vehicle, Hudson raised his hands in the air.  The deputy said that he could smell alcohol on Hudson's breath and that Hudson had bloodshot eyes.  Hudson also admitted to having a few drinks and told the deputy, "I might be a little intoxicated."

The officer asked Hudson to perform field sobriety tests and he failed three.  He refused to take a breath test.  During the deputy's investigation, he learned that Hudson was a DOC employee. 

In 1998, Hudson was convicted for DUI.  He has been employed with the DOC since May 25, 2001.

If you have been charged with multiple DUI, now is the time to speak with an Orlando criminal defense attorney.  Don't wait - contact Rivas Law Firm now!

After crashing into three other vehicles, a woman from San Carlos Park was placed under arrest by law enforcement. 

Police say that 23 year old Judith Ponce of the 18000 block of Doral Drive was charged with DUI (driving under the influence).  She was also charged with leaving the scene of an accident and four counts of property damage.

Police reports from the Lee County Sheriff's office indicate that officers were call to the scene of the accident.  When they arrived, they found a 1995 Toyota Camry parked at a house on Haitian Drive.  Family members told police that Ponce had been driving.

When police questioned Ponce, she said she rounded the corner at 30 MPH and lost control of her vehicle.  However, she failed three field sobriety tests and was not able to comprehend instructions for the one-leg stand test.

Ponce agreed to a breath test and her result was 0.058%.  In Florida, a person is presumed to be intoxicated if he or she has a breath test result of 0.08%.

Charged with DUI in Orlando?  If so, contact Rivas Law Firm to set up a consultation with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers reported that Mark Dhanraj, 26, rear-ended and ran over Keith Hess, 44, who was riding his bicycle. Hess was found lying dead on the southbound side of Conway Road shortly after the accident. According to the troopers, Dhanraj tried to drive away from the accident but crashed his car about a mile away in some woods. A witness, Alex Jimenez, reportedly went to help Dhanraj, who then tried to pay Jimenez $200 to help him get away.

The responding troopers issued Dhanraj a sobriety test, which he failed. His silver BMW had its tail lights and windshield smashed, linking him to the death of Keith Hess. Dhanraj has been charged with DUI and manslaughter.

If you have been charged with a serious criminal defense including driving under the influence or manslaughter, contact the Rivas Law Firm to speak with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer today.  We would welcome the opportunity to listen to your side of the story.

A van collided with a school bus last week, injuring two people in the bus in Brownsville, FL.

A witness to the accident says that the van sideswiped the bus when the van was turning the corner from Green Street onto West Avery. "I ran up there to see if anyone was hurt then called 911," the witness said. "People do at least 40 [mph] around this corner every day. It's dangerous." The witness was standing outside of his home when the accident occurred.

Two people were injured in the accident, the bus driver's assistant and a high school student. The extent of their injuries was not immediately apparent. Emergency medical services took the two injured persons to Sacred Heart Hospital, and the responding authorities arrested the driver of the van. It is suspected that the driver of the van was under the influence of alcohol.

If you have been involved in an accident and have been charged with an offense like DUI or reckless driving, an Orlando criminal defense attorney from the Rivas Law Group can defend you.  Contact our law office to schedule an initial consultation.

Josh Hunter, a former high school teacher and football coach is currently on trial for a car accident which occurred last year that resulted in the death of Hunter's friend and colleague, Doug Garrity.

Hunter was believed to be driving when his F-150 flipped on I-75 after Hunter lost control of the car, but there is currently no hard evidence to prove that Hunter was the driver. Hunter was driving under the influence at the time of the accident with a blood alcohol level of .211. His older brother, who is currently in jail, was also in the car, but refuses to testify. Another man was in the car as well, but insists that he was too incapacitated to remember who had been driving. The group had left a bowling alley and barbeque together.

Without hard evidence that Hunter was driving, it is unlikely that he will be convicted.

If you have been charged with a serious offense such as DUI, contact an Orlando criminal defense attorney who can help get you through this difficult time.

Although this incident occurred several years ago, it’s still an important reminder of the consequences of drinking and driving.

A drunken driver was sentenced to 16 years in prison for manslaughter for the death of a baby who was prematurely delivered after an auto accident. This case was one of the first to test whether or not a person could be held liable for harming an unborn fetus.

Fifty-year-old Frank Flores Cuellar sentenced to prison for the death of Krystal Zuniga, the unborn fetus who was delivered shortly after the traumatic accident. It was determined that Cuellar’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit when he drove his truck into Jeannie Coronado’s car as she was returning from a trip to the grocery store.

Coronado was 7 ½ months pregnant and gave birth to Krystal by emergency cesarean section. The baby weighed only four pounds, suffered extensive brain damage, and died within two days. Cuellar apologized after the sentence was delivered by the jury saying, “I didn’t intend for any of this to happen.”

It’s bad enough to get pulled over after drinking and possibly having to submit to a sobriety test, but to be caught naked while drinking and driving, well, this is another thing.

According to police records numerous incidents like this have been recorded.

In Santa Ana, California police pulled over a suspect for driving under the influence after he hit another car. The driver refused to put his hands up when requested and the police used their taser gun to gain compliance. When the officers went in for the arrest, they discovered the man to be completely naked. At this point, he was taken in for drug and alcohol testing.

In an unrelated incident, a 45-year-old man was pulled over while flying down the interstate stark naked on his motorcycle and ran a red light. When police questioned him, he stated he’d been drinking at Hooters restaurant and did not know how he lost his clothes. He was arrested, needless to say, and for his fifth suspected DUI.

    Marion County, Florida -- Two DUI charges in 3 DAYS.   A woman was charged with a second DUIa day after she was released from jail for being charged with a DUI.  Surprisingly, the same officer arrested her a second time.  A second DUI conviction within the last 5 years carry mandatory penalties such as a mandatory 5 year license revocation, 10 days in jail and 30 day vehicle impoundment. 

    If you have been accused of a DUI, can an attorney who is experienced in DUI defense.  Failure to do so can result in severe penalties.  An Orlando DUI lawyercan help you avoid the severe penalties you could be facing. 

Orlando, Florida – This weekend the Florida Highway Patrol will begin a campaign called “Be Smart…Drive Smart Florida”.  Troopers are aggressively pursuing anyone who commits traffic offenses for reckless driving, Orlando DUI, racing on the highway, speeding, and careless driving.  The Florida Highway Patrol troopers will be giving out as many speeding tickets as necessary in order to make Florida’s streets safer.  All available troopers will be patrolling Orlando’s streets issuing traffic citations and arresting anyone committing any traffic criminal violations such as drunk driving under the influence of Alcohol or Drug Possession.   If you are accused or arrested for any traffic offense, reckless driving, Orlando Dui, racing on the highway, speeding, and careless driving contact an Orlando Criminal Lawyer at the Rivas Law Firm, P.A.  The Rivas Law Firm specializes in Criminal Defense, Orlando DUI, Osceola DUI, and any other Orlando Reckless driving charges. 

Do not drive aggressively, but if you do, contact an Aggressive driving lawyer, one who can defend your rights, and would investigate all of the details of your case.

In most cases, a Traffic Lawyer can make a difference in your driving license record by keeping the points off your driving record.