Police that responded to the scene, reported that she was under the influence of a controlled substance.  She consented to a series of voluntary field sobriety exercises, where she reportedly failed.  She was then arrested and charged with DUI, DUI with property damage, leaving the scene of an accident with unattended property, and child neglect.

Setting aside the more serious charges, according to Florida Law, leaving the scene of an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle or other property which is driven or attended by a person, shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident, or as close there to as possible, and shall forthwith return to, and in every event shall remain at the scene. Any person failing to stop, or comply with Florida Law, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $500, or by imprisonment for not more than 60 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

If you have been accused of driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol or other criminal offense, you should call the Law Offices of Musca Law as soon as possible.  Because Musca Law is relentless in the defense of their clients, they have effectively achieved reduced sentences, reduced charges, preservation of driver's licenses, and dismissed charges for their clients.

When we think of holiday activities we think of the local church Christmas play or the Nutcracker.  However, Hillsborough County has another activity in store, an activity that will serve to encourage compliance of the existing traffic laws by motorists.  Operation 3D will also focus on motorists who drink and drive.

As most would agree there is no excuse for driving while under the influence of alcohol. However, the holiday season makes us merrier than other times of the year, where we enjoy eating, drinking, and being merry.  We never think of the dangers when we hit the roadways.  We do not stop to think that once we enter our vehicles after a few merry drinks, that we have now entered a 4,000 lb weapon, the weight of the average American car.   Driving while under the influence of alcohol, is a sure set up for target practice where our fellow drivers on the road or the pedestrians in the street become the target.

Operation 3D, is going to ensure that our roadways are safe this holiday season where they have scheduled heightened patrols and checkpoints throughout the county. 

Although most of us do not intend to drink and drive, the hard truth is that we do.  During these heightened patrols the odds are, you will be pulled over, or you will travel through a DUI checkpoint.  The consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol can be catastrophic if you have been charged with DUI, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  This is when you will need an experienced and aggressive DUI Attorney, where your case will be thoroughly reviewed and your best interests protected.

If you need a Florida criminal defense attorney, contact Musca Law for aggressive representation.

A suspected drunk driver collided with a St. Petersburg police officer this week. The officer, Gregory Shone, came into to help another officer with stopping a Nissan Maxima on the corner of 20 Avenue South and MLK Street. Officer shone had his lights and sirens initiated when the driver, 39-year old Lura Goldsmith, failed to slow and hit the cruiser.

Two passengers, 39-year old female and 5-year old child were also in Goldsmith's vehicle at the time of the crash. The officer, passengers and driver were all transported to Bayfront Medical Center for the treatment of nonlife threatening injuries. Deputies with the St. Petersburg Police later arrested Goldsmith on Tampa crimina charges of Tampa DUI and driving with a suspended license. The defendant has been released from the Pinellas County Jail on $750 bail.

If you or a loved one has been accused of a DUI, DUI with property damage and injuries or other alcohol related offense, contact an experienced Tampa drunk driving defense attorney for help with your case. The attorneys at Musca Law have over 100 years of combined legal experience with proven successful case results. We have two convenient Tampa DUI defense offices to serve you. Contact the Tampa DUI lawyers at Musca Law for a free, comprehensive review of your case. You are considered innocent until proven guilty in a Court of law.

A 30 year old woman had been pulled over by police for a headlight infraction.  After approaching the vehicle the officer observed an open container of tequila and a strong odor of alcohol on the driver. The officer also observed that two children, ages 7 and 9 were present in the vehicle, both were wearing seat belts.

The driver agreed to take the field sobriety exercises where she had failed.  The breathalyzer report revealed that the woman had a blood alcohol content of .235, three times the legal limit of .08.  An arrest was made on the charges of DUI, aggravated child neglect, driving without a valid driver's license and driving an unregistered vehicle.

The difficulties involved in a DUI arrest are enhanced when a charge of child neglect is involved.  Child neglect charges related to a DUI have automatic enhancements which can include higher fines, longer probation terms, enhanced vehicle impound days, 6 months of an installed ignition locking device, a longer suspension of your driver's license  with a possible jail sentence of up to 9 months.

When charged with a DUI, what you do in the first couple of hours can make the difference in the outcome of your case.  The attorneys at Musca Law know how to protect your rights.  With more than 100 years of combined experience in the criminal justice system, the Attorneys at Musca Law provide their clients with the vigorous criminal defense that they deserve.  If you have been arrested and charged with a DUI contact MUSCA LAW today.

Officers approached the rider, 45-year old Jeremy Bowen, and he immediately jumped off of the bicycle. The authorities noticed the defendant smelled of alcohol, slurred his speech and had difficulty maintaining his balance. At first Bowen denied riding the bike and then he eventually admitted to drinking 5 beers at a bar before accepting a ride from a taxi.

After being convicted of DUI manslaughter a woman filed a motion for a sentence reduction. It had been previously reported that the State convicted the defendant of DUI manslaughter that resulted in the fatal accident that killed a 34-year old woman. It was reported that the victim had not been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.

The driver that caused the accident reportedly fled the scene on foot with her unharmed 4-year old daughter.

Field sobriety tests were conducted which revealed that the suspect was in fact under the influence of alcohol.  However, the breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol level of .05, below the legal limit of .08.

The suspect was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter where she can face up to a maximum sentence of 30 years behind in prison. After entering into a plea agreement with the State she was sentenced to 13 years in prison.  A request was made for a reduction of her sentence, claiming that she did not fully understand the agreement and that her daughter would be without a mother. The judge in this case denied the motion.

DUI manslaughter is the unlawful killing of another without either intent to kill or reckless indifference to the loss of someone's life.  If a person is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and is the cause of accident that costs an individual his or her life may be charged with DUI manslaughter, a felony.

If you have been charged with DUI or DUI manslaughter you need to retain an attorney with legal experience coupled with hands on personalized service. Attorneys at Musca Law are reputable aggressive and can protect your rights.  Musca Law has helped countless clients fight their DUI charges with their knowledge and skills to obtain a winning verdict for their clients or negotiate with prosecutors to get their clients charges reduced for dismissed.

After five months, the suspect involved in allegedly hitting a 20 year old pedestrian with his vehicle is behind bars. The defendant, 24-year old Joshua Dean West, is accused of driving under the influence and crashing into a bystander on April 20, 2009. West attempted to flee the scene and crashed into two telephone poles before his car came to a stop. The defendant fled on foot, only to be found by a police tracking dog.

The injured victim, 20-year old Andrew Scott Hall, has been at the Bayfront Medical Center since the April crash. The accident left Hall with a crushed pelvis and severed leg. Hall has been forced to undergo several reconstructive surgeries in an effort to heal his injuries. He still is unable to walk and has his elbow held at a 90 degree angle. Hall may be able to leave the hospital in at least 3 weeks.

A Tampa day care operator is facing additional criminal charges for failing to appear in Court on charges of DUI. Officers arrested the defendant, 48-year old Dorothy Ann Sampson-Monroe, on June 10 for alleged drunk driving. On June 17, officers arrested Sampson-Monroe again on unrelated child abuse charges on children ages 3-5 stemming from her daycare.

In late June, a Tampa judge signed a temporary injunction to keep Sampson-Monroe away from children. She has had a lengthy criminal past and has been arrested over a dozen times. She also served two years in prison for drug charges.

The Department of Children and Families normally does not allow convicted felons to receive a daycare license. However, the defendant proved to the agency that she turned her life around. Sampson-Monroe faces serious criminal charges for her crimes. She has not yet posted the $10,000 bond and is currently awaiting her trial inside the Orient Road Jail.

A first time suspected drunk driving offender could receive a maximum sentence of six months in jail, loss of driving privileges, supervised probation, mandatory substance abuse counseling and/or classes and heavy court costs. This is in addition to the strain on personal finances and employment caused by dealing with the Court system.

A man has been charged in the vehicular death of a Brooksville teen. The Hernando County defendant, 38-year old William Curt Brooks, drove his 2007 Mitsubishi westbound on Hexam Road when he crossed over the median into eastbound traffic. He hit a 1992 Nissan Maxima head on. Emergency medics transported the seriously injured victim, 16-year old Jenna Marie Moran, to St. Joseph's hospital. Moran died the following day from her injuries.

Officers have arrested and charged Brooks with DUI manslaughter for the untimely death of the Central High School teen. He remains inside the Hernando County Jail without bond. The State of Florida considers the crime of DUI manslaughter a second degree felony. Brooks faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years behind bars if he is convicted on all charges.

A driver has been arrested on multiple alcohol related charges after injuring a police officer and two paramedics assisting with a traffic accident. The driver, 21-year old Kevin Chaney, lost control of his vehicle on U.S. 19 and collided with a deputy cruiser. The cruiser then slammed into the officer, John Coleman, who was working on a traffic investigation.

The impact of the vehicle into the officer caused him to roll over the hood of his vehicle and then jump a guardrail. Two paramedics were forced to abandon the victims of the initial accident to also jump over the guardrail and avoid being hit.

Chaney possessed a blood alcohol content of .219. This is almost three times the Florida legal limit for alcohol consumption of .08. The Pinellas Park Police charged the defendant with DUI, Driving while License is Suspended or Revoked, Reckless Driving and Leaving the Scene of a Crash with injuries. Chaney has not posted the $6250 bail and is currently awaiting trial inside the Pinellas County Jail.

Two bicyclists were charged with DUI within a span of three hours. A Spring Hill patrol officer noticed three cars ahead of him traveling at a very low rate of speed. The automobiles were trying to avoid a bicyclist, without lights or reflectors that had weaved into traffic.

The officer initiated a stop on the rider. The defendant, 46 year old Oswaldo Darila, failed field sobriety testing and was subsequently arrested. Darila is charged with DUI, refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test and refusal to sign a citation. This is the defendant's fifth arrest for driving under the influence and he was currently serving a sentence on inmate release for the latest DUI conviction.

Three hours later, another officer stopped a bicyclist traveling on Spring Hill Drive. The defendant, Robert Steudl, nearly fell off of the bike when he stopped pedaling. The officer noted that Steudl smelled strongly of alcohol and exhibited signs of impairment. The suspect admitted to police that he rode his bike home because he had too much to drink.