CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CHARGES
WERE YOU ILLEGALLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING?
The police must stop your car for a valid legal reason. Sometimes the reason stated is not legally enough or they simply make up a reason.
What are some illegal reasons to stop a car?
There are many possibilities, some common bad stops: someone looks suspicious, there is a brake light out (when there are two others working), failing to stop at a stop bar (when the bar is barely visible), the car recently left a suspicious house.
What are some legal reasons for a stop?
Any legitimate violation of criminal or traffic laws including texting while driving, not wearing a seat belt, window tint that is legally too dark, reasonable suspicion that the driver may be impaired, etc.
What if police make up a reason for the stop?
It is unfortunately not uncommon for law enforcement to lie or exaggerate the basis for the stop. It can be very difficult sometimes to prove them wrong. Some things that can be done asap: order surveillance camera footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras, talk to witnesses that were present, take pictures of the condition of the road or vehicle proving there was no issue.
How an attorney
can help?
Only a criminal defense lawyer versed in 4th Amendment law can tell you if your stop was illegal. If it is determined that the stop of your vehicle was illegal, a criminal defense lawyer can file a Motion to Suppress the evidence. If a judge agrees, it may result in the case being dropped.
SARASOTA CRIMINAL TRAFFIC ATTORNEY
The traffic defense lawyers of Soler & Simon have experience representing hundreds of people charged with criminal traffic violations, such as driving on a suspended license, no valid drivers license, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident (hit and run), and DUI.
WHY CHOOSE SOLER & SIMON FOR YOUR DEFENSE?
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Free Consultation
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Reasonable Payment Plans Available!
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A+ Better Business Bureau Rating
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Excellent Communication
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Former Prosecutor
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Handled Hundreds of Trials and Thousands of Cases
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Reduced Rates For First-Time Offenders!
Violating Florida's Criminal Traffic Laws Can Put You In Jail
Unlike simple traffic tickets or traffic citations that usually involve just paying a fine, criminal traffic violations are technically crimes where the punishment can include jail sentences, or in cases of felony charges, prison sentences.
When one is charged with a criminal violation of a traffic law, their appearance in court is mandatory. If the person ignores the court date and fails to appear, a judge will likely issue a warrant for their arrest.
What Is The Punishment For Breaking A Criminal Traffic Law?
The punishment will depend on several factors such as whether the charge is a felony or not, the criminal history of the defendant, and the severity of the allegations. Generally speaking, one is at risk of:
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A possible jail or prison sentence
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Additional points on their driver's license
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A suspended or permanently revoked driver's license
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A term of probation
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Expensive court costs and fines
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Increased insurance premiums
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If the crime involved property damage or personal injury, the person could be sued in civil court.
How Soler & Simon Can Help You
One of the first things that we do when meeting with a client for the first time is evaluate their case to determine whether the reason for the stop was a valid legal reason. If the stop was bad, then it is possible that the entire case may be dropped. If the stop was legitimate, and the case cannot otherwise be dropped, we look for ways to ensure that the client gets the best possible offer from the prosecutor. This can involve:
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Filing motions to suppress or dismiss
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Handling depositions
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Negotiating with the prosecutor
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Presenting mitigation evidence to the prosecutor
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Helping people get their driver's license back
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Limiting the amount of money you will have to pay in traffic fines
