STUDENTS... Think Before You Drink!

Students Should Think Before You Drink"suppress" or exclude key portions of the prosecutor's
During the 2005-2006 academic year, college studentscase and even dismiss the whole case. When a judge
across the nation spent $5.5 billion on alcohol alone -determines that a police officer lacked legally sufficient
more than the total they spent on books, schoolreasons for pulling over your vehicle, that judge may
supplies, and other drinks combined. Recent studiesdismiss the entire case. There are several other issues
have shown that almost every problematic studentwhich can arise; Improper administration of a breath
behavior issue has at its roots the over consumptiontest can lead to artificially inflated alcohol readings.
of alcohol. And if you are drinking and driving, you arePolice departments and prosecutors often don't notify
exposing yourself to serious and far reachingjudges, attorneys and defendants when breath tests
consequences. The last thing you want is to bewere conducted improperly or when DUI breath test
arrested, charged and convicted of DUI!machines are defective. That's why a criminal defense
LETS FACE THE FACTS... DUI CONVICTIONS CANattorney will carefully review events occurring during
RUIN CAREERSthe arrest and investigate the operational records of
Think a misdemeanor DUI arrest isn't serious? ThinkDUI breath test machines. When a DUI defense
again! For students already employed and thoseattorney or criminal defense attorney discovers
seeking new jobs, being convicted for a DUI arrest canimproper police conduct or the use of faulty DUI breath
cause career chaos!test equipment, that criminal defense attorney will file
Florida has tough DUI laws. If pleading no contest orlegal pleadings asking the judge to dismiss some or all
guilty to DUI charges, or when found guilty after trial,portions of the criminal case. Because
DUI defendants receive permanent blemishes onpolice-administered DUI urine tests can reveal findings
criminal records, even when no jail time is imposed.which may be legally irrelevant and unfairly prejudicial, a
Unlike findings of guilt administered in many other typescriminal defense attorney will frequently convince the
of criminal offenses, DUI convictions can never bejudge to stop these test results from being admitted
sealed. That's why it is very important to consult withinto evidence at trial.
an experienced DUI defense attorney about legalThere are many factors that can lead a prosecutor to
strategies which may lead to the avoidance of criminalplea bargain and dismiss DUI offenses and substitute
convictions.them with less serious charges, such as when a judge
WHY EMPLOYERS FEAR DUI CONVICTIONSorders that certain evidence not be admissible at trial
Students with career goals mistakenly underestimateor when case complications arise. These complicating
the seriousness of DUI arrests. Fearing expensive juryfactors can include the lack of witnesses or a defense
awards, insurance companies often advise businessattorney's discovery that the client has a health
clients to verify that job applicants and even currentcondition which mimics the symptoms of alcohol
employees don't have DUI convictions.intoxication or drug use.
More and more, employers are looking to see if jobWhen a judge agrees to the reduction of DUI charges
seekers have DUI convictions. DUI arrests andand to "withhold adjudication" on the less serious
convictions can also have consequences whencharge of reckless driving, defendants are not
seeking acceptance into college or the military orconvicted of criminal wrongdoing and may be eligible to
admission into professions having licensingseal their DUI arrest records. Additionally, when found
requirements.not guilty after a trial or when their case has been
When a prospective employer discovers that a jobdismissed for technical reasons, DUI defendants having
applicant has been convicted of DUI, that employer willno prior arrests can seek the expungement of their
often exclude the candidate from further consideration.criminal records.
Many employers terminate longtime workers forAlthough DUI cases should be taken very seriously,
recent DUI convictions. A DUI conviction canDUI cases are not always hopeless. There are several
jeopardize your current job and future career!ways to beat a DUI case, or at least keep the
DID YOU KNOW THAT ARRESTS & EVIDENCEadverse consequences to a minimum.
CAN BE CHALLENGED?Richard G. Salzman, Esq. is an experienced Broward
Police officers are only human and can makeCounty attorney; licensed to practice in New York and
mistakes. If it appears that law enforcement officersNew Jersey since 1986, and Florida since 1988.
have violated procedural rules, a criminal defenseLaw Offices of Richard G. Salzman, P.A.
attorney will prepare legal motions asking a judge to