Our client was pulled over for going 82 in a 45-mph zone. During the traffic stop, the officer observed our client fail to maintain a single lane and noted that he observed a very strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle and that our client had a difficult time providing his license, registration, and proof of insurance. Based on his observations, the officer asked our client to perform field sobriety exercises as part of his DUI investigation. Our client repeatedly asked for a creole speaking officer because he was having a hard time understanding the instructions, which were read in English. After performing field sobriety exercises, our client was arrested and charged with DUI. The officer asked him to provide a breath sample in English, and when our client again asked for a creole interpretation, the officer instead read the request a second time in Spanish, a language our client does not speak. The Ticket Clinic’s lead trial attorney for Broward County filed a motion asking the Judge to exclude all evidence of the officer’s request for a breath sample and set the case for Jury Trial. On the day of trial, the State Attorney’s Office dismissed the DUI charge and our client accepted a plea to the reduced charge of Reckless Driving.
DUI & Criminal Division
