On August 17, 2025, at approximately 6:40 PM, FHP Trooper was northbound on Interstate 75 approaching mile marker 238 when he was dispatched to a BOLO (Be on the lookout), in Hillsborough County. The Trooper then observed a brown pickup, in the outside lane traveling from lane to lane at a very slow speed. He paced the vehicle and got a reading of 50 miles per hour in a posted 70 and the vehicle was traveling into the center travel lane and onto the shoulder. Due to the violation, the Trooper immediately activated emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle immediately traveled onto the east shoulder of I-75. The Trooper noticed the driver had bloodshot and glassy eyes. The driver stated that he was headed home from the day at the beach. When he was speaking, he was slurring some of his words and speaking with a thick tongue. The Trooper also began to smell the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the driver’s mouth as he spoke. The Trooper asked the driver if he could step out of the vehicle and speak. When he stepped out, he was unsteady on his feet and swayed. Driver continued to slur his words and spoke with a thick tongue. The Trooper asked him again how much he had to drink, and he said he had two drinks at the beach. Due to all the indicators of impairment that observed, the Trooper asked the driver if he would be willing to perform standardized field sobriety exercises to make sure he was okay to drive. He refused them. The Driver was then placed under arrest for driving under the Influence. He was then asked if he would provide a breath sample, but he refused to do so. The trooper then read Implied Consent. Driver then refused again.
Result: The firm set the case for trial. Prior to the trial date, the State dropped the DUI charge.