Case Results

DUI DROPPED!!
Defendant was pulled over for allegedly running a red light.  Client failed field sobriety exercises and was placed under arrest.  At the jail, Sheriffs Office Personnel alleged defendant refused to provide a breath or urine analysis even after defendant provided a sample of .04. Counsel for the Defendant, Stephen Higgins, vigorously pushed the state to the brink of trial, arguing that defendant was stopped unlawfully, placed under unlawful arrest and did not refuse to provide a breath or alcohol sample.  The State dropped the case. (Ref. 7518-XAM)

DUI CHARGES DROPPED!
The defendant was arrested for DUI and provided a breath sample above a .20.  Stephen Higgins argued that the State could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt because there was no evidence the defendant was ever driving the vehicle.  On the eve of trial, after lengthy negotiations, the State Attorney dismissed all charges. (Ref. 9173-XCF)

DUI DROPPED!
After being arrested for DUI involved in an accident and later providing a breath sample of .161 and .163, the defendant absconded and moved to another state.  After several months, defendant retained Stephen Higgins to represent her on the DUI charges and remove the warrant for her arrest.  After reviewing the evidence, Stephen became aware that witnesses were not going to be available to testify against defendant.  On the eve of trial, all charges were dismissed. (Ref. 094726-J)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was stopped for speeding in excess of 20 MPH over the limit on 272 Northbound.  On video, defendant's speech was slurred and his performance on the Field Sobriety Excercises was inadequate.  Defendant subsequently provided breath samples of .113 and .110.  Stephen Higgins argued to reduce the charge, depsite the level of the blow, based on miscommunication between the defendant (who was non-engligh speaking) and the arresting officer.  The State Attorney reduced the charge to Reckless Driving.  (Ref. 3287-XAM)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
The Defendant was stopped for speeding and squealing his tires.  The Defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested for DUI.  The Defendant refused to take a breath test.  Darren Finebloom pushed the case to trial and the State reduced the DUI charge.  (Ref. 627309-X

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was stopped for weaving and failing to maintain a single lane.  He later provided a breath sample of .175, more than twice the legal limit.  After reviewing the evidence and the scene of arrest, Stephen Higgins  argued that the stop was unlawful given the inadequate time the officer followed the defendant and the unsupported statements in the police report.  Despite the defendant's breath sample, the State Attorney reduced the charge to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 3806-XAM)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was arrested on suspicion of DUI after the stopping officer observed him make a 360 degree turn on the middle of the roadway.  Defendant failed Field Sobriety Excercises and provided a breath sample of .083.  On the eve of trial, Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge reduced to a Reckless Driving.  (Ref. 3874-XDQ)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was stopped for driving without headlights.  Once stopped, defendant performed, and failed Field Sobriety Tests and later provided a breath sample of .095.  Stephen Higgins argued that the stop of defendant's vehicle was unlawful and as was able to negotiate with the State Attorney to reduce the charge to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 0266-XCO)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant, a school teacher, was charged with DUI and risked losing her teacher's license and career.  She was found asleep in the parking lot of a gas station, was unable to perform Field Sobriety Excercises and provided a breath sample of .104.  Because of her employment and the specific facts of her case regarding the 'stop' of her vehicle, Stephen Higgins was able to negotiate with the State Attorney to reduce the charge to a Reckless Driving. (Ref. 3539-XAM)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING - NO CONVICTION
Defendant, a college student, retained Stephen Higgins and David Haenel after being charged with DUI.  Defendant was arrested because he was found in his car in the school parking lot, alegedly vomiting out the driver's side window.  Defendant failed Field Sobriety Tests and refused to provide a breath sample.  Stephen filed a Motion to Suppress based on the stop of defendant's vehicle. Pending the Motion to Suppress, the State Attorney reduced the charge to Reckless Driving without any conviction.  (Ref. 3861-XDQ)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING - NO CONVICTION
Defendant was stopped on suspicion of DUI and provided a breath sample below the legal limit (.069). Stephen Higgins reached a negotiated settlement to reduce the charge to Reckless Driving with no conviction. (Ref. 6905-ELQ).

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING - NO CONVICTION FOR LEAVING THE SCENE
Defendant was arrested for DUI after fleeing the scene of an accident and returning to her home. Upon arrival, the Officer observed the defendant emerge from her house with slurry speech, glassy eyes and an odor of alcohol.  Defendant refused to perform Field Sobriety Tests and refused to provide a breath sample.  Pending a Motion to Suppress based on witness testimony and evidence in the police report, Stephen Higgins negotiated with the State Attorney to reduce the charge to Reckless Driving and withhold adjudication on the Leaving the Scene of an Accident charge. (Ref. 1975-XCG)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
The Defendant was on probation for DUI when he was arrested for a second DUI.  Ken Poole filed a Motion to Dismiss the new DUI charge based on lack of evidence that the defendant was driving the vehicle.  Pending the Motion to Dismiss, Ken Poole was able to kep the defendant out of jail and the State agreed to reduce the DUI to Reckless Driving without any conviction, dismiss the Leaving the Scene of an Accident Charge and the Driving While License Suspended charge and reinstate his probation to complete the terms. (Ref. 6211-XDN)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was stopped for speeding and subsequently failed to perform Field Sobriety Excercises inlcuding the walk and turn and the raised leg tests.  Defendant later provided breath samples of .117 and .123.  Based on the video surveillance of the roadside excercises and the lack of any criminal history and despite the blow over the legal limit, Stephen Higgins and David Haenel were able to reduce the DUI charge to Reckless Driving.  (Ref. 8940-XDK)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was charged with DUI after being found by the police in a parking lot, asleep behind the wheel.  Police arrived on the scene and after requesting defendant perform field sobriety tests, arrested him for suspicion of DUI.  Defendant later provided a breath sample of .105 and .104.  Pending a motion to suppress based on lack of actual physical control of the vehicle, Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge reduced to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 9691-XCF)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was stopped for weaving within his lane and making an improper lane change.  Defendant was asked to perform field sobriety tests and after being arrested, provided breath samples of .150, .125 and .135.  Working in tandem, Darren Finebloom and Stephen Higgins reviewed the evidence against the defendant.  First, they reviewed the video of the Field Sobriety Tests and noticed that defendants performance was excellent.  Second, they filed a motion to suppress the results of the breath samples because of the inconsistent results.  On the even of trial, and despite defendants high breath alcohol content, Darren Finebloom and Stephen Higgins were able to get the charge reduced to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 9230-XCF)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was stopped for speeding 25 miles an hour over the speed limit.  Defendant performed field sobriety tests, but refused to provide a breath sample.  Arguing that the video was malfunctioning and therefore the state lacked evidence to indicate the defendant was impaired, Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge reduced to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 339965-X)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant, an out of state resident, was stopped for making an illegal turn and proceeding the wrong way on a one way street.  Defendant performed field sobriety tests on video and later provided a breath sample of .120 and .115.  Post Miranda, defendant admitted to having had several drinks.  Despite this evidence, and through vigorous negotiations with the state attorney and on the eve of trial, Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge reduced toReckless Driving. (Ref. 6095-XDN)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was stopped for driving on a flat tire.  Defendant performed superbly on the field sobriety tests which were captured on video.  Defendant later agreed to provide a breath sample, and blew a .138 and .142.  Despite this very high blow, Stephen Higgins was able to negotiate with the stat attorney, discuss the performance on the filed sobriety tests and get the charge reduced to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 7939-XAU)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was stopped for speeding.  Despite a pre-existing medical condition, defendant performed field sobriety tests and because of his medical condition, performed them poorly.  Defendant later provided a breath sample of .095 and .094.  Arguing that the medical condition was in fact the cause for the poor performance of the field sobriety tests, and despite the evidence of a breath alcohol content over the legal limit, Stephen Higgins was able to negotiate with the state attorney and get the case reduced to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 7321-XAM)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING Defendant was stopped for suspicion of DUI and later provided a breath sample of .104 and .100.  After negotiating with the state attorney regarding the reason for the stop, which defense attorney Stephen Higgins argued was invalid, and based on the low breath alcohol sample, Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge reduced to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 1760-XCA)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant's car was found in a ditch with defendant behind the wheel.  Defendant was subsequently arrested for DUI and Criminal Driving with a Suspended License.   Defendant provided a breath sample of .122 and .117.    Stephen Higgins pushed the case on the theory that the state could not prove actual physical control of the vehicle and was successful in dropping the charge from a DUI to Reckless Drivingand dismissing the criminal driving while license suspended. (Ref. 9212-XCF, 6682-EOL)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was arrested for DUI, his second within 5 years, and leaving the scene of an accident after hitting two cars and a stop sign.  Defendant refused both field sobriety tests and breath tests.  At the jail, defendant requested medical assistance because of a severe diabetic condition, but was refused.  On the eve of trial, and after Stephen Higgins subpoenaed jail personnel to potentially provide damaging testimony, the DUI charge was reduced to Reckless Driving and the defendant was not adjudicated of leaving the scene of the accident. (Ref. 8609-XCF, 2638-EQZ)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was arrested for DUI after being observed speeding and provided a breath sample of .112 and .116.   During discovery negotiations, Stephen Higgins ascertained that the State had lost a videotape pertaining to defendants alleged driving.   Despite the breath sample over the legal limit, Stephen Higgins was able to get the charge reduced from DUI to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 127785-W)

FELONY DUI - NO PRISON
Defendant was arrested for his fourth DUI and driving on a permanent revocation.  During vigorous negotiations with the state, Stephen Higgins was able to keep his defendant out of prison. (Ref. 06-CF-20979)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was arrested for DUI after the police officers observed him swerving and making an illegal turn.  Defendant refused field sobriety tests and police indicated that client refused to provide breath sample, despite client attempting to blow in the machine.   Absent any video of a driving pattern, and on the eve of trial, Stephen Higgins was able to reduce the charge from a DUI to Reckless Driving.  (Ref. 7989-XCF) 

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was stopped by the police for weaving and allegedly crossing the fog line and was subsequently arrested for DUI and provided a breath sample of .136 and .136.  Stephen Higgins filed a Motion to Suppress based on an invalid stop and the state reduced the charge from a DUI to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 8138-XCF)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was arrested for DUI after a police officer observed defendant step out of the passengers seat at a red light and switch seats with the driver and then drive approximately two miles to his apartment complex. Absent any video and after refusing the breath test, Stephen Higgins negotiated with the state to reduce the charge from DUI to Reckless Driving.  (Ref. 7779-XCF)  

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was pulled over for driving without headlights.  Defendant subsequently consented to field sobriety tests and providing a breath sample, which resulted in a .125 and .130.  Pending a motion to suppress based on a pretextual stop for driving without headlights, Stephen Higgins negotiated with the state reduced the case from a DUI to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 5416-XDN)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING 
Defendant was pulled over for an illegal turn.  Client failed field sobriety tests and initially complied to provide a breath sample, which registered .135.  During discovery, the state failed to provide vital evidence to support defendants case.  As a result, Stephen Higgins was able to reduce the charge from a DUI to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 7992-XCF)    

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING 
Defendant was stopped for making an illegal U-Turn and subsequently failed to perform field sobriety tests adequately.  Defendant provided a breath sample of .70 and .69.  Stephen Higgins negotiated with the state to reduce the case to a Reckless Driving. (Ref. 7408-ELP)  

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was stopped for allegedly speeding and weaving within his lane.  During the performance of the field sobriety tests, defendant miscounted on the heel to toe and failed to listen to instructions during the finger-to-nose test.  At the Central Breath Station at the jail, defendant provided a breath sample of .115 and .113, well over the legal limit.  Despite the poor performance on the field sobriety tests as well as the level of the defendant breath alcohol content Stephen Higgins was able to reduce the charge to a Reckless Driving. (Ref. 7539-XCF)  

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
Defendant was stopped for making an illegal u-turn, and subsequently provided field sobriety tests.  Based on defendants very good performance on his field sobriety tests on the video as well as the lack of any breath sample, counsel for the defendant Stephen Higgins negotiated with the state attorney to reduce the charge to a Reckless Driving. (Ref. 9670-XCF)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS   
The defendant was stopped by the Hillsborough County Sheriffs office for being involved in a dispute outside of a bar.  The Defendant explained to the police that she helped a friend who was being beaten up and that was the only reason she drove.  The police arrested her for DUI nevertheless.  The defendant blew over twice the legal limit in the state of Florida.  Stephen Higgins and Darren Finebloom set the case for trial and used the defense of necessity.  Upon review of case law provided to the State Attorney, the State Attorney's Office reduced the DUI to a Reckless Driving.  (Ref. 731836-X)  

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
The Defendant was stopped for several traffic infractions including driving below the posted speed limit and weaving within her lane.  The defendant was then asked to perform some field sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested for DUI.  The defendant blew a .107.  Darren Finebloom set the case for trial and just before the trial the DUI was  reduced to a reckless driving.  (Ref. 5655-XAM)  

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
The defendant was found asleep behind the wheel with the keys in the ignition.  The police approached the vehicle and attempted to awaken the defendant.  After several attempts they forced the defendant out of the vehicle and he was arrested for DUI.  The Defendant refused to give a sample of his breath.   Darren Finebloom set the case for trial and on the day of jury selection the State reduced the charge. (Ref. 6395-XAF)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING  
The defendant was stopped for speeding in Hillsborough County.  He was asked to perform field sobriety tests and subsequently arrested for DUI. The Defendant took a breath test.  Stephen Higgins set the case for trial and the charges were reduced from DUI to Reckless Driving.  (Ref. 731471-X)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
The Defendant was stopped for speeding.  The Defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested for DUI.  The Defendant refused to take a breath test.  Darren Finebloom pushed the case to trial and the State reduced the DUI charge to Reckless Driving.  (Ref. 3008-XAM)  

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
The Defendant was stopped for speeding.  The Defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested for DUI.  The Defendant refused to take a breath test.  Darren Finebloom pushed the case to trial and the State reduced the DUI charge to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 5792-XAM)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING  
The Defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested for DUI.  The Defendant refused to take a breath test.  Stephen Higgins pushed the case to trial and the State reduced the DUI charge.  (Ref. 7805-XAM)  

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING
The Defendant was involved in an accident.  The Defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested for DUI.  The Defendant took a breath test and blew over the legal limit.  Darren Finebloom pushed the case to trial and the State dropped the DUI charge to Reckless Driving.  (Ref. 729112-X)

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING 
The Defendant was stopped for no headlights. The Defendant was then asked to perform field sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested for DUI.  The Defendant took a breath test and blew over the legal limit.  David Haenel filed a motion to suppress because the stop was of the vehicle was unlawful.  The State Attorney reduced the charge to Reckless Driving. (Ref. 2043-XAM)