Russo, Pelletier, & Sullivan P.A. are among a select few DUI attorneys in Clearwater who are certified to operate an Intoxilyzer. This places their top DUI attorneys in a strong position to scrutinize your results and ensure the Intoxilyzer test was administered in the correct way during your DUI stop. 

The results of our examination can change the outlook of your case entirely. If the test was improperly administered, there is no way to guarantee the validity of the test; and without test validity, there is no way that the prosecutor can prove beyond reasonable doubt that you were over the legal limit.

The option of a friend or relative picking up your car and driving it home for you is the most ideal scenario, but it is completely dependent on the arresting officer. This is a courtesy and is not guaranteed; however, the officer may agree to allow it if your friend or family member can get to your vehicle within about 20 minutes. 

Where the car is taken is up to the person who picks it up. If it is not taken back to your residence (or whatever location you prefer for it to stay), in most cases, you will have 10 days to drive under a temporary permit; within that period, you will be able to pick up and drive your car to your preferred location.

When an individual has been charged with a DUI or another similar crime, they want to know that they have the best possible defense in their case. At Russo, Pelletier, & Sullivan we work as a team on every case, meaning no attorney works in isolation. 

Each of our attorneys has a different area of focus, with diverse backgrounds and unique experiences. This allows us to provide the most creative and effective strategies for each of our  clients, which many other firms just simply cannot offer. 

We also prioritize showing up in court ourselves, meaning we never use coverage attorneys. When our client’s life and wellbeing is on the line, they can count on us to show up for them every time. The Pinellas County Courthouse is essentially our second home, as each of our attorneys is in court nearly every day, serving our clients’ best interest.

When you hire Attorney Tim Sullivan or any of the attorneys with Russo, Pelletier, & Sullivan P.A in Clearwater, you can have the confidence that our holistic team approach yields the best results and allows for multiple professional perspectives on every issue.

If you are stopped for DUI, the law enforcement officer may ask you to perform Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs), such as “Finger to Nose,” “Walk and Turn,” “One-Leg Stand,” etc. If you believe that performing these tests would be detrimental to your case, you have the right to refuse to submit to those tests. In this case, the officer must decide if he has enough other evidence to make a DUI arrest, or to drop the investigation and allow you to continue on your way.

If you do choose to submit to FSTs, they are often recorded by dash-mounted video cameras in the officer’s patrol car. If you end up being arrested for DUI, our attorneys can examine the video footage of your performance and potentially challenge the officer’s interpretation of the results. Many clients express concern with how they will look on the video, but we have found in many cases that our client’s appearance on video is much better than they thought, and more importantly, much better than the officer described. If you do refuse the roadside sobriety tests, it is likely that you will be arrested, but you will deprive law enforcement of potentially damaging evidence of you performing poorly on the tests or otherwise demonstrating poor balance and dexterity.

Our client was a CDL driver’s license holder. While visiting Florida, he was stopped for a traffic violation and arrested for Driving Under the Influence. He declined to submit to field sobriety exercises and breath testing. A conviction for DUI would have been a career killer. After weighing his options, our client elected to have his case resolved with a trial. Mr. Sullivan defended the client against the allegations and raised reasonable doubts as to his guilt. Ultimately, a verdict of Not Guilty was rendered and our client was able to maintain his employment.

These operations occur numerous times a year and consist of large-scale patrol units that pull over drivers suspected to be under the influence. During these stops, officers will test your blood alcohol content no matter the reason and file charges according to the results. Often times, the “wolf packs” will look to pull over as many drivers as possible on those evenings to increase the chances of locating and arresting impaired drivers. Common reasons for traffic stops include expired registration, stopping in front of a stop bar at a light or stop sign, or failing to maintain a single lane.

If you are pulled over by one of these wolf pack patrols, it is essential to know your rights when it comes to submitting to a breathalyzer test and other field sobriety tests (FSTs). In Florida, the FSTs are not mandatory, but if you refuse, you risk the officer making a decision to arrest and charge you with a DUI based on various other factors.

Our seasoned attorneys received the same certifications as Pinellas County law enforcement officers for both the breathalyzer test and field sobriety tests. We are able to analyze the results of those tests and determine if they were administered correctly and fairly.

When choosing to represent yourself after being accused of Driving Under the Influence, you miss out on the valuable expertise that Russo, Pelletier & Sullivan P.A has to offer. 

Our holistic team approach means that each attorney in our office works together on every case, providing various perspectives and backgrounds that ultimately build a sound strategy for your defense. Some of the most common possible defenses used for DUI are Improper Stop, where officers have a lack of probable cause, Mistake of Fact, where the individual has an honest belief that they are not intoxicated, and inaccuracy of the breathalyzer test or field sobriety test. This level of support from a team of dedicated attorneys is unmatched, and you can have confidence in knowing that your defense strategy will remain strong throughout the case.

Most commonly associated with alcohol, a DUI charge can also result from driving while using an array of prescription medicines. Mixing prescription drugs and alcohol can result in stronger side effects of either substance. One drink while on strong cold medicine could cause impairment equivalent to multiple drinks.

When taking medication prescribed by a doctor, talk with them about how the prescriptions will impact your day-to-day functions. Understanding the dosage prescribed, the time it takes for the drug to work through your system, and how your body will react are all questions you should know the answer to. 

Knowing and following the recommendations associated with all prescription medications is vital to being a safe driver and avoiding a DUI charge.

Although the laws associated with DUI Manslaughter are the same throughout the State of Florida, the way that each county handles these important cases varies from county to county. In fact, many are surprised to learn that the State Attorney in St. Petersburg is a different person than the State Attorney in Tampa. Thus, if you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI Manslaughter in Pinellas County, it would make sense to hire attorneys that regularly handle cases in Pinellas.

Our law firm exclusively handles criminal and DUI cases arising out of Pinellas County. Unlike many firms that handle Personal Injury or Family Law, our team limits our practice to defending people accused of crimes. Likewise, although there are many attorneys in the area that handle cases in Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, and Sarasota, the lawyers in our office only handle cases in Pinellas County. As a result, the judges, prosecutors, clerks and bailiffs are accustomed to seeing our DUI defense team in court.

Bail Fee

After an arrest, the booking deputy will set a bond based upon the Pinellas County Bond Schedule. This bond amount can vary from being released on your own recognizance or “ROR” (you do not need to post any money to get out of jail) to $10,000.00 or more if there are prior DUI convictions or serious injuries.

Court Fines and Costs

The fines and court costs associated with a DUI offense vary depending on a few circumstances. These include your prior record of DUI convictions, you breath or blood alcohol level, and whether or not there were any minors in the vehicle at the time of the offense. If convicted of a DUI offense, the fines and court costs can range from $1,000.00 up to $5,000.00.

Attorney Fee 

There are multiple factors at play when it comes to attorney fees – whether you are a first-time offender, whether you want to take a plea or go to trial, how reputed an attorney you are seeking, etc. Consider a window of $2,500 – $10,000 in attorney fees, which may go up if you are a repeat offender or if there was an accident with injuries or death. 

While showing up in court without an attorney is permissible, we would not recommend it. DUI charges are serious and complicated, but the best DUI attorneys in Clearwater can help defend your case in court. 

Vehicle Towing and Storage fees

While you are getting arrested and taken to jail, your car is often towed away for storage in a secure facility. Depending on how far this storage facility is, expect to be charged anything between $50 to $200 for vehicle towing fees. Additionally, if the arrest was made by the St. Petersburg Police Department, a local ordinance in the City of St. Petersburg allows for an additional penalty of $500.00 to the city in order to secure the release of your vehicle.

Victim Impact Panel

In some cases, the court may order an individual accused of DUI to attend a Victim Impact Panel. These seminars, which may be available online, normally contain 3-4 DUI victims sharing their stories of being affected by a drunk driving accident. The aim is to educate the offender and to deter them from future instances of impaired driving. The offender may be charged around $100 for a Victim Impact Panel in a DUI case in Florida. 

Insurance Cost Increase

Even a single DUI charge can increase your auto insurance by 2 to 3 times, resulting in an annual increase of far over a thousand dollars. Additionally, any discounts or insurance coverage you may have gathered over time will likely be forfeited. There have also been cases when existing insurance providers have dropped clients with DUI charges against them, in which case finding new coverage is both difficult and costly. 

Probation and Monitoring Costs

The offender is required to pay probation costs on their own, which may cost anything between $55 to $3,300 in Florida, based on our experience. This includes regular alcohol/drug testing, which may cost a few hundred dollars, and using wearable monitors which cost $10 per day. Our top-rated DUI defense team will work with you to minimize these costs by completing court expectations in advance of ever appearing in front of a judge.

DUI Traffic School

If the authorities mandate, you may have to attend traffic school at your own cost. While traffic school charges may vary, the typical range is $325-$450. The costs for repeat offenders will be higher because they may have to undergo additional courses like a state-approved driver intervention program. In addition to the school, a corresponding alcohol evaluation is conducted. If ordered to do counseling, the costs generally range from $500-$1,000. 

Driver’s License Reinstatement Fees

Florida’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) charges a penalty upon the suspension or restriction of a license, and further on its reinstatement after you meet the requirements threshold. This will cost you around $250.

Ignition Interlock Costs

Ignition interlock devices check your blood alcohol content before your vehicle starts. The court may mandate you to install such a device in your vehicle after a DUI charge, at your own expense. The equipment also needs to be maintained regularly. Therefore, along with a one-time charge of $150 for purchasing the equipment, you may add up another $150 per month for service.