DUI and Wrong-Way Driving are Ongoing Problems in Tampa
Wrong-way driving is just one of the potential consequences that results from DUI. The increase in DUI related wrong-way driving in Tampa is a troubling trend. While on its face, this particular driving pattern associated with DUI may seem like an open and shut case for the State, but the truth is, an experienced DUI attorney in Tampa will understand that each incident is different and will be able to put forth an effective defense.
According to a recent Tampa Bay Times article, the paper’s own review of Florida Highway Patrol records shows that wrong-way driving is an astonishingly common phenomenon in the Tampa Bay area. In the past seven years, troopers have responded to at least 70 incidents of wrong-way drivers on limited-access highways around Tampa Bay. That tally does not include nearly 700 wrong-way incidents that occurred on local streets in 2014 alone.
While most of the drivers in local wrong-way cases were younger than 40, several recent cases involved a 64-year old woman and another by a 60 year old man. According to aWTSP online news report, the 64-year-old woman was stopped by police driving northbound on I-275, in the southbound lanes before an accident occurred. The 60-year-old man on the other hand, caused a crash on US 19 in Pasco County.
No one is immune to DUI as evidenced by the recent WTSP online news article of a Tampa police officer accused of DUI and driving the wrong way, causing an accident. Regardless of the circumstances or the status of the person involved, DUI is a serious charge for anyone.
Depending on the circumstances, first time offenders can face serious jail time, fines, and more, while second and third offenders are exposed to harsher sentences in terms of jail time, fines, license suspension, and other penalties. It is a mistake to face DUI charges without legal representation, as having an experienced DUI lawyer in Tampa can make a world of difference. An experienced DUI attorney in Tampa can fully investigate the circumstances and often provide legal defenses that can result in a beneficial outcome in the case.
