Criminal Defense News and Views

The point of creating this squidoo lens is to give the criminals of the world the opportunity to find a little comfort.

Kostman & Pyzer is a criminal defence law firm serving clients in the Greater Toronto area and elsewhere in the province of Ontario since 1983. Our goal is a successful conclusion to every case. We understand that a criminal accusation can often be an overwhelming experience for the defendant, with significant social, psychological and economic ramifications. Visit us online today. Toronto Lawyer

Here's what you need to know if you've been charged with a DUI in Florida.

According to Florida DUI law, the prosecution must prove a couple things to get you convicted of Driving Under the Influence.

1. You had a breath alcohol content of .08% or higher at the time of driving. This creates a presumption of impairment. To be acquitted, your Florida defense lawyer will have to prove that your normal faculties were not impaired.
2. Your normal faculties were impaired while driving. If the prosecution proves that your ability to walk, talk, judge distances, drive and act were impaired, then you will unlikely be acquitted. Videotapes are commonly used for evidence in field sobriety exercises.

Before police can pull you over, they must have a legally valid reason to make the initial stop. Officers will often pull people over for things like weaving, straddling the center of the lane, appearing drunk, turning in a wide radius, almost striking an object or vehicle, swerving, speed, driving more than 10 mph below the speed limit, stopping without a cause in a traffic lane, following too closely, drifting, braking erratically, slow response to traffic signals and signs, inconsistent signaling, driving into opposing traffic, turning abruptly, driving with headlights off and accelerating or decelerating rapidly.

After pulling you over, the police will make contact with you and look for a flushed face and red, watery, glassy or bloodshot eyes. They'll smell for alcohol and look for slurred speech, fumbling with wallet, difficulty in communication, swaying or staggering when exiting the vehicle and leaning in car for support and other typical inebriated signs.

They will then do a series of sobriety tests, which are usually videotaped. Because of the evidence that might be held against you, it will be difficult to defend yourself alone. Make sure you find a good Tampa criminal defense lawyer to get the best protection against a DUI charge.

If you ever get arrested and accused of a crime, you will know how important it is to make sure that you receive just treatment under the law. You hope that day never comes, but if it does you need to be prepared and understand your right to a Criminal Defense Attorney. Your Attorney's job is to ensure that you receive a fast and speedy trial, that you get an impartial jury to hear your case, and to make the jury doubt that you could have committed the crime in question. All of these are your rights as stated under the 6th Amendment of the Bill of Rights.

Your Criminal Defense Attorney will be your voice to the jury. He or she will speak on your behalf to tell the facts pertaining to the case, to disprove theories brought forth by the prosecution, to create knowledge of your temperament and frame of mind at the time, and of course to create doubt and empathy in the minds of the jurors towards you and your case.

If the accused was involved in a crime, but to a lesser degree than they are being accused, the Criminal Defense Attorney will present evidence and facts to the jury to prove your case. They will ensure that the charges against the accused are lowered to the appropriate level and make a plea in their defense. It is very important to hire a good Defense Attorney and to make sure that they are well aware of all of the details in your case. They can be your only friend during a trial, a link to family and friends, they can ensure that your rights are being respected, and that the jury hears your side of the case.

Without a good Criminal Defense Attorney on your side you run the risk of not having your 6th Amendment Rights defended and your voice may not be heard by the trial jury. In a serious matter like criminal defense, you want to make sure that you have the best attorney on your side and that he or she will work hard to prove your case.