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Sarasota County DUI Reduced on the Morning of Trial

August 2014

We were scheduled to begin picking a jury on Wednesday morning, but two days before trial, the prosecuting attorney called us and said he would offer a reduction to the charge of Reckless Driving.  We consulted with our client, and advised him that he should not accept a Reckless Driving charge unless adjudication was withheld.  He agreed and we contacted the Assistant State Attorney and told him that he had a deal, but only if there was no adjudication of guilt.  (If adjudication is withheld, and the client has no other criminal convictions, he can get the record "sealed," so that it doesn't show up on any background check.)

The prosecutor balked at first, but finally agreed to a withheld adjudication.  As soon as the client gets his fines and costs paid, and 50 hours of community service done, his probation will terminate automatically, and we can begin the process of sealing his record of the arrest and prosecution.

Practice area(s): DUI / DWI

Court: Sarasota County

Tom Hudson

Known nationwide as a leading DUI defense lawyer, Tom has tried over 350 jury trials, including numerous death penalty cases. He now limits his criminal practice to DUI defense. His civil practice is devoted to getting fair compensation for the victims of negligence. Tom has attained multiple verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million, and is a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In 2008, Tom Hudson passed the National Board Certification Test for DUI Attorneys in Honolulu, Hawaii. NOTE: The State of Florida does not yet recognize DUI defense as a Specialty.

Why We're Different

Board Certification as a DUI Specialist by the National College for DUI Defense. Formal NHTSA Certification as an Instructor of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests given by police in DUI cases. Formal training as a NHTSA Drug Recognition Evaluator. ("Drug Evaluation & Classification") Formal training to operate the Intoxilyzer 8000, Florida's official breath test instrument. Extensive experience in teaching other attorneys how to handle DUI cases. Hundreds of jury trials both as defense lawyer and as prosecutor.

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