The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 22-year-old man who reportedly ran his vehicle into a sign reminding drivers to not drink and drive, according to local sources. The sign, which Florida authorities say read, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” is part of an anti-DUI initiative put forth by the state. The accused man is being held after allegedly failing roadside sobriety tests. There is no word as to whether he has retained criminal defense counsel at this time.
According to the report, the 22-year-old from North Port was driving in Charlotte County when he apparently struck the aforementioned sign. The force of the impact was enough to destroy the sign and cause damage to his vehicle, which helped officers locate and detain him. He apparently told police he was on the phone with a friend at the time of the accident. He denied drinking alcohol, saying he had been studying with the same friend before getting behind the wheel.
However, the arrest report says the man failed field sobriety testing and a breathalyzer test, where he reportedly blew a .116. This is almost double the legal limit of .08 in the state of Florida. The man now faces DUI charges as well as a charge for property damage due to destroying the sign.
If the man is found guilty of the DUI charge, he could face fines, the loss of his license or even jail time. This is why he will be represented by a criminal defense attorney who will carefully review all the facts of the case. This is done as part of the process of building a compelling defense against the charges filed.