Have you or a loved one been arrested for DUI in Hillsborough, Pinellas, or Pasco County Florida?  If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you or a loved one has been arrested for DUI in Florida.  Certainly, this is a challenging time.  If you, your spouse/partner, or a child has been arrested, you have been through a lot in a short amount of time.  Now, you have to decide whether or not to hire an attorney to represent the accused in court, as well as during the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) administrative process (which deals with the ar ..read more

Fraud is a serious offense that can have severe consequences. And fraud can be charged as a federal crime. Many people may be confused about the jurisdiction and legal implications of fraud. In this article, we will explore the topic in detail and shed light on the role of The Hardy Law Firm in dealing with fraud cases. Whether you are a victim or accused of fraud, understanding the legal framework is crucial for a fair resolution.  Is Fraud Considered a Federal Crime? Yes, fraud is considered a federal crime. The federal government defines fraud as an intentional deception or misrepresen ..read more

A Typical DUI Investigation in Tampa, Florida Imagine you are driving on a Tampa, Florida roadway, in the early hours of the morning, coming home from a party at a friend’s house.  Perhaps you’ve had a few drinks over the course of the evening, but you don’t believe that your ability to drive has been impaired.   A law enforcement officer pulls your car over because you were driving over the speed limit, or because you had a taillight out, or because the officer thought you were weaving over the lane markers on the road.  There are dozens of reasons why an officer might pul ..read more

If you were arrested for DUI in Tampa and you refused to provide a breath sample at the Hillsborough County Jail, you may be wondering if you can still be convicted of DUI in the Hillsborough County Courts. Many people believe that if a prosecutor does not have an exact measurement driver’s breath alcohol level, that the driver can’t be convicted of DUI.  However, as explained below, a breath or blood alcohol level above the legal limit is just one of two ways that a prosecutor can prove a DUI charge.  Driving with an Unlawful Breath Alcohol Level The first way that a prosecutor can ..read more

If you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence in Tampa, Florida, you may be wondering how much it will cost to hire the best Tampa DUI lawyer for your case. The answer to that question will vary, because it depends on the facts and circumstances of your case.  Below are some of the issues that will impact the fee you will pay to hire an attorney for your DUI case. Do you have any prior DUI arrests? A driver’s prior criminal history may influence how much they pay to hire a DUI attorney.  For example, if a driver is accused of DUI, and has a DUI conviction from within the ..read more

Although many people use the terms DUI and DWI interchangeably, each term represents something slightly different.  Florida law uses the term DUI, while other states, like Rhode Island and New York, use the term DWI.    DUI vs. DWI  In Florida, the term DUI refers to ‘driving under the influence.’ Florida law establishes this as the legal term for impaired driving. There are other states that use the acronym, DWI, which stands for ‘driving while intoxicated,’ or in some cases, ‘driving while impaired.’  A Florida DUI can apply to drivers under the influence of a ..read more

A DUI is a serious offense that can stick with you for the rest of your life.  The state of Florida has strict laws surrounding DUI charges.  A person that is convicted of DUI cannot seal or expunge their DUI conviction.  That’s why it’s so important to hire a skilled and experienced DUI attorney, who can fight your DUI case from the beginning.   How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record in Florida? If you are convicted of a DUI in the state of Florida, the DUI conviction will stay on your Florida driving record for 75 years, and it will remain on your criminal record f ..read more

Field sobriety test in Florida. It is not uncommon for a law enforcement officer in Florida to request that a driver take field sobriety tests. If you are in an accident or stopped for some reason, the officer may ask you if you have been drinking and request that you perform a few roadside tests, such as walking heel to toe in a straight line, or holding your foot six inches above the ground while counting. But does Florida law actually make it mandatory to take these roadside field sobriety tests? The answer is no. Florida law does not authorize a law enforcement officer to force a driv ..read more

The pandemic has affected the way Tampa DUI cases are handled by attorneys, judges, and clients. How Tampa DUI attorneys and their clients have adapted to the pandemic Since COVID precautions began in Florida, the way Tampa DUI cases progress in and out of court has changed quite a bit.  Below are a few examples of how Tampa DUI attorneys and their clients have adapted to the pandemic.  Before the pandemic, it was customary for an individual who had recently been arrested for DUI to meet with a lawyer in person, so that the two could determine whether or not they wanted to work toget ..read more

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution was written by James Madison and became part of the United States Constitution 1791. The first part of the amendment states: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated… Though these words were written before automobiles even existed, the amendment applies when a law enforcement officer conducts a traffic stop of a motor vehicl ..read more