Woman Arrested After Going 120 in a 55, Attacking Officer with Fingernails
Police officers pulled over a St. Petersburg woman as she was going 120 mph in a 55 mph zone. The officer put his lights on and then said that the woman tried to evade the traffic stop, resulting in a high-speed chase. The situation turned uglier after the officer noted the woman had slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol emanating from her person. Upon approaching the driver, 31, the situation escalated when the trooper attempted to initiate the arrest. The woman protested, insisting that she had “zero reasons to perform any sobriety” and attempted to argue with the officer for arresting her for speeding. “You’re not arresting me for speeding. If you’re arresting me for speeding, that’s unlawful. You need to write a ticket,” the woman explained to the officer while being recorded on his dash camera.
Things got even worse from there. According to the arresting officer, the woman attempted to assault him with her fingernails. She dug her fingernails into the officer’s hands causing him to bleed. She continued to be uncooperative even after she was placed in the patrol car and demanded that a female officer secure her seat belt.
“I do not feel safe taking off in this car. I need a female officer to put a seat belt over my body before we leave,” the woman demanded as she sat in the back of the officer’s car.
Florida Highway Patrol says this isn’t the first time the woman has faced a DUI charge. Her records indicate that she has two prior convictions over the last decade.
The woman is facing charges of DUI, speeding, driving without insurance, possession of marijuana, resisting an officer with violence, and battery on law enforcement.
A third DUI arrest in a 10-year lookback period
Florida law assigns harsher penalties to those who have multiple DUIs in a 10-year lookback period. In this case, the defendant had 2 prior DUIs before her latest arrest. Those convicted of a third DUI within 10 years can be charged with a third-degree felony under Florida law. A third-degree felony is punishable by up to a $5,000 and/or 5 years in state prison.
A third DUI conviction in 10 years also has a mandatory minimum sentence. A mandatory term of imprisonment for at least 30 days must be imposed by the court. At least 48 hours of the confinement must be consecutive.
In addition to facing a possible prison sentence of 5 years and a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail, those with a third DUI conviction in 10 years can face a special condition of probation that their vehicle is immobilized for 90 days. The immobilization cannot occur at the same time they are serving a jail sentence.
Talk to an Orlando DUI Lawyer Today
The Florida DUI defense attorneys at FL DUI Group represent the interests of those charged with DUI in Orlando. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your defense right away.
Source:
wptv.com/news/state/florida-woman-arrested-on-dui-charge-after-traveling-120-mph-accused-of-attacking-trooper-with-fingernails
