Traffic Crimes in Pasco County

The five attorneys at Sammis Law Firm represent clients charged with a wide range of criminal traffic crimes (sometimes called “transportation offenses”).

Both felony and misdemeanor traffic offenses are prosecuted in Pasco County, FL, at the courthouse in New Port Richey or Dade City, including:

• Leaving the Scene of a Crash in Pasco County
  • Hit and Run Involving Damage to an Unattended Vehicle or Unattended Property § 316.063(1), Fla. Stat.
  • Hit and Run Involving Only Damage to an Attended Vehicle or Attended Property § 316.061(1), Fla. Stat.
  • Hit and Run Involving Death or Injury § 316.027(1), Fla. Stat.
• Reckless Driving § 316.192(1)(a) and (1)(b), Fla. Stat.
• Racing on a Highway (Illegal Street Racing) § 316.191(3)(a), Fla. Stat.
• Fleeing to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer § 316.1935, Fla. Stat.
• No Valid Driver’s License § 322.03, Fla. Stat.
• Driving While License Suspended, Revoked or Canceled With Knowledge § 322.34(2), Fla. Stat.
• Driving While License Revoked As A Habitual Traffic Offender § 322.34(5), Fla. Stat.
• Failure to Register a Motor Vehicle § 320.02, Fla. Stat.
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI) § 316.193, Fla. Stat.
  • Chemical Test
    • Breath Test on the Intoxilyzer 8000 Breathalyzer
    • Blood Test (whole blood sent to FDLE crime lab)
    • Medical Blood Test (relying on notations in medical records obtained through a subpoena)
    • Urine Test
  •  Types
    • First DUI
    • Second DUI (within or outside 5 years)
    • Third DUI (within or outside 10 years)
    • Fourth DUI or subsequent
    • Boating Under the Influence § 327.35(1), Fla. Stat.
    • Second Refusal To Submit To Testing § 316.1939, Fla. Stat.
  • Classifications Based on Damage
    • DUI with property damage or non-serious injury
    • Felony Driving Under the Influence Causing Serious Bodily Injury
    • Felony DUI manslaughter (with death or fatality)

Most violations of the law are civil which are punishable by a fine. Civil traffic violations can include speeding or running a red light.

Other types of traffic offenses, like the ones listed above, are criminal offenses charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor offense. are classified as a second or first-degree misdemeanor which is punishable by jail time.

Attorney for Traffic Crimes in Pasco County, FL

If you are charged with a criminal traffic offense, then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney in Pasco County, FL, at Sammis Law Firm.

With offices in New Port Richey, FL, we are conveniently located across from the West Pasco Judicial Center. We also have an office conveniently located in downtown Tampa, FL.

We provide a free and confidential consultation to discuss the penalties pending against you and the best ways to aggressively fight the case.

Call (813) 250-0500.

What is the Difference Between a Civil or Criminal Traffic Offense?

While civil traffic tickets are punishable with only a fine, criminal traffic offenses are punishable by jail time. As provided in Section 316.650, Florida Statutes, in a criminal traffic offense, the officer will issue a uniform traffic citation.

In some cases, the prosecutor will file a charging document (called an “information”) as provided for in the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure.

If the prosecution is by information, a uniform traffic citation shall be prepared by the arresting officer at the direction of the prosecutor and submitted to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).

In a criminal traffic offense, the criminal traffic citation will provide notice to the driver that he must appear in court to answer the charge. For more serious criminal traffic offenses, the officer might make a formal arrest.

For example, in a DUI case, the officer is required to make an arrest and the driver must be held in jail for at least eight (8) hours.

The penalties for criminal traffic offenses can include jail time, probation, fines, or a driver’s license suspension. The collateral consequences of a criminal traffic offense might include increased insurance premiums and a criminal record.

Bond Schedule for Criminal Traffic Crimes in Pasco County, FL

Most misdemeanor traffic crimes in Pasco Criminal come with a bond schedule for a low bond of ROR –UNSUPERVISED, a high bond of $250, and a recommended bond of ROR –UNSUPERVISED.

Some types of criminal traffic crimes have a higher bond schedule including:

• For any 3rd Degree Felony charge involving DWLSR offenses charged under §322.34, Fla. Stat., where the defendant has 4 or more previous DWLSRs or the defendant’s license was previously suspended due to DUI or drug charges, the uniform bond schedule sets the low bond at $2,500 the high bond at $10,000 and the recommended bond at $5,000.

• For any 1st Degree Misdemeanor DWLSR offenses under §322.34, Fla. Stat., where the defendant has 4 or more previous DWLSRs or the defendant’s license was previously suspended due to DUI or drug charges, the uniform bond schedule sets the low bond at $500 the high bond at $2,500 and the recommended bond at $1,000.

• For DUI or BUI with No Property Damage as a 1st or 2nd offense under §316.193(2)(a) or §327.35(2)(a), Fla. Stat., the low bond is ROR –UNSUPERVISED, the high bond is $500, and the recommended bond is ROR –UNSUPERVISED.

• For DUI or BUI with No Property Damage as a 3rd offense under §316.193(2)(a) or §327.35(2)(a), Fla. Stat., the low bond is $500, the high bond is$1,000, and the recommended bond is $750.

• For any DUI or BUI offense charged under §316.193 or §327.35, Fla. Stat., as a third-degree felony, the uniform bond schedule sets the low bond at $2,500 the high bond at $10,000, and the recommended bond at $5,000.

• For any DUI or BUI with property damage for a first or second offense under §316.193(3)(c)1, or §327.35(3)(c)1, Fla. Stat., the uniform bond schedule sets the low bond at $250 the high bond at $1,000 and the recommended bond at $500.

• For any DUI or BUI with Property Damage classified as a 3rd offense under §316.193(3)(c)1, or §327.35(3)(c)1, Fla. Stat., the uniform bond schedule sets the low bond at $500 the high bond at $2,500 and the recommended bond at $1,000.

Also, keep in mind that for any DUI and BUI, pursuant to section 316.193(9) and 327.35(8), Florida Statutes, the defendant is to be held until his or her blood-alcohol level or breath-alcohol level is less than 0.05 or 8 hours have elapsed from the time of the arrest.

For one type of traffic crime, the defendant will be held with no bond until his or her first appearance hearing before the judge in Pasco County.

That crime is leaving the scene of a crash involving death or personal injuries when the defendant has previously been convicted of a violation of §316.027, §316.061, §316.191, or §316.193, or a felony violation of §322.34, Florida Statutes.

Additional Resources

Florida’s Rules of Traffic Court – Visit the Florida Bar website to find the rules for traffic offenses in Florida. Section III of the Florida Rules of Traffic Court governs criminal traffic offenses prosecuted in county court. Most of these cases involve a uniform traffic citation (UTC).

Active Calls for Traffic Crimes in Pasco County – Visit the website of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office to find a database of “active calls” including a “call number” assigned to the call, the “entry time” when the call was first reported to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (“PSO”), the “description” or classification currently assigned to the call, the current response “priority” assigned to the call by PSO Communications, and the general geographic “location” of the call within Pasco County.

Finding a Lawyer for a Criminal Traffic Crime in New Port Richey, FL

The attorneys at Sammis Law Firm represent clients charged with misdemeanor traffic offenses throughout Pasco County, FL, at the courthouse in Dade City and New Port Richey.

Whether you are charged with DUI, reckless driving, or driving on a suspended driver’s license, we can help. We provide an aggressive defense with the goal of getting the charges dropped, dismissed, or reduced to a less serious offense.

We also represent clients with an outstanding capias after a failure to appear in court on the criminal traffic offense or a violation of probation.

Our offices are located in New Port Richey, FL, across from the West Pasco Judicial Center. Contact us for a free consultation today.

Call (813) 250-0500 to discuss your case.

This article was last updated on Thursday, May 5, 2022.