| May 21, 2026 | Case: 25-CT-043865 | Judge Garagozlo |
| Facts: | The defendant was stopped for driving with no headlights after dark. Officers noticed an odor of alcohol, a fixed gaze, watery eyes, and slurred speech. He also had a sway to his stance while outside of his car. The defendant refused to perform any field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. He later refused a breath test. This was his Second DUI arrest. | |
| Defense: | On tape, it appeared as if the arresting officer was brand new and had no idea how to properly conduct a DUI investigation. Parks & Braxton filed a pretrial motion to exclude the defendant's refusal to perform field sobriety tests. When a defendant refuses to perform field sobriety tests, an officer must advise them of adverse consequences (i.e., Taylor warnings) or the refusal will be excluded from evidence. The officer must state something like "your refusal can be used against you in court", or "I will have to make my decision to arrest based on what I've seen so far." Here, there were no adverse consequences. After conversations with the State prior to trial, they Dropped the DUI, and he received no conviction and no penalties other than a fine and court costs. | |
| Result: | The State dropped the DUI. | |
