You Get What You Pay For

Attorneys are like everything else in life...you get what you pay for. Some attorneys are very expensive and some are extremely inexpensive. If you get quoted a fee by an attorney for your criminal charges and that fee seems low, you need to take a moment and remember the statement above. That attorney most likely isn’t going to put the time into your case that is required.

I have had many people come in my office and tell me that they never met their attorney except for the day they paid them and the day that they plead their charges out. The individual then begs me to help them out by withdrawing their plea. Most often times, I cannot help them. The attorney never put the time into the case because they quoted a low fee and only did a minimal amount of work. Do not let this happen to you.

Remember, if you have been arrested in Dade, arrested in Broward, or arrested in Palm Beach, call criminal defense attorney Phillip Menditto for help and a quote on your fees.

Florida Point System

Florida Point System
In 2007, 24,994 drivers in Florida got their driver's license suspended because of point accumulation. If you receive a traffic ticket be careful with how you handle it so you do not get your license suspended.
Remember, you do not get points when you receive a traffic ticket. You only get points when you pay a traffic ticket, or are found guilty in Traffic Court. You may be able to avoid points on your driver's license by electing traffic school, or hiring a Florida traffic ticket attorney. If you already have points on your license, an experienced traffic ticket attorney may even be able to help you remove them.
The following is information on points assessed against your driver license if you choose to pay the civil penalty or are adjudicated guilty by a Traffic Judge or Magistrate.


Traffic Violation Points Assessed
Non-Moving violations 0 points
Moving violations (non-speeding, no accident) 3 Points
Speeding 15 m.p.h. or less over the posted speed 3 Points
Speeding more than 15 m.p.h. over posted speed 4 Points
Passing Stopped school bus 4 Points
Moving violation (non-speeding) resulting in a crash 4 Points
Unlawful speed resulting in a crash 6 Points
Reckless driving (criminal traffic violation) 4 Points
Leaving scene of crash with damage (>$50) 6 Points
Littering 3 Points
Violation of child restraint laws 3 Points

Amount of Points Time Period Length of Suspension
12 Points accumulated within 12 Months 30 Days
18 Points accumulated within 18 Months 3 Months
24 Points accumulated within 36 Months 1 Year

Drivers, age 15-17, who receive 6 points will be restricted to a business purposes only license for 12 months or until reaching age 18. Restriction time is increased by 90 days for each additional point if additional points are accumulated./span>

VIA: FLTRAFFICLAWS.COM

Forced Blood Draw

If you have been watching the former Yankee player, Jim Leyritz, in his trial, you will notice that the police can force you to give a blood sample. Another word, the police can hold you down and make you give a sample. What should you do? If the police ever tell you that you MUST give a blood sample, breath sample, or urine sample, always say “No”.

Secondly, tell the police that you would give a sample if you can have your attorney present. The police will tell you no but always tell them that they cannot have a sample unless your attorney can be present. Do not fight with them if they are still going to take a sample. You always want an advocate with you when the police are going to take anything from you…..especially your blood, breath, or urine.

If you are arrested in Dade, arrested in Broward, arrested in Ft. Lauderdale, arrested in Palm Beach, call attorney Phillip Menditto.

Regards
Phillip Menditto P.A.

Phone: 954 641 9100
Fax: 954 463 5428
524 S. Andrews Ave Suite 200
North Ft Lauderdale, Fl, 33301
Email: phillipmenditto@phillipmenditto.com
Website: www.phillipmenditto.com

Auto Collision - 5 Top Tips To Avoiding Auto Collision

Auto collision is also known as car accidents, vehicle collision or traffic collision. Recent statistics report suggests that the rate or auto collision is on the increase. "there is no smoke without fire first" so says a proverb. Surely these car accidents were caused by some factors which in most cases are human factors. In this article we are going to take a critical look at some of these factors and what we can do to overcome each.

1) DO NOT USE YOUR CELL PHONE WHEN DRIVING: use of mobile when driving is one the important causes of auto collision. Don't receive or make calls while driving. Don't even think of sending or receiving text messages while on the wheel. If you must use your cell phone, then park the car aside before you can use it. If you use your mobile phone while driving, your attention is taken off the driving. Please do not lose your precious life for a mere small electronic device.

2) DON'T DRIVE WHILE YOU ARE IN UNSTABLE EMOTIONS: if your emotions are not in order, then hey don't drive the car. Let someone do it. Imagine someone who was just told about the death of a loved one entering a car to drive it, there is high risk of auto collision occurring.

3) DON'T SIDE TALK MUCH WHILE ON THE WHEEL: some do a lot of side talks with the next person while on the road. This cause divided attention and lack of focus while driving. It is advisable you don't talk much while you are controlling the steering.

4) AVOID OVER-SPEEDING: don't over speed while on the road. Always drive in accordance with the speed limits that is recommended by the federal road authorities in your country.

5) OBEY THE TRAFFIC SIGNS AND RULES: obey every traffic instructions you come across while driving. They are there for your safety.

Via: EzineArticles

I’m Getting Pulled Over, Now What?

7 important things to remember and do when getting pulled over by a police officer.
Let’s face it, getting pulled over by a police officer can be an extremely stressful, frustrating, and intimidating experience, especially if it’s your first time. Your stomach drops, heart races, and your mind starts frantically running through exactly what excuse you’re going to give when the officer walks up to your car. With the exception of certain circumstances (such as driving a stolen car or driving with gross negligence), there is a list of steps to follow to better your chances of driving away with just a warning instead of a full fledged ticket. Now this isn’t a guaranteed get out of jail free card by any means, but following these steps will certainly improve your chances.

1. As soon as you see the lights, pull over ASAP, but do this within the realm of common sense. If you are in the middle of an intersection, don’t put it in park and become a mini van traffic cone, or pull over on the shoulder of a major highway off ramp where tractor trailers will undoubtedly be barreling down every 5 seconds. Pull over as soon as you can find a safe spot that will also be safe for the officer to get out of his car. As a general rule, don’t take more than 30 seconds to find a safe spot. Unless you think handcuffs are a cute accessory, don’t think the officer won’t mind following you to the local grocery store because you’re on your way there anyway.



2. Once you have pulled over, immediately put on your hazard lights. This shows the officer that you are concerned for everyone’s safety. Even if it is in the daytime, it helps make other drivers aware that they should approach you and the officer with caution.

3. What comes next will depend on the officer and the situation for you being pulled over. Some officers will immediately get out of their vehicle and approach you, while others may stay in their vehicle for a few minutes and run your plates first. If you fall in the first category, roll down your window and place both hands on the steering wheel. If an officer is approaching your car and sees you are fumbling around in your glove box or somewhere else, that can be interpreted as you preparing for hostile action, and what comes after that will not be pleasant. Bottom line, make sure your hands are visible at all times.

In the case that the officer is taking a long time to approach your car, you may want to get out your license, insurance and registration. Once you get them out, place your hands back on the steering wheel. If you haven’t gotten those documents out and the officer asks you to present them, it is usually best to ask his permission or tell him before you go digging through your glove box or in your purse. Again, you do not want to cause any type of suspicion, as your eyes will not take kindly to pepper spray. In light of this, it is best that you have each of these items together in an easily accessible place.

4. Be Honest. If the officer asks you to explain your situation, or even leaves room for you to make a comment to his explanation, honesty is always the best policy. Don’t forget, you are not their first stop, and it’s highly likely that they have heard every excuse under the sun. Most of the time officers will be put off by excuses, be they lame or sometimes even true. Being up front, honest, and taking responsibility for your actions will go a long way with many officers, and may lead to them going easier on you than if you try to weasel out of something.

5. Apologize. Telling the officer in a genuine manner that you are sorry for what you did will show him that are aware of what you did was wrong, and that you don’t want to do it again, and will be careful to avoid the same action in the future. This can help persuade the officer that you’re not going to just toll up your window, pull away and do the same thing again 5 minutes later.

6. Be Polite. This goes hand in hand with being honest. Police officers are people, the same as you and I. They have feelings, emotions, and are not mindless robots merely following programmed protocol. They will respond to politeness and courtesy much better as opposed to a rude and begrudging attitude. The same way that you don’t like to be treated rudely by anyone at your job, neither do they. Remember, you are the one who committed the offense, and they are just doing their job. Yes it may be difficult to swallow being pulled over for doing 35mph in a 30 mph zone, and yes there are some officers who may be on a power trip or just plain grumpy, but as the old saying goes; “Kill them with kindness.”

7. Accept the consequences. If it turns out that you follow these steps and you get off on just a warning, congratulations! Use it as a lesson to not repeat the offense. If not, and you are still slapped with a ticket, accept it and don’t argue. Once the ticket is written, it’s a done deal, there’s no taking it back. Arguing will only aggravate the situation, and possibly get you another ticket. Instead, ask the officer what the best way to proceed in paying the ticket. Some officers may even give you a tip that you can go to court and get it downgraded from a points offense to a non points offense for a higher fee.

In summary, as stated in the beginning these tips will not guarantee you a get out of jail free card, but they will definitely increase your chances of getting the officer in a pleasant mood. Also, if you feel that you were wrongly pulled over and desire to plead your case in court, still abide by the guidelines above. In that situation it is advised that you consult with an experienced attorney who will be able to assist in pleading your innocence.

Above all, good luck. Depending on why you get pulled over, you just may need it.

Traffic Deaths Hit 60-Year Low

Despite the fact Americans logged more miles on the nation’s highways, traffic fatalities in 2009 reached the lowest level in six decades. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 33,808 vehicle deaths occurred last year, the fewest since 1950. Federal officials said a combination of seat belts, safer cars and tougher enforcement of drunken driving laws all contributed to the reduced number.

The country accomplished this feat even though the estimated number of miles traveled by motorists in 2009 increased 0.2% over 2008 levels.

A total of 41 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico experienced reductions in highway fatalities, led by Florida with 422 fewer deaths and Texas with 405.

Alcohol-related traffic deaths also declined by 7.4% from 2008 to 2009, with particularly dramatic results in Nevada (down 36%), New Hampshire (down 33%) and Wyoming (down 28%).

App helps drivers avoid trouble, traffic and cops

From his small seaside office — near a sushi restaurant and a bikini shop inCardiff — Pete Tenereillo steers a booming business that has found a sweet spot among lead-foots.

The veteran entrepreneur is the creator of Trapster, a popular smart-phone application that alerts motorists to real-time road hazards, police checkpoints and red-light cameras.

His company claims 6.4 million users worldwide, with an additional 15,000 to 50,000 added each day. The tool has a reputation within the telecommunications industry as one of the best navigation apps available for the iPhone, BlackBerryand other latest-generation mobile devices.

Not bad for an idea he cooked up in 2003 as way to marry his love for gadgets and gearboxes.
“I’m a car geek,” he says.

Tenereillo, 48, is trying to position the privately owned business as a sort ofFacebook on wheels. The free app relies on users to post real-time information on speed enforcement points, traffic snarls and other road conditions.

“It’s users helping users, drivers helping drivers,” he says. “We’re trying to build the world’s largest drivers’ social network.”
Maps on their GPS-enabled phones show the latest conditions — there’s a construction zone, there’s a police checkpoint, there’s a spot where another Trapster user has reported a road hazard.

Motorists can also set up Trapster to speak to them, choosing from several voices that include a “proper Brit” and a “mountaineer.”
Tenereillo’s company, Trapster.com , says 16,700 people in San Diego used the app in May, reporting 1,620 speed traps, accidents and other events.

One of the most popular features is the ability to track law enforcement activity, including the location of red-light cameras or where a patrol car has just been spotted ticketing motorists.
Tenereillo disagrees with those who might say his product makes it easier for drivers to skirt the law. If anything, he believes, it makes them more law-abiding.