Why Start New First-Time DUI Diversion (RIDR)?

The Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit just developed their own DUI Diversion Program. Therefore, we will look at some of Florida’s already established DUI diversion programs. The 8th, 9th, 11th & 15th Circuit Courts all use DUI Diversion for a driver’s first DUI charge. Furthermore, each Circuit Court has different admission rules and distinct program requirements. Update: This Hillsborough County program started March 1, 2018. You can read about what the state’s attorney is looking for, what you might need to know, who is eligible and why you might want to be a part of this program.
First of all, some of the confusion of this process is shown below. Since each county has developed their program independently, the demands on the DUI driver differ. Therefore for help, call (813) 222-2220. In Orange and Osceola Counties, only legal U.S. residents can join the DUI Diversion Program. As a result, a tourist, a foreign national or someone on an F1 student visa charged with a DUI could never enter the DUI Diversion program in the Ninth Circuit Court. In Miami-Dade County, there is no upper limit on your breath alcohol concentration (BAC) to make you ineligible. But that same county requires that you sign a statement of guilt before entering. Three of the Circuit Courts (8th, 11th, and 15th) will refuse your admission if a child or animal was with you in the vehicle at the time of the charge. Another difference is that only the 8th Circuit Court will use drunken aggression as a reason to deny your access to the program.
We just found out from Rena J. Frazier, Chief of Policy and Communication in the Office of the State Attorney 13th Judicial Circuit, “The State Attorney’s Office is commencing a new DUI initiative called Reducing Impaired Driving Recidivism (RIDR), aimed at reducing impaired driving through enhanced sanctions. RIDR will become effective on March 1, 2018.”
This is breaking news. At this point, this is all we know. This includes all of Hillsborough County. Recidivism is the likelihood of a convicted criminal to carry out another crime. The new policy hopes to lessen the chance of the driver ever getting a second DUI.
This change in policy is important for drivers charged with their 1st DUI. According to Florida law, pretrial intervention programs can are available for a first time DUI driver as long as they have spoken with a lawyer, agrees to complete the program, waives the right to speedy trial, and the victim, the state, and the judge have all agreed.
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Florida DUI Arrest Contest Winners |
Before you believe that officers do not have an incentive to arrest for Florida DUI in the Tampa Bay area – DUI Attorney W.F. ”Casey” Ebsary, Jr. noted there was a recent DUI Award Banquet Honoring Florida Highway Patrol Officers with Over 100 DUI Arrests, according to MADD. They used to post these awards online until we started asking award winners about these contests in court – here was the old link http://www.madd.org/chapter/1200_2981 .
Also awarded were officers with over a 1000 arrests.
There were 13 contest winners at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HSCO) . There were 16 contest winners at the Tampa Police Department (TPD) . These were just the officers who got over a hundred in the year. There are others with less.
Deputy Jackie Brock Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Beau Dobson Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy James Glover Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Carolyn Jolly Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Carl McCalla Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Jimmy McDowell Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Matthew McMurphy Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Felix Moret Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Lawrence Morrell Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Shawn Morrey Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Kevin Stabins Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Candace Steinmeir Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Anthony Watson Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Ferdinand Barbosa Tampa Police Department
Officer James Blanchard Tampa Police Department
Corporal Edwin Bodamer Tampa Police Department
Officer Kristie Borgo Tampa Police Department
Master Patrol Officer Steven Buchanan Tampa Police Department
Officer Peter Bucher Tampa Police Department
Officer Steven Cragg Tampa Police Department
Corporal Douglas Groves Tampa Police Department
Officer Juan Melo Tampa Police Department
Officer Anthony Portman Tampa Police Department
Master Patrol Officer Brian Reschke Tampa Police Department
Master Patrol Officer Kenneth Setser Tampa Police Department
Officer Joseph Sustek Tampa Police Department
Master Patrol Officer Dean Uno Tampa Police Department
Master Patrol Officer John Vallejo Tampa Police Department
Master Patrol Officer Steven Wilson Tampa Police Department
Deputy Jackie Brock Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Lloyd Hyder Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Felix Moret Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Lawrence Morrell Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Paul Shute Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Gregory Williams Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Officer James Blanchard Tampa Police Department Office
Master Patrol Officer Steven Buchanan Tampa Police Department
Officer Juan Melo Tampa Police Department Office
Officer Anthony Portman Tampa Police Department Office
Master Patrol Officer Kenneth Setser Tampa Police Department Office
Master Patrol Officer John Vallejo Tampa Police Department Office
Master Patrol Officer Steven Wilson Tampa Police Department Office