According to a recent report by
WPTV News Channel 5, the head of the judicial circuit’s re-entry program was arrested for a
DUI Sunday.
Kristin Webster, a
public defender symbolized as the icon of hope for many jail inmates, was seen by police swerving along Indian River Drive, with her taillights out.
She was pulled over and officers say she smelled of alcohol. Webster refused a
roadside sobriety test. She was arrested for a
misdemeanor DUI, and when officers took her into custody, they say she blew multiple
Breathalyzer tests around 2.0 - more than twice the legal limit. She has bonded out of jail.
Her passenger, Scott Krueser was arrested for
possession of marijuana and resisting
arrest.
Kristen Webster has been running the 19th judicial circuit’s re-entry program for nine years. The program helps inmates overcome substance abuse problems and helps place them in jobs as they transition out of jail.
Webster has won awards as head of one of the most efficient and innovative programs in the state.
DUI in Florida
A DUI can be defined as
Driving Under the Influence of Alcoholic Beverages,
Chemical Substances or
Controlled Substances.
According to
Florida Statute 316.193:
Under
Florida law,
DUI is one offense, proved by impairment of normal faculties or unlawful blood alcohol or breath alcohol level of .08 or above. The penalties upon
conviction are the same, regardless of the manner in which the offense is proven.
DUI Defense
If you have submitted to a
Breathalyzer test and failed, that is not the end of your case. The Intoxilzer 5000 and Intoxilzer 8000
Breathalyzer machines used to measure BAC in Florida have significant problems. If you have an expert witness and an experienced
criminal defense attorney who can challenge the accuracy of the machine in court, the BAC evidence may be thrown out.
Criminal defense lawyers have obtained not-guilty verdicts due to machine failure for clients who have had blood alcohol levels of .229 and .227.