A WOMAN. THE FOURTH HAS TESTIFIED AGAINST HIS TEAMMATES AND STILL AWAITS TRIAL. >> FLORIDA HAS A DRINKING PROBLEM AND STATISTICS SHOW THAT MOST DRIVERS ARE IN DENIAL. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS TAKING THE TOP SPOT IN THE STATE FOR CRASHES IN DUIIS. DRIVERS REFUSINGBREATH TEST. MICHAEL POLICE GO ROAD ALONG WITH DEPUTIES TO GET A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THIS GROWING PROBLEM. >> FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS ARE JUST ONE TOOL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DANIEL SIMKINS USED TO FIND A SUSPECTED DRUNK DRIVER. DEPUTIES WERE ON A
NOTHER CALL WHEN THEY SAY SHE WAS PASSED OUT AT THE WHEEL AT STOP SIGN AND HIS PASSENGER SLEPT THROUGH HIS ENTIRE FIELD SOBRIETY TEST. >> YOU'RE BEING PLACED UNDER ARREST FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. HE REFUSED TO BREATH TEST AND HE IS ONE OF THOUSANDS THAT REFUSE EVERY YEAR TO COOPERATE WITH THE CONSENT LAW. HAS FORD COUNTY STAFF SHOW A 40% REFUSAL RATE. STATEWIDE IN 2011 FLORIDA WAS NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY AT AN 82% RATE. >> IT DOESN'T AFFECT MY INVESTIGATION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I CAN TA
KE IT PERSONAL OR. >> Reporter: DEPUTIES REMAINED STOIC ABOUT THEIR WORK. >> IT'S NOT ABOUT THE ARREST WE MAY, IT IS ABOUT THE LIVES WE SAFE. >> THERE COULD BE SOMEGOOD REASONS. >> LESLIE SAM US ADVISES HER CLIENTS NOT TO SUBMIT TO A BREATH TEST EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN ADDED PENALTY FOR REFUSING. >> IF YOU REFUSED TO TAKE TH BREATH TEST, YOU CAN GET A 12 MONTH SUSPENSION. IF YOU TAKE THE BREAST TEST THEM BLOW OVER YOU CAN GET SIX-MONTH SUSPENSI. >> THE DRIVER THAT COOPERATED OR DIDN'T CAN BOTH A
PPLY FOR A HARDSHIP LICENSE AND BE BACK ON THE ROAD IN DAYS. SOME FLORIDA LEGISLATORS SAY THAT GIVES THE DRIVER WHO REFUSED AN ADVANTAGE OF LESS PROOF OF THE SAME BENEFITS OF A HARDSHIP LICENSE. >> LAST YEAR LEGISLATORS PROPOSAL LAW TO MAKE THE PENALTY FOR REFUSALS THE SAME AS A FIRST TIME DUI CONVICTION. THE BILL DIED BEFORE A VOTE. >> ARE YOU WILLING TO PROVIDE A SAMPLE OF YOUR BREATH QUICK >> LAST YEAR IN NEARLY 1500 ALCOHOL-RELATED CRASHES, 77 PEOPLE LOSTHEIR LIVES. ON AVERAGE, EVERY 51 MINU
TES SOMEONE IN THE U.S. DRIVE DINNER DRUNK DRIVING CRASH. THAT'S 28 PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY>> THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SMELL WAS COMING FROM US BREATH.
Comments
the refusals are popular because thats what their lawyers tell them to do. 1. Refuse 2. apply for a work license 3. get case dismissed. 4. drive drunk again. 5. kill somebody on the road ! its a vicious cycle that seems to have to end. i hope the state will make DUI penalties higher