DUI in New Port Richey

After a DUI arrest, you might be told to enroll in DUI school and seek immediate driving privileges for hardship purposes during the “waiver review hearing.” Doing so stipulates that the administrative suspension will remain on your driving record for 75 years, even if you ultimately avoid a DUI conviction in court.

At Sammis Law Firm, our attorneys take a different approach. We recommend demanding a formal review hearing to contest the administrative suspension. Demanding the formal review hearing is the ONLY way to contest the administrative suspension and get it removed from your driving record.

If your driver’s license was otherwise valid, you are entitled to a 42-day temporary permit while the formal review hearing is pending.

Read our DUI case results to learn more about how we get the administrative suspension invalidated.

Your attorney can question all witnesses under oath at the formal review hearing. Hopefully, the hearing officer will invalidate the administrative suspension.

But even if the suspension is not invalidated, your attorney can gather valuable information that can be used to fight the criminal case during pre-trial motion hearings or at trial.

Attorneys for DUI in New Port Richey, FL

Before you decide whether to waive all your rights or demand a formal review hearing, contact an experienced attorney. The DUI defense attorneys in New Port Richey, FL, at Sammis Law Firm can explain the pros and cons of each approach.

Whether you took the breath, blood, or urine tests or refused to submit to a chemical test, we can help you fight the case aggressively.

At Sammis Law Firm, we know the problems that follow a DUI arrest. If eligible, we can help you quickly seal or expunge the criminal history record so that it disappears from the public’s view.

We can answer your questions about the best DUI defense strategies. Visit our office in New Port Richey, directly across from the courthouse on Little Road.

Call (727) 807-6392 to discuss your case.


Judges in Pasco County for DUI Cases

The new judicial assignments for Pasco County are listed in Administrative Order No. 2018-049 PA-CTY, effective January 8, 2019. The West Pasco Judicial Assignments for Criminal Court Sections in New Port Richey, FL, include:

  • Judge Anne Wansboro, in Section 15, presides over misdemeanors, DUI, criminal traffic, violations of probation, and orders to show cause relative to cases heard under this jurisdiction while presiding.
  • Judge Joseph A. Poblick, in Section 16, presides over misdemeanors, DUI, criminal traffic, violations of probation, and orders to show cause relative to cases heard under this jurisdiction while presiding.
  • Judge Debra Roberts, in Section 17, presides over misdemeanors, DUI, criminal traffic, violations of probation, and orders to show cause relative to cases heard under this jurisdiction while presiding.

The West Pasco Judicial Assignments in the Criminal Court Sections in Circuit Court in New Port Richey include:

  • Judge Mary M. Handsel, in Section 3, presides over 50% of criminal cases, including section 3 violations of probation and indirect criminal contempt affidavits filed in Section Q1 and prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office.
  • Judge Kim Campbell, in Section 4, presides over 50% of criminal cases, including section 4 violations of probation and indirect criminal contempt affidavits filed in Section Q2 and prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office.
  • Judge Shawn Crane presides over the adult drug court.
  • Judge Philippe Matthey presides over juvenile delinquency cases.

Agencies for DUI Enforcement in West Pasco County

The law enforcement agencies in Pasco County that conduct DUI investigations prosecuted at the courthouse in New Port Richey, FL, include:

  • the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office – West Pasco Patrol Division;
  • the New Port Richey Police Department;
  • the Port Richey Police Department; and
  • the Florida Highway Patrol.

We are familiar with the tactics used by these agencies and their standard operating procedures for DUI investigations.


How Does the Intoxilyzer 8000 Work?

The Intoxilyzer 8000 instrument measures breath alcohol based on principles of infrared spectrometry by using infrared light (IR) absorption to detect the presence and concentration of ethyl alcohol (ethanol).

The instrument has internal safeguards to distinguish the ethyl alcohol in deep lung air, which most closely represents blood alcohol, from mouth alcohol and other substances.

During a breath test trial, the agency inspector and breath test operator will be asked to describe the relevant documents and procedures related to the breath test in the case.

The prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office will ask the state’s witnesses whether the instrument was properly registered, inspected, and certified under the applicable administrative requirements.

The breath test operator will testify whether the breath test was administered properly, including the 20-minute observation period, the control tests, diagnostic check, and volume requirements.

Your attorney can fight to have the breath test excluded from evidence. If it is admitted into evidence at trial, your attorney can show the jury all of the problems with the Intoxilyzer 8000 that impact its accuracy and reliability.


New Port Richey’s Intoxilyzer 8000 – Serial Number 80-001064

If you submitted to a breath test on a machine maintained by the New Port Richey Police Department, then contact an attorney at the Sammis Law Firm to discuss the case. The current agency inspector for the New Port Richey Police Department’s alcohol testing program is Patrol Bureau Sergeant Jason S. Engel.

For the Intoxilyzer 8000 with serial number 80-001064, Sergeant Engel left the following remarks when conducting the monthly inspections:

  • AI 1/28/2018 – CHECKED TUBING (with five (5) subject tests)
  • AI 2/25/2018 – CHECKED O-RINGS (with three (3) subject tests)
  • AI 3/29/2018 – WIPED DOWN INSTRUMENT (with three (3) subject tests)
  • AI 4/18/2018 – CHECKED TUBING (with two (2) subject tests)
  • AI 5/06/2018 – WIPED DOWN INSTRUMENT (with four (4) subject tests)
  • AI 6/06/2018 – WIPED DOWN INS (with two (2) subject tests)
  • AI 7/09/2018 – CHECKED TUBING
  • AI 8/06/2018 – WIPED DOWN INS.

As these records show, for the first half of 2018, only 19 DUI breath tests were conducted using the Intoxilyzer 8000 breath test machine in New Port Richey, FL. For 2018, the instrument processing sheet for 80-001064 shows that the annual inspection occurred on April 26, 2018.

The department inspection showed an R-Value of 186. The machine was found to comply with Chapter 11D-8, FAC, before it was returned to the New Port Richey Police Department to be returned to evidentiary use.

A calibration certificate was issued for the Intoxilyzer 8000 with serial number 80-00164 on FDLE/ATP Form 69, which Danielle Miller Bell, FDLE Department Inspector, signed.

fdle instrument processing sheet

For 2019, the agency inspection on 3/26/2019 shows that the 08 reading showed an error message for “Control Outside Tolerance, Control Outside Tolerance. Non-compliance:.”

After beginning another agency inspection, the notation reads: REPLACED BROKEN SIMULATOR JAR. Another error or exception message occurred during the o11/24/2019 agency inspection for REPEATED .08 AND .20 DUE TO LOOSE SIM JAR LIDS.

Find more records for the Intoxilyzer 8000 DUI breath test machine used in New Port Richey, FL.


How to Enroll in DUI School in New Port Richey, FL

Talk to an attorney about the requirements for enrolling in DUI school. If you live or work in Pasco County, FL, you can attend DUI school in Pasco County.

Pride Integrated Services, Inc. (often called “Pride”) manages the DUI School that serves Pasco County. Pride is at 7619 Little Road, Suite 350, New Port Richey, FL 34654. The phone number is 727-847-3411.

The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and on Saturday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

When you go to the office to enroll in Pasco’s Pride DUI school, bring your DUI citation, police report or arrest affidavit, any court order requiring attendance at DUI school, and a valid form of identification.

Enrolling in DUI School costs $272 for Level I and $412.00 for Level II. The DUI school accepts the following forms of payment: VISA, MasterCard, check, or money order. If you enroll online, you will pay an additional $7.00 convenience fee for online enrollment.


Additional Resources

DUI Attorneys in New Port Richey, FL – Visit the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) website to find a list of attorneys with offices in New Port Richey. You can use the NCDD website to find attorneys throughout Florida and the rest of the United States. NCDD members tend to focus on DUI Defense and have access to valuable information, resources, and continuing legal education courses on trial techniques and scientific testing. For example, NCDD provides access to documentation blood alcohol testing devices and scientific articles related to alcohol, drugs, driving, and testing.

Enroll in Pride DUI School in New Port Richey – If you live or work in Pasco County, you can attend DUI school with Pride Integrated Services, Inc. The company has an office on the county’s west side near New Port Richey, with classes in Zephyrhills and Dade City. Visit their website to find Pride DUI School reviews or register for DUI school online. Learn more about the DUI treatment requirements after evaluation for Level I or Level II DUI school in Pasco County, FL.

Misdemeanor Probation Office in New Port Richey – Find information on the offices for the probation office in New Port Richey, FL. If the court sentences you to probation, you will report to this office to meet with the probation officer assigned to your case. The New Port Richey probation office supervises approximately 1,770 defendants per month. The Misdemeanor Probation Program in Pasco County is completely self-supportive and charges $55 per month for the cost of supervision fee. After probation is completed for the reduced charge of wet reckless driving with a withhold of adjudication, you can petition the court to seal the criminal history report that resulted after the DUI arrest, including the mugshot and police reports. Act quickly to seal the criminal history record so that it disappears from the public record.

MADD Victim Impact Panel for Pasco – For DUI cases in Pasco County, FL, the victim impact panel meets once each month on a Wednesday in the New Port Richey Courthouse located at 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654, in Courtroom 1A. You must report to Courtroom 1A by 6:30 p.m. to attend the panel. Sessions begin at 7:00 p.m. The upcoming dates for the VIP in 2018 are Wednesday, August 8, September 12, October 10, November 14, and December 12. You must bring a picture ID and a $50 money order to the session.


This article was last updated on Friday, September 29, 2023.

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Leslie M. Sammis

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