A motion to suppress asks the court to exclude evidence that was obtained unlawfully. In a Florida DUI case, that can mean evidence gathered after a stop made without reasonable suspicion, and if the judge grants the motion, the state cannot use that evidence.
The question a suppression motion asks
Most of a DUI case is about whether the evidence shows impairment. A motion to suppress asks a different question: was the evidence obtained lawfully in the first place? If the answer is no, the court can exclude it, regardless of what that evidence would otherwise have shown.
The classic example is the traffic stop. If a vehicle was stopped without reasonable suspicion, the observations, roadside exercises and test results that followed may be challenged as products of an unlawful stop.
Building the motion from discovery and depositions
A suppression motion is only as strong as the facts behind it. Those facts come from discovery, where the defense receives the state's reports, breath records and video. Florida also allows depositions of witnesses in criminal cases, so the arresting officer can be questioned under oath before any hearing. For a misdemeanor DUI, though, Florida's rules limit depositions, and the defense generally has to show good cause to take one.
Dashcam footage is often the most important piece. If the video shows the driving before the stop, it can be compared with the reason given in the report. Small details, such as how long the car was followed and what the officer could actually see from behind, can matter.
What happens at the suppression hearing
The motion is decided by the judge. Witnesses may testify, video may be played, and both sides argue whether the law was followed. The judge then rules on whether the evidence comes in or is kept out.
A ruling can reach all of the evidence that followed an unlawful step or only part of it. The scope depends on what the judge finds and how each piece of evidence connects to the problem.
Other parts of a DUI case open to challenge
Stops are not the only target. Challenges can also be aimed at how the roadside exercises were given, since they are meant to be administered and scored under national NHTSA standards, or at breath testing, where the Intoxilyzer 8000 is regulated by FDLE and a 20 minute observation period is required. Blood test challenges may look at collection, handling and lab procedures.
Not every one of these issues is raised through a motion to suppress in the strict sense. Some are raised through other motions or at trial. The common thread is that the procedures behind each piece of evidence can be reviewed.
What a granted or denied motion means for the case
If a motion is granted, the state loses the use of that evidence, and whatever remains has to carry the case. Depending on what is left, that can change how the case is negotiated or tried. It does not decide the case on its own.
If a motion is denied, the case continues with the evidence intact. Whether to file is a judgment call based on the facts. DUI Lawyers Shield Firm, led by David Cannady, a former Florida prosecutor admitted to The Florida Bar in 2014, reviews the stop and the testing records as part of a free case review.
Keep reading
- Plea Bargain vs Trial in a Florida DUI Case
- What a Nolo Contendere Plea Really Means in Florida DUI Court
- Are DUI Diversion Programs Available in Florida?
General information only, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Talk to a former prosecutor now.
Confidential case review, available 24 hours a day.