DUI? Former St. Petersburg Police Chief Stop for DUI by Gulport Police Department Officer

Question: What happens when the former St. Petersburg Police Chief (and current Senior Administrator) is pulled over for a DUI investigation by an officer with the Gulfport Police Department?

Answer: Not much.

Watch the video link at the bottom of this post yourself and see if Mr. Davis received any preferential treatment.

The video shows a Gulfport Police Officer following Mr. Davis' vehicle heading north out of downtown (the bar district) at 1:42 a.m. The tape shows several classic "clues" of impairment such as driving too slow (10 mph in a 30 mph zone) weaving within the lane, crossing the center lane, driving erratically, etc.

During the traffic stop (and what would normally be a DUI investigation), Mr. Davis opens his door before the officer has even gotten to the vehicle. We all know not to attempt to exit the vehicle until the officer instructs us to do so if for no other reason then because we do not want to alarm the officer. Exiting the vehicle too soon is also a classic indication of impairment.

The best part of the video is when Mr. Davis starts "walking the line" before even being asked to perform any field sobriety exercises. It looks like he takes several steps before the officer indicates that he only wants to check his eyes and that additional sobriety testing might not be necessary.

Sure enough, Mr. Davis is sent on his way without a ticket for any of the numerous traffic infractions documented by the officer. Predictably, the Gulfport Police Department found no wrongdoing on the officer's part. Watch the video yourself and be the judge about the thoroughness of this DUI investigation.

Click here to find out more about a typical DUI Investigation in Pinellas County.

Motion to Suppress Cutivation or Manufacture of Marijuana for Tampa, Hillsborough County - Felony Case Results

April 2, 2010 - Leslie Sammis, a criminal defense attorney at the Sammis Law Firm, is a attorney on the Legal Committee for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).


Click on the "I Agree" button below to read more about a recent motion to suppress hearing on March 31, 2010, before the Honorable Denise A. Pomponio, Circuit Court Judge for Hillsborough County, Florida, involving charges of manufacture of cannabis, possession of cannabis, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Disclaimer: The Florida Bar does not review or approve case results for any criminal defense lawyer's websites. If you would like to see the results we have obtained in the past and statements regarding the quality our work, you must read the disclaimer and request the additional information by clicking on the "I agree" button:

  • Past successes do not guarantee future results.
  • The facts and circumstances of your case may differ from the cases discussed in our recent case results.
  • Not all results are provided.
  • The results discussed are not necessarily representative of the results obtained in all cases because each case is different and must be evaluated and handled on its own merit.


I do not agree.


Manufacture of Cultivation of Cannabis under Florida Statute Section F.S. 893.13(1)(a) is a third-degree felony punishable by five years in Florida State Prison. If more than 25 plants are found in the home, the prosecutor could charge the offense as a second-degree felony punishable by 15 years in Florida State Prison.

In many of these cases, it come down to fighting to suppress the evidence because of any mistake made by any law enforcement officer. Your criminal defense attorney for the cultivation of marijuana case must take the deposition of each officer involved in the initial investigation that lead to the search warrant, investigate any steps taken thereafter to execute the search warrant, and examine every aspect of the arrest and interrogation of the person suspected of manufacture or cultivation of cannabis in Florida.

After the depositions, your Tampa criminal defense lawyer for the cultivation of marijuana case must file and litigate the motion to suppress the evidence because of an illegal search or seizure, and any motion to dismiss for insufficient evidence.

If you have been arrested for a serious drug offense such as manufacture of cannabis, possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a grow house operation, or trafficking in a controlled substance in Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL, call an experienced attorney at the Sammis Law Firm to discuss your case today. Call 813-250-0500 today or visit our main website to learn more information about felony marijuana charges under Florida law at www.SammisLawFirm.com.

Marijuana Grow House Marijuana Information Center:

Florida Law for Marijuana / Cannabis Grow House Operations