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DUI Unit of the Broward Sheriff’s Office

The DUI Unit of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office enforces DUI laws. The DUI unit also increases awareness of the hazards of driving or boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The DUI Unit of the Broward Sheriff’s Office has three separate divisions:

  • the DUI Task Force;
  • DUI/Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT); and
  • BAT Video.

The DUI unit provides public displays of enforcement equipment including the “BAT-mobile,” the mobile breath alcohol testing truck. The unit also offers a variety of educational opportunities including Field Officer Training, DUI Saturation Patrols, and Teenage Drinking and Driving Awareness programs.

Attorney for a DUI Arrest by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office

If you are arrested for DUI by an officer with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office then contact an experienced DUI defense attorney at Meltzer & Bell with offices in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Our attorneys represent clients who submitted to a breath test, blood test or urine test. We also represent clients who allegedly refused to submit to the chemical test. From a first DUI to a second or subsequent offense, we know the most effective ways to fight the charges.

We are familiar with the tactics used by Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) officers on the DUI Unit. We understand the standard operating procedures these officers are supposed to use in these investigations. We are also familiar with the Intoxilyzer 8000 breath test instruments maintained by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.

Find out why we recommend demanding a formal review hearing at the Bureau of Administrative Reviews in Broward County, FL, within the first 10 days after the arrest instead of seeking immediately hardship reinstatement and waiving all of your rights during the waiver review hearing.

If the arresting officer or breath test operator fails to appear at the formal review hearing, then your administrative suspension will be invalidated. If you don’t demand a formal review hearing, then you are guaranteed that the administrative DUI suspension will stay on your driving record for 75 years even if you ultimately win your DUI case and avoid a DUI conviction.

We represent clients arrested by officers with the Broward County Sheriff’s office and other local law enforcement agencies including the Metro Broward DUI Task Force, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and other local police departments from Hallandale, Lauderhill, Coral Springs, Sunrise, Plantation, Davie and Wilton Manors.

Call the experienced DUI defense attorneys at Meltzer & Bell to discuss your case.


Types of DUI Enforcement Efforts Used in Broward County, FL

Throughout the year, the DUI Unit will announce special DUI enforcement operations that take place at pre-determined times and locations throughout the county. These efforts to crackdown on drunk and impaired driving within the jurisdictional limits of Broward County include DUI saturation patrols, DUI checkpoints, aggressive driving patrols and seat belt violation patrols.

DUI Task Force of the Broward Sheriff’s Office – The DUI Task Force of the Broward Sheriff’s Office proactively enforces Florida’s DUI laws with checkpoint operations, frequently in partnership with other law enforcement agencies in the county, as well as through regular patrol operations. The officers on the task force detect, investigate and apprehend citizens accused of drunk or impaired driving.

The deputies on the DUI Task Force assist other law enforcement agencies in Broward County, FL, and the State Attorney’s Office. The Task Force offers DUI training, provides educational presentations, and facilitates support groups including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD).

DUI/Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) in Broward County– The DUI/Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) Division of the DUI Unit provides technical support during processing of persons arrested for driving or boating while impaired. BAT personnel are specially trained and certified Breath Alcohol Testing Technicians. BSO personnel use an Intoxilyzer 8000 to test for evidence of alcohol.

BAT Video Division of the DUI Unit – The BAT Video Division of the DUI Unit with the Broward Sheriff’s Office assists in the prosecution of those charged with DUI by videotaping the person accused. The team in the BAT Video division processes discovery requests, provides expert testimony and trains personnel of the State Attorney’s office and the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys’ Association on issues regarding forensic breath alcohol testing.


D.U.I. Task Force Deputies in Broward County, FL

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office have both determined that the detection and apprehension of impaired drivers is a high priority. To help enforce Florida’s DUI laws in Broward County, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office has established a D.U.I. Task Force.

The DUI task force is comprised of specially trained deputies who are focused on the enforcement of traffic and D.U.I. statutes throughout the county. Whenever practical, police officers with the Fort Lauderdale Police Station are trained to seek the assistance of the BSO, D.U.I. Task Force to process anyone arrested for D.U.I.

The BSO DUI Task Force shall not be used to investigate DUI crashes with death or serious bodily injury when the case is initially investigated by officers with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. If, through personal observations, an officer with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department believes they are dealing with an impaired driver, that officer may request that a BSO D.U.I. Task Force deputy respond to their location.

The most common observations include the following:

  1. the manner in which the suspect was operating and/or controlling a motor vehicle;
  2. the suspect’s balance, speech, eyes, clothing and odor of an alcoholic beverage.

If no D.U.I Task Force deputy in Broward County is available, the officer with the police department in Fort Lauderdale will conduct the DUI investigation.

If a deputy from the D.U.I. Task Force of the Broward Sheriff’s Office is available, the officer will detain the suspect in a manner, which ensures the safety of the officer and the safety of the suspect and their property. In some cases, the officer will handcuff the suspect and/or the place the suspect in the rear of the police unit.


Requirements of a DUI Investigation by the BCSO

When the D.U.I. Task Force Deputy from the Broward Sheriff’s Office arrives at the scene, the officer that conducted the stop or detention will do the following:

  1. Remand the suspect to the deputy for testing;
  2. Remain on the scene as a back-up for the deputy; and
  3. Assist the deputy as required.

Should the deputy with the Sheriff’s Office in Broward County determines there is not enough Probable Cause to effect an arrest, the officer will issue all appropriate traffic citations to the suspect and release the motorist at the scene.

If the BSO deputy decides to effect an arrest for DUI, the FLPD officer will issue any appropriate traffic citations to the suspect and turn the entire citation, minus the blue DHSMV copy, to the deputy for inclusion with the deputy’s paperwork.

The DHSMV copy of the citations is turned into Records for entry in the Records Management System (RMS). The officer will then complete a DUI Report regarding the incident which is supposed to include the following:

  1. all observations made by the officer concerning the behavior of the suspect;
  2. the name of the D.U.I. Task Force deputy with BSO that made the arrest;
  3. the BSO Report Number; and
  4. any other information the officer deems appropriate or necessary to completely document the incident.

A copy of the report is forwarded to the Broward County State Attorney’s Office, DUI Unit.;


Additional Resources

Broward County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook – Visit the Facebook page for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, commonly known by the acronym BSO, to learn more about its 5,700 employees, including more than 2,800 certified deputies and nearly 600 fire rescue professionals. The BSO budget is more than $700 million annually. Broward Sheriff Scott Israel was elected sheriff in 2012 after 30 years in law enforcement. He began his career with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department as a road patrol officer and worked undercover in the narcotics division. He was promoted to captain and retired as the Community Policing Special Operations/SWAT Commander. Sheriff Israel then served as the City of North Bay Village Police Chief before becoming sheriff.

Broward County Sheriff’s Office on Wikipedia – Learn more about the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) including information on employment and jobs throughout the organization. Read more about the history of BSO. Today, BSO is one of the largest fully accredited sheriff’s offices in the United States.


Finding a DUI Lawyer for an Investigation by BCSO

If you were arrested for drunk driving by an officer with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office DUI Task Force then call the criminal defense attorneys at Meltzer & Bell to discuss your case. We represent our clients at all stages of the case from the formal review hearing with the DHSMV Bureau of Administrative Reviews to pre-trial motions and trial in the criminal case.

The attorneys at Meltzer & Bell represent clients throughout the four courthouses in Broward County including the North Regional Courthouse in Deerfield Beach, Central Judicial Complex in Ft. Lauderdale, the West Regional Courthouse in Plantation, and the South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood, FL. Let us put our experience to work for you.

Call our DUI Defense Attorneys in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, at (954) 765-6585 today.


This article was last updated on Friday, April 27, 2018.

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