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Traffic Crime Defense Attorney Serving Bartow, Lakeland, and Central Florida
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Lakeland Traffic Crime Defense Lawyer - Criminal Law
Experienced Traffic Crime Defense attorney providing Criminal Law Legal Services in Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Haines City, Polk County, and the greater Central Florida area.
Call 863-354-0508 today to schedule a Free Consultation with traffic crime defense lawyer, Robert A. Norgard.
A criminal traffic charge in Lakeland, Bartow, or anywhere in Central Florida is fundamentally different from a standard civil traffic ticket. You cannot resolve it by simply paying a fine online. It is a formal criminal offense that exposes you to immediate jail or state prison time, steep statutory fines, vehicle impoundment, a permanent criminal record, and the long-term revocation of your driving privileges.
Because a criminal traffic arrest can instantly jeopardize your employment, your family's stability, and your personal liberty, securing a dedicated trial attorney is critical. At the Law Office of Robert A. Norgard, based in Bartow, Florida, we provide aggressive, sophisticated criminal defense representation. We proudly defend clients against serious traffic crimes throughout Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Haines City, and all surrounding areas of Polk County.
Board-Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer
Criminal traffic cases are highly technical, routinely relying on blood-alcohol chemistry, complex radar calibrations, and tight constitutional boundaries regarding traffic stops. Successfully defeating these charges requires a defense attorney who knows how to deconstruct police procedures.
Elite Courtroom Representation: Attorney Robert A. Norgard has been practicing criminal defense for more than 40 years. He has been Board-Certified in Criminal Trial Law by The Florida Bar since 1995.
Board certification is an elite distinction achieved by fewer than 1% of practicing lawyers in Florida, identifying Mr. Norgard as an absolute specialist in criminal trial law. Having commanded well over 200 criminal jury trials, he understands exactly how the State Attorney’s Office constructs traffic cases and where law enforcement routinely violates your constitutional rights.
About Traffic Crimes in Florida
The State of Florida penalizes serious driving violations as crimes under Chapters 316 and 322 of the Florida Statutes. The potential conviction penalties escalate dramatically based on your prior driving record and whether an incident resulted in physical injury or property damage:
Driving Under the Influence (DUI — F.S. § 316.193)
Operating a motor vehicle while your normal faculties are impaired by alcohol or chemical substances, or with a Breath/Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. Potential Penalties: A first offense is typically a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in a county jail, up to 1 year of mandatory probation, high fines, driver's license suspension, and ignition interlock device requirements. Penalties increase severely with multiple prior offenses, high BAC levels, or if a crash occurs.
Driving While License Suspended, Revoked, or Canceled (DWLSR with Knowledge — F.S. § 322.34)
Operating a vehicle on public roads while knowing that your driving privilege has been suspended, revoked, or canceled by the state. Potential Penalties: A first offense is a second-degree misdemeanor carrying up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. However, a third or subsequent offense can be elevated to a Third-Degree Felony, exposing you to up to 5 years in state prison and a $5,000 fine.
Reckless Driving (F.S. § 316.192)
Operating a motor vehicle with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Potential Penalties: A first offense is a misdemeanor carrying up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. If the reckless driving causes serious bodily injury to another person, the charge immediately escalates to a Third-Degree Felony carrying up to 5 years in state prison.
Fleeing or Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer (F.S. § 316.1935)
Willfully refusing or failing to stop your vehicle when signaled to do so by a law enforcement officer, or increasing speed in an active attempt to flee. Potential Penalties: This charge is an automatic felony in Florida. A basic offense with police sirens and lights activated is a Third-Degree Felony punishable by up to 5 years in state prison and mandatory driver's license revocation.
Leaving the Scene of a Crash / Hit and Run (F.S. § 316.027 / F.S. § 316.061)
Failing to immediately stop your vehicle and remain at the scene to exchange information or render aid after an accident. Potential Penalties: If the crash involves property damage only, it is a second-degree misdemeanor (up to 60 days in jail). If the crash involves personal injury or death, it becomes a severe felony carrying mandatory minimum prison sentences and mandatory license revocation.
Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO)
One of the most dangerous consequences of criminal traffic convictions is the Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO) designation under Florida Statute § 322.264.
If you receive three separate convictions for serious traffic offenses (such as DUI, DWLSR, Reckless Driving, or Driving a Commercial Vehicle without a license) within a rolling 5-year period, the state will automatically classify you as an HTO. This triggers an immediate, mandatory 5-year driver's license revocation, with no option for a hardship license for the first 12 months. An experienced attorney is vital to aggressively defending or negotiating down charges to disrupt this combination and prevent an HTO revocation.
Defending Your Rights when facing a Traffic Crime Charge
To secure a conviction on a criminal traffic charge, the prosecutor must prove every structural element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Crucially, they must often prove a specific state of mind or direct knowledge.
Our legal team meticulously analyzes police reports, dashcam or bodycam footage, and procedural logs to build powerful defenses:
- Challenging the Initial Traffic Stop: Under the Fourth Amendment, law enforcement must have reasonable suspicion or probable cause to pull your vehicle over. If the initial stop was illegal, we can file formal Motions to Suppress, which can force the judge to throw out all subsequent evidence, leading to a total dismissal of your charges.
- Dismantling the "Knowledge" Requirement in DWLSR Cases: To convict you of criminal DWLSR, the state must prove you knew your license was suspended. We challenge the state's evidence regarding whether proper statutory notice was ever sent or received.
- Contesting "Willful or Wanton" Intent in Reckless Driving: We work to show that your driving behavior was merely careless (civil negligence) or an unavoidable reaction to an emergency, rather than a criminal, intentional disregard for safety, aiming to reduce the charge to a simple civil infraction.
- Attacking DUI Evidence: We aggressively challenge the legal basis for the stop, the highly subjective nature of physical field sobriety exercises, and the strict technical calibration protocols required for breath or blood test results to be admissible in court.
Do not risk a permanent criminal record, a multi-year license revocation, or an avoidable jail sentence by facing state prosecutors unprepared. Put a veteran trial specialist and a former prosecutor in your corner to protect your rights, your record, and your future.
Contact the Law Office of Robert A. Norgard today to schedule your free, completely confidential legal consultation. We are ready to review your criminal traffic case at our Bartow law office or discuss your options over the phone.
Call 863-354-0508 today to schedule your Free Consultation with Lakeland traffic crime defense attorney, Robert A. Norgard.
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