Fort Pierce police arrested a man who fled from police in a vehicle and on foot. The man allegedly ran because he was trying to avoid weapons charges and drug charges. It all began when the police noticed the man driving without wearing his seat belt.

Law enforcement officials say that they tried to stop the driver to talk to him about his seatbelt. Instead of stopping, the man sped away. Eventually, he left his vehicle and ran on foot. By the time law enforcement caught up with the man, he was in a locked room. A search of the room revealed that the man had a stolen weapon.

In addition to weapons and drug charges, the man also faces charges of driving without a license. He may work with a Port Saint Lucie criminal lawyer to defend against the allegations. Florida law 316.1935 says that a driver must stop if a police officer lawfully orders them to stop.

A Port Saint Lucie criminal defense attorney can help you explore all avenues of defense that may apply when a person faces charges of fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer. Because of the nature of the crime, penalties can be quite steep. You face time in jail and a felony conviction that can spell disaster for employment opportunities.

Until recently, if the police pulled you over only for driving without a seatbelt, they’d be in violation of the law. A Port Saint Lucie criminal defense attorney could have helped you bring a motion to dismiss your case under the old law. If they stopped a driver for another reason, they could also give the driver a seat belt ticket if they noticed them without a belt. However, until several years ago, Florida law didn’t allow the police to stop someone for a traffic ticket alone.

If you’re facing a criminal charge, a flee and elude lawyer can help you address all aspects of your case. Law enforcement can only stop your vehicle for one of a number of allowed reasons. They’re not allowed to pick out people that they subjectively think look guilty. The court can throw out the case if law enforcement breaks the rules. Your criminal lawyer can help you determine if a violation of your constitutional rights occurred in your case. If you or someone you know have been in a similar legal situation contact The Law Office of Jeffrey H. Garland, P.A. at 772.489.2200.