Florida Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Program
FREE Webinars & Training
Florida TSRP Program - Special Webinar Series
In recognition of the complexity in both the investigation and prosecution of DUI cases, the Florida TSRP Program is excited to announce a special webinar series for May 2021 entitled "Basics of DUI Investigation." This new series consists of three (3) weekly sessions, occurring during May 2021; note that two of these sessions will be held on Thursdays due to scheduling conflicts. This series will provide both law enforcement and prosecutors with background as to the law behind DUI stops and things that are critical to the successful investigation and prosecution of DUI offenses. The first two sessions are pretty Florida-specific, but all are welcome; however, the final session on Report Writing is of generally applicability and is intended for prosecutors and law enforcement nationwide.
Specific information on each of the three (3) sessions is provided below. You will need to register for each session individually. You may sign up for as many or as few of the sessions as you want, however attendance at all sessions is highly recommended. All sessions are approved with the Florida Bar for the specific CLE amounts and categories listed below for Florida attorneys.
Title: DUI Charging: The Required Elements of Criminal Traffic Offenses (Florida Bar Approval for 2.0-hr CLE General Credit)
Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021 (NOTE - Thursday Session)
Description: In traffic cases involving DUI and other criminal offenses, it is crucial for both law enforcement and prosecutors to know and fully understand all of the required elements for each type of offense. These elements arise from the Florida Statutes, and are explained within the Florida Standard Jury Instructions for Criminal Cases. As the elements in such cases are often complicated, this session will address and explain those elements and the legal definitions which accompany them. Additionally, it will discuss the case law regarding the requirements of these elements in order to provide both prosecutors and law enforcement with a better background for the investigation and charging of DUI and other related criminal traffic offenses.
Title: Traffic Stops in Florida: The Law Behind the Stop (Florida Bar Approval for 2.0-hr CLE General Credit)
Description: DUI cases begin with the Traffic Stop, and the legal basis and sufficiency of that stop is the most challenged part of a DUI case. This session will provide an overview of the case law related to traffic stops in Florida, including a discussion of the standards for conducting traffic stops and the specifics required for a lawful traffic stop. It will discuss the ways in which a DUI stop can be initiated and the law surrounding such stops, including an in-depth discussion on swerving and welfare check issues.
Title: DUI Report Writing: Best Practices for Completing the DUI Alcohol/Drug Influence Report (Florida Bar Approval for 2.0-hr CLE General Credit)
Date: Thursday, May 27, 2021 (NOTE - Thursday Session)
Description: This session will provide an in-depth discussion of techniques and tips to improve the documentation of all aspects of a DUI Investigation. This presentation is taught from a prosecutor's perspective and is designed to assist the law enforcement officer in improving his or her DUI Reports, so that a prosecutor can better use them to succeed in court. It will also serve as a way for prosecutors to better understand what needs to be included in a DUI Report so that they can work to better educate the law enforcement officers that they deal with. A variety of DUI Reports submitted from various agencies in actual DUI Prosecutions -- both good and bad examples -- will be discussed and serve as examples of how to better prepare and use the DUI Alcohol/Drug Influence Report in DUI cases.
Additionally, the National TSRP Program “Traffic Tuesdays” Series will continue in May, and that session will specifically address Drug DUI Cases and the applicability of the SFSTs to those cases. Information on that session is found below:
Title: The Implications of Field Sobriety Test Evidence in Drug Impaired Driving Cases (Florida Bar Approval for 2.0-hr CLE General Credit)
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Time: 2:00p-3:30p Eastern
Presenter: Ashley Schluck, WY TSRP / Deena Ryerson, OR TSRP
Description: This session will provide an overview of field sobriety test evidence as it relates to drug impaired driving cases. Presenters Deena Ryerson, Oregon TSRP, and Ashley Schluck, Wyoming TSRP, will discuss defense challenges in the use of field sobriety test evidence for drug impairment. The session will further cover various court rulings on this issue and how prosecutors and law enforcement officers can prepare to deal with challenges to the admission of those exercises.
There is NO CHARGE to attend these webinars, however you must register in advance using the links listed above. Again, as stated above, you will need to register for each session individually. You may sign up for as many or as few of the sessions as you want, however attendance at all sessions is highly recommended.
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing instructions on how to join each webinar. In order to ensure that you are able to log on, please register at least four (4) hours in advance. Also, please make sure you retain the confirmation email sent to you. Please be careful to enter your email address correctly. You will not be able to join the webinar if you do not receive a confirmation email. If you will be unable to attend this webinar at the scheduled time but would still like to watch it, please go ahead and register as indicated. Everyone who is registered will receive a link to the recording of the webinar regardless of whether they attended.
If you have any questions or need any assistance registering for the webinar, please feel free to contact Vin Petty at VinPetty@FloridaTSRP.com.
These webinars are being conducted by the Florida TSRP Program and the National TSRP Program, utilizing the National TSRP Program webinar account. The account is funded through the NAPC/NHTSA Cooperative Agreement, Project Number 693JJ92050011.