The Umansky Law Firm

A 30-year-old man faces charges of drunk driving and speeding away from cops with unrestrained children as his passengers, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The man has three previous DUI convictions, from 1998, 2001 and 2003.

Earlier today, the man was in Pinellas County Jail without bond. He was on felony probation when he was arrested. Allegedly, witnesses saw two children trying to wake the man, who was asleep behind the wheel of a stopped minivan. When the man awoke, he began driving and ran a stop sign.

Traffic violations, like DUI, may carry serious consequences, including:

• Suspension of driver's license
• Fines
• Jail time
• Higher insurance rate

With New Year's Eve festivities occurring across Florida this weekend, the criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm urge motorists to drive safely, arrange for cab rides or designated drivers, and don't let friends drive drunk.

If you have been charged with DUI in Orlando or any other city in Central Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm to schedule a consultation.

Arrington Jenkins, a freshman linebacker for Florida State University’s football team, was recently arrested by Tallahassee police for stealing a motorcycle from a nearby residence. According to a report, the player has been charged with felony vehicular theft, and was released from the Leon County Jail on $5,000 bail this past Sunday evening.

As new forms of technology seem to be escalating at a steady rate, they present themselves in many forms of our daily life. Getting ready in the morning listening to your ipod in the shower, or perhaps, reading a chapter of your favorite book from your new Nook. Or maybe, and even most importantly, texting your friend in the car to let them know you will see them after work.

Something that seems so common and mundane to everyday life has now become such a usual routine, that distracters in the car seem normal. People tend to underestimate the size of cell phone use as it becomes an increasing epidemic, and even fail to see the harm it can cause to them and to others.

Although it has been said that the greatest distractions can happen outside the car, the fact is, no one can be an exceptionally good driver when you are using a cell phone to call or text while driving. New plans to promote new technologies that can decrease cell phone use in the car, as well as complete ban of use all together, are trying to be legally passed in all states. So far, it has only been banned in 10 states, and texting while driving has been banned in 35 states.

The bottom line is: no one wants to be a statistic. Roughly 3,000 deaths in 2010 were due to handheld phone use in the car, and no death is worth a text message. People overestimate how good of drivers they are, but if everyone were to use their phones while driving, who would be left on the road?

 The government's transportation safety experts are trying to implement a logical way to decrease the use of handheld devices while driving, but for now as the word spreads, we might have to wait sometime until that red flag is waving high. Until then, if you are injured in an auto accident in Orlando, you will need an experienced personal injury attorney to protect you every step of the way. Call the Umansky Law Firm today at (407) 228 - 3970 for a consultation.

Labels: attorney, auto accident, florida, lawyer, Orlando, Winter Park

A Kissimmee airplane pilot was sentenced to five years in federal prison for a drug offense, stemming from his part in a marijuana smuggling incident, according to the Orlando Sentinel. This past October, the pilot had pleaded guilty in Orlando to "conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana."

Between 2009 and 2010, the pilot was paid to fly marijuana from Texas to Central Florida onboard his airplane. According to the Orlando Sentinel, about 500 pounds of marijuana were transported each time, and the pilot made about 10 trips back and forth.

In addition to the prison time, the pilot has been ordered to give up his Cessna 206 airplane.

At the Umansky Law Firm, our experienced criminal defense lawyers understand the circumstances that can cause everyday people to get involved with drug offenses. We handle a wide range of drug-related charges, including:

• Possession
• Distribution
• Manufacturing
• Cultivation
• Importation
• Trafficking

Some parties involved in your case will seek the harshest consequences for your situation. Our defense attorneys will be on your side and do everything possible to fight for a positive outcome to your case.

If you have been arrested for a drug offense in Orlando or any other cities in Central Florida, please contact the experienced defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

A Sanford, Florida resident is being held in jail with a $2,050 bail after speeding through Sanford at a speed of 117 miles per hour, a serious traffic violation.

A helicopter police crew spotted the vehicle in the early morning hours driving at high speeds and blowing through several red lights. A police officer on the ground recorded the driver’s speed as being 117 m.p.h., which led to a high speed chase. The driver stopped shortly after running over spiked sticks placed on the roadway by officers. The driver now faces charges of reckless driving and eluding an officer at high speeds.

In Florida, a reckless driving conviction may mean jail time and hundreds of dollars in fines. Consequences may be harsher if property damage or serious injury was caused by the reckless driving.

If you have been charged with reckless driving, you still have rights. When facing a traffic violation charge, you may want to consider having an attorney on your side, looking out for your best interest when no one else is.

If you have been charged with reckless driving in Orlando or other cities in Central Florida, please contact the experienced defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Department recently arrested 22 people for prostitution and five for solicitation in a sting that targeted online prostitution. Posing as bachelor parties, several detectives placed and answered ads on various websites, including CityVibe, Backpage, and Craigslist.

In three different “bachelor party” scenarios, the women who responded to the ads were driven to a private location by a pimp or driver. During the sting, deputies found crack cocaine packaged for sale inside of one of the cars, and methamphetamines in another vehicle. In addition to charges of prostitution and/or solicitation, some suspects were also charged with:

• Possession of drugs with intent to sell
• Impersonating a law enforcement officer
• Grand theft

If you live in the Orlando, Florida area and have been accused of prostitution, solicitation, or any other type of felony or misdemeanor, you may be facing serious criminal consequences that can affect the rest of your life. However, your mistake does not have to define you. Our experienced Orlando criminal defense team at The Umansky Law Firm will fight to defend your rights and minimize the consequences of your arrest.

Contact us today for a free initial consultation. We believe in giving people second chances.

According to a report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, guests at a hotel on South Orange Blossom Trail found a 3-year-old boy wandering alone in the hotel’s hallways on Tuesday afternoon. The guests went knocking from door to door in an attempt to help the boy find his mother. They stayed with the boy until his 22-year-old mother finally returned from a liquor store over two hours later.

The Tampa woman claims that she had no idea her son was missing and that he was left in the care of her roommate, whom she described as a prostitute. However, when deputies reviewed surveillance footage from the hotel, they found no proof that someone else was inside the room. Investigators now believe that the woman was fabricating the story about a roommate, as she was unable to provide any more details. The mother has been charged with child neglect.

If you have been arrested for child neglect in the Orlando, Florida area, the potential criminal consequences can affect every aspect of your life – including your future career choices, educational opportunities, and family relationships.

Our experienced Orlando criminal defense attorneys at The Umansky Law Firm can help protect you from the worst of these consequences, fighting for the best possible outcome in your case. Contact us today for a free initial consultation. We believe in giving people second chances.

The wife of actor Terrence Howard has been granted a restraining order against Howard. His wife accused him of beating her throughout their 1-year marriage. She claims Howard has hit her in the face and even chipped one of her teeth, according to TMZ.com.

Howard has filed legal documents denying any instances of domestic violence against his wife. His wife filed divorce papers earlier this year. Under the restrictions of the restraining order, Howard may not approach or contact his wife until their next court appearance.

Even unsubstantiated allegations of domestic violence often have the power to ruin your reputation and affect relationships with friends, family and coworkers. If convicted of a domestic violence charge, you may face a variety of severe consequences, including:

• Mandatory jail time.
• A permanent criminal conviction on your record that cannot be sealed or expunged.
• Restraining orders barring you from contacting your spouse or children.
• Loss of custody of your child or children.

Following a domestic violence charge, you need an attorney looking out for your best interest and protecting your rights; you are innocent until proven guilty. If you are a first-time offender, you may be eligible to participate in certain programs, which may lead to dropped charges.

If you have been charged with domestic violence in Orlando or anywhere else in Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm to schedule a free and confidential consultation.