DUI and criminal defense lawyer for Coral Springs cases

Coral Springs has its own police department and its own rules on alcohol and motorized bikes, while the rest of the case runs through Broward's county-wide courts. The facts below come from the city, the court and the State Attorney. Mr. Mead's approach to DUI is described on the DUI defense page. Other charges are in the list of criminal charges he defends.

How does a Coral Springs case move, step by step?

1. The stop. One of the 84 patrol officers or a Traffic Unit officer makes the stop or arrest.
2. Booking in Fort Lauderdale. The arrest is booked at the Sheriff's Central Intake Bureau downtown.
3. First appearance. Anyone not released sees a magistrate judge at the courthouse beside the Main Jail.
4. Records. Reports are requested from the city's Records Unit by email, online or in person.
5. The license. After a DUI arrest, the 10-day request goes to FLHSMV in Lauderdale Lakes.
6. Court. County court dates are at the Central Courthouse or a regional courthouse, as the notice says.

Who polices Coral Springs?

The city lists its police department at 2801 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33065. Its Traffic Unit enforces state and local traffic laws and is made up of uniformed motorcycle officers, aggressive driving officers, traffic accident investigators and parking enforcement staff. Road patrol runs 24 hours a day in two platoons; the city says 84 officers are allocated to patrol, each assigned a sector of the city, supported by nine traffic accident investigators.

Other units shape the cases that follow. The Crimes Against Persons Unit investigates felony assault and battery and domestic violence cases, including injunction violations and stalking. How assault and battery charges are defended is explained on our assault and battery page. The General Investigations unit handles felony property crimes such as grand theft of property worth more than $750. The Threat Management Unit says it reviews every arrest, written report, student threat assessment and Baker Act for possible threats, which can lead to an arrest or a Risk Protection Order. The Evidence Unit stores more than 49,000 items.

Which Coral Springs rules lead to tickets or charges?

• Underage drinking at gatherings: City Code section 3½-2 makes it a violation for anyone under 21 to drink or possess alcohol at an event or gathering of three or more people at a residence or other premises. The person in control of the residence is held responsible and may receive an administrative citation or notice to appear for each underage person, with fines of up to $750 per incident for a first offense and $1,000 for each later one, even if that person was not present.
• Bar and package hours: under section 3½-1, licensed vendors may not sell, serve or allow drinking on the premises between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., and package sales for off-premises drinking stop between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• E-bikes, scooters and e-motos: under City Ordinance 2025-11, e-bikes and motorized scooters may use sidewalks and bike paths at up to 15 mph, and 5 mph or less within 25 feet of a pedestrian, but not paths in city parks. The city says a two-wheeled device that goes faster than 28 mph is a motorcycle, or e-moto, which requires an operator at least 16 years old with a valid driver license carrying a motorcycle endorsement, plus registration and a license plate.

The e-moto rule matters after a DUI: a rider whose license is suspended does not hold the valid license the city says an e-moto requires. Cases against young people themselves are covered on our juvenile offenses page.

How do I get a Coral Springs police report?

The Records Unit takes requests for police reports, traffic accident reports and traffic citations by email, online or in person at 2801 Coral Springs Drive; the unit's number is 954-346-1340.

During the first 60 days, crash reports go only to the people involved or their legal representatives, with a signed waiver and a copy of a photo ID.

Where does a Coral Springs case go after an arrest?

When Coral Springs police make an arrest, the case leaves the city right away. Booking is at the Sheriff's Central Intake Bureau in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and anyone not released sees a judge there, as described on our page about the Broward Central Courthouse and Main Jail. Release is explained in the first 48 hours after an arrest. Bond is covered in how bond works in Florida.

County court dates are then set at the Central Courthouse or at one of the regional courthouses in Deerfield Beach, Hollywood or Plantation; the notice names the place. Our arraignment page explains the first one. FLHSMV's office in Coral Springs, at 1160 N. University Drive, handles motor vehicle services only, not driver licenses.

What should I know about a Coral Springs DUI arrest?

Coral Springs has no DUI program on FLHSMV's licensed list; Broward's listed programs are in Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Lauderdale Lakes, Davie and Pompano Beach. Driver license matters go to Broward's state centers in Lauderdale Lakes, Margate, Sunrise, Pembroke Pines and Pompano Beach, by appointment, and the Bureau of Administrative Reviews, which handles license reviews after a DUI arrest, shares the Lauderdale Lakes address. The deadline for that review is explained in keeping your license within 10 days of a DUI arrest. The criminal case is laid out in the steps after a Florida DUI arrest. The first days are in a week-one checklist. For a first offense on another charge, see pretrial diversion in Palm Beach and Broward.

What changes the answer?

• The kind of case. Felony assault, battery and domestic violence go to the Crimes Against Persons Unit; felony property crimes go to General Investigations. Domestic cases are discussed on our domestic violence defense page.
• A house party. The social host rule in section 3½-2 makes the person in control of the residence responsible for underage drinking there, with fines of up to $750 and $1,000.
• The vehicle. A two-wheeled device faster than 28 mph is an e-moto that needs a valid license with a motorcycle endorsement.
• A threat concern. The Threat Management Unit's review of an arrest can lead to a Risk Protection Order.
• Which courthouse. No official source assigns Coral Springs cases to one Broward courthouse; the notice decides.

A worked example

For example, suppose a hypothetical Coral Springs homeowner hosts a gathering where two guests under 21 are drinking, and police respond. Under section 3½-2, the homeowner could receive a citation or notice to appear for each underage person, with a fine of up to $750 per incident for a first offense, even if the homeowner was not present. Separately, an adult guest who leaves and is stopped for DUI would be booked at Central Intake in Fort Lauderdale, would face the 10-day license deadline with FLHSMV in Lauderdale Lakes, and would request the police report from the Records Unit, which takes requests by email or online. Each of these is a different case with its own process. This is a hypothetical walk-through, not a prediction.

Common mistakes people make

• Going to FLHSMV's Coral Springs office for a license issue; it handles motor vehicle services only.
• Riding an e-moto on a suspended license.
• Assuming a homeowner is not responsible for underage guests' drinking.
• Visiting the Records Unit on a Friday afternoon, when it closes at noon.

What to do this week

1. Request the report from the Records Unit, 954-346-1340.
2. For a DUI, count 10 days from the notice of suspension.
3. Check the notice for the courthouse and date.
4. Keep bond and tow paperwork together.
5. Call a lawyer before arraignment.

Questions people ask after a Coral Springs arrest

License

• The suspension hearing is covered in an FLHSMV formal review.
• A work license is covered in the hardship license process.
• The nearest licensed programs are on our list of Broward and Palm Beach DUI schools.
• Interlocks are covered in the ignition interlock statute.
• Insurance is covered in FR-44 policies.

Evidence

• Refusals are covered in a refused breath test.
• Breath testing is governed by Florida's breath testing rules.
• Crash cases investigated by the nine accident investigators may involve a blood test.
• Drug cases are covered in impairment by drugs.
• Young drivers are covered in what happens to drivers under 21.
• Visitors should read the out-of-state license page.

Penalties and outcomes

• Ranges are in DUI sentencing ranges.
• Crash charges are covered in crash-related DUI charges.
• Fatal crashes are covered in DUI manslaughter.
• Costs are in the cost of a Florida DUI.
• The car is covered in vehicle impoundment.
• A lesser plea is weighed in a reckless driving plea.
• Sealing is covered in sealing and expunging a DUI.
• Withholds are explained in withheld adjudication in Florida.
• Dismissals are covered in when a case is dropped.
• Trial deadlines are in speedy trial law.
• Maximums are in maximum penalties in Florida.
• Felony points are in felony sentencing.
• Self-defense is covered in stand-your-ground motions.
• Carry rules are in unlicensed concealed carry.
• A felony record and a gun are covered in felons and firearms.

Traffic tickets

• A Coral Springs ticket gives 30 calendar days to pay, elect school or contest it; see our comparison of the options.
• Young Coral Springs drivers in particular should know how many points suspend a license.

Criminal traffic charges

• A Coral Springs stop for a suspended license is covered in driving while suspended in Florida.
• Young Coral Springs drivers cited for reckless driving should compare it with careless driving in reckless versus careless.
• Whether a Coral Springs citation needs court is explained in criminal or civil tickets.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Coral Springs Police Department?

At 2801 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33065, with 221 sworn and 99 civilian members.

When do Coral Springs bars stop serving?

Section 3½-1 bars on-premises sales from 2:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and package sales from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Can a parent be fined for a teen party in Coral Springs?

Yes. The person in control of the residence can be cited under section 3½-2 for each underage person drinking, with fines of up to $750 for a first offense and $1,000 for later ones.

Do I need a license for an e-moto in Coral Springs?

The city says a device faster than 28 mph is a motorcycle requiring an operator at least 16 with a valid license and motorcycle endorsement, registration and a plate.

How do I get a crash report?

In the first 60 days, only people involved or their legal representatives can get one, with a signed waiver and a copy of a photo ID.

Which nearby cities do we also cover?

Our Fort Lauderdale page covers the city where Broward cases are booked. Our Deerfield Beach page covers the home of the North Regional Courthouse. The county overview is on our Broward County page.

Who handles the case?

Mr. Mead works only in criminal defense and meets with each client one-on-one. The Boca Raton office is at 370 W. Camino Gardens Blvd., Suite 333; you can call 24 hours, and Spanish and Portuguese are spoken. His background is on the firm overview page.

Every case is different, and no result can be promised. If you or someone in your family was arrested in Coral Springs, a confidential phone call to (561) 362-6677 is a sound first step.

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