Miami Criminal Defense Insights
Aggressive representation for DUI, Domestic Violence, Gun Crimes & more
Drivers often ask whether it is legal for police officers to stop them on whim and check their driver’s licenses. The answer is that like all police stops, there must be ‘probable cause’ that the driver has being doing something wrong. In other words, the officer who stops you and asks to see your license […]
If you were stopped by a police officer because he/ she said that there was a visible crack in your vehicle’s windshield, the stop may have been illegal. That means that anything the officer discovered during that stop may not be admissible in court if the officer decides that you had committed any other crime […]
The internet has opened up a can of worms when it comes to some types of crime. Communication with a minor could be misinterpreted as an arrangement to meet up to have sex. This is a very serious crime in Florida and if convicted, could lead to up to 15 years in prison. Even worse, […]
Shoplifting is sometimes called the “Five Finger Discount,” and in the public perception has a reputation as a minor crime. Young people often steal things from big stores as a dare. Older people just steal because they think they can get away with it, or they are poor. As a category of theft it is […]
Florida has finally caught up with the rest of the U.S. as far as legislation on texting and driving is concerned. Law enforcement officers can now stop or pull over a driver who they see is texting and driving and issue them with a warning. Until January 1st next year, those warnings, however many you […]
Possession of marijuana in Florida is a crime. The law may have changed in some other parts of the U.S., but it hasn’t here. If you are stopped by a police officer and s/he discovers you are in possession of a quantity of marijuana, it is likely that you will be arrested for possession. You […]
Interactions with police officers can be intimidating, even if you have nothing to feel guilty about. Police officers are trained to exert their authority and often act as if they have the power to make you do what they want you to do. There are circumstances in which it is important to know that as […]
Distracted driving has been around as long as driving itself, but evidence suggests it has gotten steadily worse. In fact, distracted driving has become a problem of plague proportions. Records collected by the National Highway Transportation Safety Authority (NHTSA) reveal that nearly 40,000 Americans are killed every year, with about 16% of those caused by […]
If you have been given a speeding ticket in Florida by a law enforcement officer, you can fight it with the help of a traffic ticket attorney like Miami based Albert Quirantes, Esq. You cannot be convicted of a speeding offence if the way your speed was detected was inaccurate. Florida uses 5 different ways […]
If you get a speeding ticket and decide to fight it, you are better off hiring a ticket lawyer like Miami based Albert Quirantes, Esq. to help you. Some people think it is not worth the cost of hiring a lawyer and decide to represent themselves. Here are three good reasons why this is not […]
The legal status of cannabis possession has slowly been changing around the U.S. and elsewhere in the western world, so if you travel a lot it’s possible you may not be aware whether accepting a joint is illegal or not . If you are in a social gathering and are offered a joint, you do […]
It may seem quite old fashioned in modern America that soliciting somebody to take part in a sexual act is illegal but this is the case in Florida, one of the strictest states in the country. Solicitation is defined as requesting or ordering another person to carry out a crime and in this case soliciting […]
Getting your record sealed or expunged is not as easy as you might think. The first key requirement is typically having a valid “Certificate of Eligibility,” or COE. If you don’t have this document which you can get from the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement (FDLE) you can’t pursue the matter any further. This takes […]
No one likes to pay too much for safe, comfortable accommodation while on vacation if they can help it. With the rise in prices of hotels, private home owners have been increasingly taking advantage of a gap in the market for tourists or travelers who don’t always need the privacy of a self contained motel. […]
Many states are trying to avoid jailing people for minor offenses, as the results of such actions can determine the role played by that person for the rest of his/her life. However, Miami Beach sees this differently and has been taking steps to hire a prosecutor to pursue anyone who is caught violating the city’s […]
In Florida, as well as across the United States, driving under the influence (DUI) laws are strictly enforced to enhance road safety and reduce alcohol-related accidents. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit plays a crucial role in these regulations, serving as a benchmark to legally define intoxication levels for drivers. Understanding these limits is […]
DUI checkpoints, also recognized as sobriety checkpoints, have been a point of legal and public debate across the United States. In Florida, these checkpoints are legal and considered a tool by law enforcement to prevent drunk driving and enhance road safety. The Law Offices of Albert Quirantes, Esq., are here to guide you through the […]
In Florida, radar detectors are legal for use in personal vehicles. This aligns with the general stance in the majority of the United States, where the use of radar detectors by drivers of non-commercial vehicles is permitted. However, there’s a crucial exception to this rule concerning commercial vehicles. In Florida, as in many other states, […]
Polygamy, the practice of having more than one spouse simultaneously, is illegal in the United States, including in Florida. The legality of marriage in the U.S. is governed by both federal and state laws, and both sets of laws clearly prohibit polygamous marriages. At the federal level, the Edmunds Act of 1882 was one of […]
Corporal punishment, defined as physical discipline such as spanking, is legal in Florida under certain conditions. The state’s stance on corporal punishment is twofold, covering both the domestic and educational contexts. In the Home Florida law allows parents or legal guardians to administer reasonable corporal punishment in disciplining their children. This practice is recognized as […]
Paying for sex at a massage parlor or engaging in prostitution and related activities is illegal in Florida. This includes soliciting, receiving, or agreeing to receive any sexual activity in exchange for money or other forms of compensation. Florida law strictly prohibits prostitution and assigns penalties that vary based on the specific nature of the […]
In the United States, including Florida, the practice commonly referred to as “mail order brides,” where individuals engage with international marriage brokers (IMBs) to find spouses from other countries, is legal. However, it’s regulated under federal law to protect the rights and safety of foreign brides entering the U.S. The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act […]
As of 2024, online sports betting has made a significant comeback in Florida, with the state seeing the re-launch of legal sports betting platforms. The Seminole Tribe of Florida has taken the lead in this arena, offering residents and visitors within the state the ability to legally place bets on professional and college games through […]