Miami Criminal Defense Insights
Aggressive representation for DUI, Domestic Violence, Gun Crimes & more
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 […]
Few people would intentionally light or start a fire knowing that it could damage property or worse, endanger lives. However, unintentional fires do sometimes happen and you could even be accused of starting a fire that you had nothing to do with. You cannot, of course, be convicted of a crime like arson unless there […]
A 17-year-old accused in a September 1 shooting at the Aquabella apartment complex in Hialeah appeared in adult bond court on Wednesday after prosecutors moved the case out of juvenile court. According to police, several young people had gathered to settle a dispute with a physical fight when shots were fired. No injuries were reported. […]
A Miami-Dade judge this week denied bond to a 33-year-old man arrested on charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, along with drug charges, after a delivery driver was allegedly shot and pistol-whipped at an apartment complex near Dadeland early Monday morning. According to the arrest report, the driver was grazed […]
Dashcam video released this week shows a van striking the back of a stopped Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office cruiser near Northwest 32nd Avenue and 79th Street. According to the arrest report, the 72-year-old driver then tried to hide an open alcohol container, and deputies ended the field sobriety exercises for his safety. He is charged with […]
Florida Driver Reportedly Had a .377 Alcohol Level: What a High BAC Means for Your DUI Case By Albert Quirantes, Esq. A recent Florida DUI arrest made headlines after a driver reportedly registered a blood alcohol concentration of .377, nearly five times Florida’s .08 threshold. That number gets attention. But as a criminal defense attorney, […]
What Is a Second-Degree Misdemeanor in Florida? A second-degree misdemeanor is Florida’s lowest misdemeanor classification. That does not make it a civil infraction or something that should be ignored. The charge can lead to jail, probation, a fine, and a criminal court record. It may also appear on background checks and create problems involving employment, […]
What Is a First-Degree Misdemeanor in Florida? A first-degree misdemeanor is the most serious misdemeanor classification under Florida law. It is not a felony, but it can still result in county jail, probation, a fine, and a criminal record that creates problems long after the court case ends. Common examples include simple battery, petit theft […]
What Is a Third-Degree Felony in Florida? A third-degree felony is Florida’s lowest felony classification, but the word “lowest” should not be confused with minor. A conviction can result in state prison, probation, a $5,000 fine, and a permanent felony record. It can also affect employment, professional licenses, housing, immigration status, and the right to […]
What Is a Second-Degree Felony in Florida? A second-degree felony is punishable by as much as 15 years in Florida State Prison. That makes it a serious criminal charge, even for someone who has never been arrested before. Examples include aggravated battery, manslaughter, vehicular homicide, unarmed burglary of a dwelling, certain theft and exploitation offenses, […]