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ARRESTED? INVESTIGATED?

ARRESTADO? INVESTIGADO?

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Albert Quirantes Miami Criminal Attorneys

Latest Insights on Criminal, DUI Charges & Defense Strategies

Miami Criminal Defense Insights
Aggressive representation for DUI, Domestic Violence, Gun Crimes & more

What Happens if You are Arrested for DUI While on Vacation?

Millions of people come to Florida every year for a vacation, visit relatives or friends or come on business. Many of these out of state visitors drive here from home, or rent a car when they arrive at one of Florida’s airports. One thing can lead to another and a night out might involve having […]

You Shot an Intruder Dead –Was it Murder?

You are asleep in bed in your own home when you are suddenly woken up by a faint sound coming from another room in the house. You get up, pick up your handgun which you always have by the bed and quietly creep out into the corridor. There’s a movement at the other end of […]

All You Need To Know About Petit Theft in Florida

Under Florida Law, petit theft is when someone takes or tries to take somebody else’s property which has a value below $300. In short, this means when someone takes another person’s property with the intention of not returning it so that the owner is deprived of having the item in his/her possession. To be convicted […]

Alternative Sentencing Options for Florida Drug Crimes

Florida law is not sympathetic to people involved in prohibited drugs. There are severe penalties for all the different kinds of drug crimes, whether it is driving while under the influence of a prohibited drug, being in possession, or even distributing and selling to others. One thing which is a certainty in Florida it has […]

Don’t Talk to a Tax Investigator! See Your Attorney Instead!

If a tax auditor has reason to believe that you have been involved in sales tax irregularities of any kind, then you may be contacted by an investigator. It is easy to say the wrong things if you discuss your finances with an investigator, especially if you didn’t expect a visit. If you incriminate yourself […]

How to Handle a False Allegation of Domestic Violence

A false allegation of domestic violence against a spouse, partner, family member or someone else close to you can lead to serious consequences. Even if a criminal charge laid against you is dismissed because of lack of evidence, it can still have a serious effect on your relationships, job and career. False charges of domestic […]

Is it a Crime if I Break Into a Car to Rescue a Pet or a Child?

Florida is warm to hot all year long and we who live here are used to it, but sometimes the heat can be a killer. Some of the most dangerous conditions that can easily arise are when a pet or small child is left alone inside a car with the windows closed. It’s not the […]

Defense Against a DUI Manslaughter Charge

If you have been arrested for DUI in Florida you face a criminal charge and conviction, unless your case is dismissed because of lack of convincing evidence. As long as no-one was hurt or killed while you were allegedly intoxicated, the charge will be a misdemeanor, unless it is a fourth DUI arrest. The term […]

Helpful Hints on How to Handle an Arrest in Florida

The fear of having one’s liberty taken away once you have been arrested can be a numbing experience. You suddenly feel bewildered and lost with no one to turn to. Once the arresting police offer has slapped handcuffs on, panic may set in. Here is some advice below if this ever happens to you. First […]

Non-Citizens Should Avoid a Criminal Conviction at All Costs

You may think you are safe in Florida once you have been approved for immigration. Don’t bank on it. Even if you have a Green Card you could face removal from the country if you are convicted of an offense. If you are accused of a crime as a non-citizen but you have lawful permanent […]

When Could You be Charged with Sexual Harassment as a Crime?

Sexual harassment in the workplace has become an important media focus. Several high profile accounts of sexual harassment have surfaced in the last few years, especially the entertainment industry and given rise to the #MeToo movement. What exactly is sexual harassment and can it be considered a crime? Currently, there is no such crime in […]

Zero Tolerance with Florida’s 10 20 life law

If you have been overstepping the mark with the law in Florida it could be the biggest mistake you have ever made as Florida has one of the harshest criminal justice systems in the nation. This is not just related to drug laws but also the use of weapons and firearms. When Florida realized that […]

Did the Police Encourage You to Commit a Crime?

There are many ways that an experienced criminal defense attorney can help defend you against a crime that you have been wrongly charged with. One of these is called the entrapment defense. Entrapment is a method sometimes used by police officers, normally undercover, to try and get a criminal conviction by helping someone commit a […]

Double Jeopardy in Florida

The movies often use the phrase ‘double jeopardy’ to get the audience more involved in the plot. This in the end often baffles the viewers and they are no better informed as to what the term actually means. Double jeopardy – what does it really mean in Florida? The U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment and Florida […]

Probable Cause Needed for License Check Stops

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 […]

First-Degree Felony Florida

First-Degree Felony Florida | Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer

What Is a First-Degree Felony in Florida? A first-degree felony is one of Florida’s most serious criminal classifications. For an ordinary first-degree felony, the maximum sentence is 30 years in state prison. That does not mean every person charged with one will receive 30 years. The actual exposure depends on the offense, the Criminal Punishment […]

First-Degree Felony Punishable by Life

First-Degree Felony Punishable by Life Florida | Miami Criminal Lawyer

What Is a First-Degree Felony Punishable by Life in Florida? A first-degree felony punishable by life is one of the most misunderstood classifications in Florida criminal law. It is not technically a life felony. It remains classified as a first-degree felony, but the statute defining the offense allows the judge to impose a sentence of […]

car Crash-Reporting in miami

Florida’s New $2,000 Crash-Reporting Threshold: What Drivers Should Know

Florida’s transportation law changes take effect October 1, 2026. One change is already prompting questions from drivers: the amount of apparent property damage that triggers an immediate duty to notify law enforcement after a crash rises from $500 to $2,000. The change is part of Senate Bill 488, Chapter 2026-39. The new threshold appears in […]

Florida Life Felony Charges

Florida Life Felony Charges | Miami Defense Lawyer

What Is a Life Felony in Florida? A life felony is one of the most serious criminal charges Florida law recognizes. It does not expose a defendant to the death penalty, but it does permit a judge to impose a sentence of life in prison. That distinction matters. When someone is charged with a life […]

Capital Felony Charges in Florida

Capital Felony Charges in Florida | Miami Defense Attorney

What Does a Capital Felony Mean in Florida? Florida law places capital felonies in a category of their own. They are not scored and sentenced like ordinary felonies under the Criminal Punishment Code. A conviction can expose an adult defendant to life imprisonment without parole and, in a case where the State Attorney seeks it, […]

Parent's Guide to a Juvenile

The Parent’s Guide to a Juvenile Arrest in Florida

The Parent’s Guide to a Juvenile Arrest in Florida A free resource from Albert Quirantes, Esq. Criminal DUI & Ticket Lawyers If your child has been arrested, this guide will help you understand what is happening and what to do next. Keep this page handy, and call us anytime. 1. Take a Breath. Then Take […]

New Florida Laws July

New Florida Laws July 2026: What Changed for Criminal Cases

Florida’s July 1, 2026 Criminal Laws: What Changed in Miami-Dade Cases Florida’s new laws took effect on July 1, 2026, and several of them have a direct impact on criminal cases. More than 100 laws took effect that day. Most have nothing to do with criminal defense. But three changes stand out if you are […]

Veterans Treatment Court Florida (1)

Veterans Treatment Court Florida: Prosecutors No Longer Have Veto Power

Florida Veterans Can Now Seek Treatment Court Without Prosecutor Approval A new Florida law changed who gets the final say when a veteran asks to enter Veterans Treatment Court. Since July 1, 2026, a prosecutor can still weigh in on the request, but the prosecutor no longer has the power to approve or reject eligibility […]

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