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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]