Miami Criminal Defense Insights
Aggressive representation for DUI, Domestic Violence, Gun Crimes & more
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
In Florida, stun guns are legal for individuals to own and carry for self-defense purposes, under certain conditions. This legality is outlined in Florida Statute 790.01, which differentiates stun guns and Tasers from firearms, thereby subjecting them to different regulations. The state recognizes the right of its residents to protect themselves and permits the use […]
The Florida Criminal Punishment Code is a point-based system designed to standardize sentencing for felony offenses, ensuring consistency and fairness across the state’s judicial processes. It assigns points to various aspects of a crime, including the offense severity, prior record, legal status violations, and enhancements for specific circumstances. The total points accumulated can influence the […]