There are many ways in which law enforcement officers can overstep or misstep in conducting a warrantless search pursuant to a traffic stop. When they do, those errors may mean the search was unconstitutional and you are entitled to suppression of the proof they found. This blog post will look…
Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog
What Florida Law Says About Warrantless Searches Police Perform Pursuant to a Baker Act Detention
A lot of criminal prosecutions — especially ones related to firearms or drug crimes — involve evidence seized as a result of a warrantless search. If that’s you, one of the most important parts of your defense is contesting the legality of the search and the admissibility of evidence seized…
Weapons Crimes and Sentence Enhancements for Repeat Offenders
Weapons crimes often can come with strict sentencing rules including, in some circumstances, sentence enhancements. If you are facing such a possibility, it is vital to have a skilled Tampa Bay criminal defense lawyer on your side to help you establish that you do not qualify for the enhanced sentence…
Why Designated Drivers are Important
What is a Designated Driver? Many methods are used to prevent drunk driving. One of the most important and successful methods is the designated driver concept. In 1988, the Harvard Alcohol Project was introduced as a way to bring drunk driving fatalities down.7 The project introduced the Scandinavian concept of the…
When the Police in Florida Can — and Can’t — Search You Without Your Consent Based on a Non-Criminal Traffic Violation
Drug and weapons offenses represent some of the most commonly charged crimes in Florida. According to the FBI, drug crimes are the #1 basis for arrests, representing nearly 1 in 7 (14%) of all arrests. Sometimes, the way the police go about obtaining the proof necessary to make those arrests…
Florida Law Regarding Stand Your Ground Immunity and People Engaged in Illegal Conduct
Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” has been the subject of much public discussion. Many misunderstandings and misconceptions are associated with this statute. If you are someone facing criminal charges and need to present an argument for Stand Your Ground immunity, make sure you have an experienced Tampa Bay criminal defense lawyer…
10 Essential Steps to Take Following a Car Accident
Image from Pexels Car accidents can be one of the most stressful and difficult experiences that a person can go through. From physical injuries to financial repercussions, the aftermath of a car accident can be a confusing and overwhelming time. That’s why it’s important to take the right…
A Pasco County Man Faces Felony Charges for Allegedly Slapping the Store Worker Who Called His Wife a ‘Karen’
Florida’s laws for people with prior convictions sometimes have the potential to inflict some severe penalties if that person gets arrested again, even if it is for something that normally would qualify only as a misdemeanor crime. If you’re someone facing possible felony charges because of your prior conviction, you…
A Nonviolent First-Time Felony Offense, Florida’s Pretrial Intervention Program, and… a Bucket List
While the news is full of stories of violent and/or repeat offenders, the reality is that a lot of people who get arrested are nonviolent first-time offenders. For people falling into this latter category, the law in Florida has options, including one that may allow you to walk away with…
Constitutional Search and Seizure Protections and How to Go About Seeking Suppression of Evidence in Your Florida Drug Possession Case
Here in Florida (and around the United States,) you have the right to be free of intrusive interactions with the police unless the officers have a reasonable basis for detaining you. If the police confront you without the proper reasoning for doing so, then any incriminating evidence they seized in…