In Florida, a restraining order is a protective order designed to safeguard individuals from threats, harassment, or abuse. The order is typically issued against a respondent, the individual accused of the behavior, to protect the petitioner. Restraining orders are...

Whenever you encounter law enforcement and they go to arrest you, it is never a good idea to resist them as you can get into more trouble. If you resist arrest with violence, you’ll face even higher penalties.   Resisting Without Violence According to Florida Statute...

When you get pulled over for a moving violation, you may wonder what is going to happen to your driving record. Is it something that prospective employers can see? If you decide to fight a traffic ticket, either by taking it to court yourself or hiring an attorney,...

When facing potential jail time, most defendants prefer to be placed on probation instead of going to jail. Probation comes with many stipulations that many defendants fail to consider. Before accepting an offer of probation, consider the following:  Florida Statute...

Felonies and Misdemeanors differ in both the severity of the crime and of the penalties. Misdemeanors tend to be less severe crimes, so the punishments for these crimes tend to be lesser. The fines are relatively small, and you can only be held in jail for up to a...

Driving Under the Influence (DUI), often referred to as “drunk driving,” is when a driver of a motor vehicle has a blood alcohol content (BAC) over the legal limit, or their normal faculties are impaired by drugs or alcohol.  A DUI conviction in Florida comes with...

In Florida, disorderly conduct is any behavior that disrupts a public space. Some common examples include making excessively loud noise, drunk and disorderly behavior, and fighting in the street. Florida Statute 877.03 defines disorderly conduct as acts that are of a...

Under Florida law, it is a criminal offense for leaving the scene of an accident. Florida Statute 316.061 states that leaving the scene of an accident, also known as a “hit and run,” occurs when the driver of the vehicle involved in a crash resulting in damage to...

An ignition interlock device (IID) is a car breathalyzer that prevents drivers from starting their car until they blow into the device. In Florida, these are required for certain driving under the influence (DUI) convictions.  An ignition interlock device is a proper...

If you get caught driving under the influence, you will be charged with a criminal case and will have to appear in court. This is something you can try and fight on your own, however, it is not recommended. Driving Under the Influence cases are very serious and the...

There is a common misconception that SR-22 is insurance coverage. An SR-22 (“Safety Responsibility”) document is required when a driver is seeking to reinstate their license after it has been suspended for any reason, including a DUI conviction or reckless driving....

When you think about Halloween, you may think of the costumes, trick-or-treating and scary movies. However, you may not realize that Halloween is a popular night for alcohol-related crimes, especially underage drinking, as well as vandalism and theft.  Alcohol-Related...

In 1868, immediately following the conclusion of the U.S. Civil War and the end of slavery in the south, the State of Florida passed an Amendment to the Florida Constitution prohibiting convicted felons from voting. Convicted felons in this State have been, and...

The criminal law system is a complex one to navigate alone. Having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side can be very beneficial. Criminal defense attorneys must have a strong understanding of the criminal system to best help their clients.  How the...

Many businesses have changed their operations in response to the Coronavirus pandemic and we are all doing our part in staying home as much as possible. Both local and statewide stay at home orders have been issued, which makes exceptions for essential...