Your parents probably raised you to be respectful toward authority figures. That might put you at a disadvantage during an interaction with law enforcement. If a police officer pulls you over and then asks to search your vehicle, your first instinct might be to say...
Jacksonville Law Blog
Things you should never say during a DUI traffic stop
Even if you’re sober, a police officer could still have reasonable cause to believe that you’re under the influence of alcohol. For example, if you’re swerving all over the road, it gives them reason to believe that something is wrong. If you find yourself face to...
There’s a problem with predictive policing
The idea behind predictive policing is simple: If you know where a crime is most likely to take place, you can go there first. Then you can stop that crime. How do you determine where it will happen? You use computers. You feed them arrest data and criminal activity....
How to reduce the risk of facing date rape charges
Take two people, add one serving of summer spirit and a generous measure of alcohol, and you have a potentially dangerous cocktail. Summer in Florida can create the perfect circumstances for date rape claims when the boundaries get confused. Date rape is commonly used...
Your teen charged with a crime needs support, not just punishment
Parenting a teenager, especially one going through an intense, rebellious phase, is difficult and stressful even for the best of parents. When your teen calls you looking for help because of an arrest, you might feel tempted to let them spend the night in jail to...
Your right to a phone call after an arrest
If you get arrested by the police, you’re going to start thinking about your rights. This may begin even before the arrest. For instance, you have a right to remain silent and you can ask the police if you’re being detained. They can’t illegally detain you or force...
Do you have to let the police into your home?
The relationship that many citizens have with the police is complicated. The police are supposed to serve the public, but they are also in a position of authority. This authority can lead to the idea that people have to do anything they say at any time. For instance,...
If your Breathalyzer test is wrong, get help to defend yourself
When you were stopped and charged with a DUI, there was one thing that stuck out to you. The officer didn’t just have you take the Breathalyzer test twice. He asked you to do it several times, resetting it halfway through the test in two cases. You weren’t sure why...
How does reasonable suspicion affect DUI cases?
Many drunk driving cases stem from a police officer pulling a person over and determining the driver is impaired. The question that can come from this is whether the officer had a reason to initiate the traffic stop. From a legal standpoint, the requirement for...
Will Florida try to charge your teenager as an adult?
Youthful offenses, especially those that result in criminal charges, can have a way of coming back to haunt teenagers who make bad decisions later in life. Poor decision-making and teenage life are closely intertwined, and many teens learn to become better adults by...