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,...
Jacksonville Law Blog
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...
Judge calls Florida statute on felons and voting an illegal poll tax
A federal judge just ruled as unconstitutional parts of a law passed by Governor Ron DeSantis. As written, it states that felons in Florida be required to pay back all of their court fees and fines along with any restitution owed to their victims before they’re...
Felon voting rights in Florida
People who have felony convictions in Florida have been fighting a long battle to be able to exercise the right to vote. In November 2018, an amendment to the state’s constitution was approved that made it possible for more felons to vote. At the time of the approval,...
An inaccurate Breathalyzer test can lead to unfair charges
It's illegal to drink and drive, which is why you’ve always erred on the side of caution. You don’t drink more than a single alcoholic beverage an hour, and you wait an hour before you leave anywhere you are. You want to make sure you’re not intoxicated, because you...
Know the different levels of drug charges
Drug sale charges must be carefully handled because they come with serious penalties through the court system and some collateral consequences in society. There are several different types of charges a person might face if they are caught with drugs in their...
How to deal with a DUI traffic stop
If a police offer has any reason to believe you’re driving under the influence, you can expect them to pull you to the side of the road to investigate. This is a stressful time in your life, as the last thing you need is a DUI arrest. There are many key steps you can...
Think You Can’t Be Tried for the Same Crime Twice? Think Again.
Recently, the Supreme Court reaffirmed a long-standing legal theory- the Constitution does not protect you from being prosecuted twice for the same incident; once in state court and once in federal court. For example, guns are regulated under both state and federal...