We recently posted an article about how police in Jacksonville and throughout Florida are emphasizing DUI stops and arrests more than ever. It is important for people to know their rights when they are stopped by a police officer who believes he/she may be driving under the influence of alcohol…
Jacksonville Criminal Lawyer Blog
Florida Sex Offenders Must Register With New Permanent or Temporary Address
There are certain crimes in Florida that require the defendant to register as a sex offender for the rest of his/her life after a conviction. This sex offender status confers fairly rigid requirements on a person, and failure to comply can lead to an additional serious felony criminal charge in…
Congress Passes Law Lowering Ratio Between Crack Cocaine and Powder Cocaine Criminal Sentences
For a long time in federal criminal court, sentences for crimes involving crack cocaine were much harsher than sentences for crimes involving powder cocaine. In fact, all other things being equal, a person with 100 grams of powder cocaine may likely receive the same sentence as a person with 1…
Florida Police Stepping Up Drunk Driving (DUI) Arrests Now Through Labor Day
You may have seen commercials sponsored by police and other law enforcement agencies warning people that they will be arrested for DUI if they drive drunk. The slogan for the advertisement is, “Over the Limit, Under Arrest.” Of course, in Florida the legal limit for DUI is 0.08. The National…
Police in Florida May Have a Right to Search a Vehicle After a Valid Arrest
For example, where a person gets arrested in or near his/her vehicle, the police officer may have the legal authority to search the vehicle depending on the circumstances. Many drug cases are made this way. Arrests for driving with a suspended license or driving under the influence (DUI) are obviously…
Drug Trafficking Case Thrown Out Due to Lack of Evidence of Possession
In a large drug trafficking case south of Jacksonville, Florida, several defendants were charged with being in possession of 200 to 400 grams of cocaine, which qualifies for a cocaine trafficking charge in Florida. However, the trafficking charge against one of the defendants was thrown out because the state could…
Woman Arrested For DUI After Her Daughter Calls Police From Car
Police received a call that a woman was driving under the influence of alcohol, located the vehicle and arrested the driver for DUI. Most DUI investigations occur after police claim to see a driver violate some traffic law such as speeding, swerving outside the lane or running a red light.…
Police in Florida Can Get Your Pharmacy Records Without a Subpoena and Without Notice
In a recent criminal case near Jacksonville, Florida, the defendant was charged with obtaining prescription drugs by fraud, which is a felony crime. This crime is actually more common these days as more people gain access to various prescription drugs. Many police departments have special units designed to make arrests…
Federal Law Enforcement Officials Crack Down on Medicare/Medicaid Fraud
The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced criminal charges against 94 people relating to Medicare and Medicaid fraud which is reportedly the largest health care fraud sting in U.S. history, according to an article on SFgate.com. The officials said the investigation and charges span seven states and involve more than…
Identity Theft/Financial Theft Crimes on the Increase
A recent report by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, shows that identity theft, also referred to as financial theft, crimes increased as of 2007 when the most recent statistics were compiled. According to the report, 7.9 million households, or 6.6%, report that at least one member…