Blog Posts in March, 2014

Solicitation of Prostitution in Florida Carries a $5000 Fine!

Don't just plea guilty if you are charged with solicitation of prostitution in Florida or you will get smacked with a $5,000 fine! Florida recently changed the penalty for solicitation of prostitution to include a huge fine. The good news? Your attorney may be able to get the state to amend the charge against you to help you avoid that fine! Last week, our firm achieved just that result for a ...

What Happens After I Am Charged With Domestic Violence Battery in Florida?

If you have been charged with domestic violence battery in Florida, your whole world can be turned upside down very quickly. First, unlike many other misdemeanor offenses, there is never a bond issued at the time of arrest. This is to protect victims. You must first go before a Judge after your arrest for a hearing on whether or not a bond will be issued. At that hearing, if you are issued a bond, ...

Florida Driver Tells Cops He Was Trying To "Drive Off" His Buzz!

A driver in Stuart, Florida made a big mistake when he was pulled over for drunk driving recently. Michael Moore (no relation to the filmmaker, we think) told police he was trying to "drive off" his buzz after he was pulled over on US 1. Moore told police he had a fight with his wife and went to a few bars afterwards. Following his arrest, he blew a .103 - well over the legal limit of .08. We are ...

Traveling to Meet a Minor - Criminal Defense Case Law Update

At Taracks & Associates, we handle a wide variety of criminal defense cases, including cases that some firms might not handle because of the serious nature of the allegations. This includes sex crimes such as traveling to meet a minor, where a defendant is accused of traveling to meet a minor for sexual intercourse, typically after being baited into doing so by an undercover police officer online. ...

New Increased Penalties for Welfare Fraud AKA Public Assistance Fraud Under Senate Bill

A Senate Panel has OK'ed a new bill (SB 7044) that would raise the penalties for public assistance fraud, also known as welfare fraud. Under the bill, fraud in excess of $20,000 but less than $100,000 would become a second degree misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine! Even worse, anyone accused of public assistance fraud in excess of $100,000 would be ...

Tampa Animal Cruelty Laws & Penalties

Often times clients approach us and ask what are Florida's laws on Animal Cruelty. Under Florida Statute 828.12, depending on the severity of the cruelty, an individual can be charged with either a first degree misdemeanor or a third degree felony offense. A person may also be charged with separate counts of animal cruelty for each indivual act of animal cruelty. For example, if a person were to ...

Hillsborough County DUI Checkpoints on Saturday March 15, 2014

On Saturday, March 15 2014 HCSO is conducting DUI check points and increased DUI patrol in and around the Tampa area. This is being done in anticipation of St. Patricks Day Celebrations across Tampa Bay.