Blog Posts in 2018

STREET RACING CRIMES IN FLORIDA

With the popularity of the Fast and Furious movie franchise, street racing has been glamorized by Hollywood film producers. Even the spectacular rollover crashes appear harmless. The same cannot be said for the real implications of accidents that result in injuries as a result of 2 or more cars racing on the streets of Tampa, and throughout Florida. The Florida Legislature has enacted a series of ...

FLORIDA CRIMINALIZES ELECTRONIC THREATS OF DEATH, BODILY INJURY, OR OTHER HARM.

In the aftermath of Columbine, Virginia Tech, and most recently Parkland, states and school boards have in the name of protecting their students put in place a series of laws and policies that allow the police to intervene and even charge students as soon as threats become known. These threats include threats mad via computer, text messaging, cellphone and other electronic means. The ...

HILLSBOROUGH RIDR DUI PROGRAM - A SECOND CHANCE FOR FIRST OFFENDERS.

Starting on March 1, 2018, the Hillsborough Office of the State Attorney will unveil its new RIDR (Reducing Impaired Driving Recidivism) program. This is a program that allows for certain firs-time, non-aggravated DUI offenders to escape the drastic consequences of a qualifying DUI arrest. To qualify for this program, the offense must have occurred after March 1 st , 2018. Additionally, to be ...

Does Florida Throw Away the Keys for Youthful Offenders?

The Florida Legislature has developed a sentencing scheme in which certain felony offenders under the age of 21 at the time of sentencing, can secure a more lenient sentence than other older offenders. This “Youthful Offender” designation is a way that the sentencing judge can avoid some of the harsh penalties of felonies that are not considered life or capital felony crimes, such as, auto ...