3 New Florida Criminal Laws Lower Penalties

It appears Florida is attempting to keep people out of jail, help our first time offenders stay out of jail and keep the revolving door process under control. Three new laws are being looked at by our legislature and although they are far from passing, it  is a start to change our criminal justice system attitude. Many young people start a prison process for a minor offense and their lives are changed as they become a part of the prison system rather then important members of our society.  Law one Increases in the monetary felony theft from $300 to $1,000.  Law two Allows judges to depart from mandatory-minimum sentencing for low-level drug offenses.  Law Three Reduce driver’s license suspensions for non-driving offenses. The bills although  far from becoming actual  laws may start to  free up prisons in Florida and help first time offenders. License Suspension and Revocation Penalties The Florida House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee approved House Bill 1095, a measure that would remove license suspension and revocation penalties for a number of offenses unrelated to driving. It would also prevent people from losing their licenses because of an inability to pay court fees. “It’s intended to keep people out of the ‘snowball effect’ that often comes with being caught in the judicial system,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, told the subcommittee Tuesday. “Studies show that suspensions do not serve as a deterrent, and by legally allowing people to get to and from work, school and grocery stores, there will be less arrests and incarcerations, which will relieve big burdens on our judicial and corrections systems,” he said. With...

Broward Lawyers Arrested In Car Accident Scheme

Guy Seligman is is a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer experienced in the defense of white collar crimes. 5 Broward County lawyers arrested in 19-month car accident insurance scheme Five lawyers in Broward County have been arrested after accused of engaging in a car accident insurance scheme for more than a year. READ: South Florida treasury employee accused in $1.6M tax scheme Adam Hurtig, 46, Steven Slootsky, 57, Alexander Kapetan, 45, Mark Spatz, 58, and Vincent Pravato, 48, turned themselves into Broward County Sheriff deputies on Sept. 6, WSVN reports. Deputies said the Fort Lauderdale lawyers allegedly exploited information from motor vehicle accident victims through solicitors and then received money once the victims met with doctors. . “Within a couple hours, sometimes days, after the motor vehicle accident, these people would receive a call and/or a knock at their door from a solicitor or someone representing the attorney,” a BSO detective said to WSVN. Authorities reported the lawyers to the Florida Bar Association, and said all of the doctor’s offices involved in the scheme have been shut down, according to WSVN. The investigation is ongoing, and involves the FBI, the attorney general, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Lauderdale Police, WSVN reports. If you have been arrested in Fort Lauderdale contact Guy Seligman.  ...

Florida Medical Marijuana Laws | Fort Lauderdale Marijuana Laws

Medical marijauna has passed in Florida. With the passage will the arrests for small possession lighten up? California started with passing medical and has now moved to total legalization. You still need to act with caution in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County but, the laws have lightened up ( see below ) Local cities have passed some of their own laws regarding possession of Marijuana but, state law has remained unchanged, leaving those caught in possession at risk of arrest and jail. Under Florida state law, marijuana possession is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. In June 2015, Miami-Dade County commissioners, by a 10-3 vote, passed an ordinance that gives police the option not to arrest those caught with less than 20 grams of marijuana. Instead, an officer might write a civil citation resulting in a $100 fine. The ordinance went into effect July 10, making Miami-Dade the first county to explore decriminalization. In July 2015, Miami Beach unanimously passed a similar ordinance, also applying to less than 20 grams of marijuana and also resulting in a discretionary $100 civil fine. Then, in early August, Broward County’s Hallandale Beach followed suit: Effective September 19, 2015, possession of 20 grams or less can result in only a $100 fine. Later in August, Key West commissioners voted unanimously to give police the option of issuing $100 civil fines in lieu of making arrests for 20 grams or less of marijuana. West Palm Beach joined the trend in September 2015 when it approved a measure that gives police the option of $100 fines instead of...

Juvenile Arrested With a Gun\ Fort Lauderdale Juvenile Lawyer

Was your child arrested for possession of a gun in Fort Lauderdale? It does happen and more often then you might think. It Happens In Broward County Two boys were  arrested at Apollo Middle School  after one of them brought a gun on campus. An honor roll student appeared before judge after bringing a gun to school. Two students were also  charged after  a gun was  found at a school in Broward county. Prosecutors said a 13-year-old honor roll student told detectives that he found the gun under his father’s bed and brought it school. Juvenile Arrested With A Firearm – Florida Laws 790.22 Use of BB guns, air or gas-operated guns, or electric weapons or devices by minor under 16; limitation; possession of firearms by minor under 18 prohibited; penalties.—(1) The use for any purpose whatsoever of BB guns, air or gas-operated guns, or electric weapons or devices, by any minor under the age of 16 years is prohibited unless such use is under the supervision and in the presence of an adult who is acting with the consent of the minor’s parent. (2) Any adult responsible for the welfare of any child under the age of 16 years who knowingly permits such child to use or have in his or her possession any BB gun, air or gas-operated gun, electric weapon or device, or firearm in violation of the provisions of subsection (1) of this section commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (3) A minor under 18 years of age may not possess a firearm, other than an unloaded firearm at...

Caught With Marijuana in Fort Lauderdale? It Ain’t Legal Yet

Yes, Medical Marijuana will be back on the ballot this November. But, right now if you are caught with it in Fort Lauderdale you have committed a crime. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, which means that the drug has a high potential for abuse and has no currently accepted medical use. (Fl. Stat. Ann. § 893.03.) The possession for personal use, or manufacture, sale, or distribution of marijuana is a crime in Fort Lauderdale. Marijuana trafficking, and possession or sales of drug paraphernalia is a crime.  Florida imposes a range of penalties  under (Fl. Stat. Ann. § 893.13.) Possession for Personal Use Possessing 20 or fewer grams of marijuana is a first degree misdemeanor. In Fort Lauderdale this is  punishable with up to one year in jail. (Fl. Stat. Ann. § 893.13(6)(b).) Purchase or possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana is a third degree felony, punishable with up to five years in prison. (Fl. Stat. Ann. § 893.13(2)(a).) Manufacture and Sale Of Marijuana It is illegal to manufacture  or sell marijuana in Fort Lauderdale.  Penalties vary based on   the amount manufactured or sold. , It also depends on whether the crime was committed in a drug free area, such as a school or church  (Fl. Stat. Ann. § 893.13(1)(c).) Manufacturing, selling, or possessing marijuana with the intent to do so, is a third degree felony, punishable with up to five years in prison. (Fl. Stat. Ann. § 775.082.) Marijuana sale or possession within 1,000 feet of a school (between 6 a.m. and midnight), public recreation area, place of worship, public housing facility, or...