Polk County Criminal Defense Blog

If you get arrested on DUI charges, the situation can be very concerning. You are going to worry about your future, your freedom, your reputation and your bank account. All of these realities can be impacted by a DUI charge. As a result, this situation is likely not something that you want to face on your own. It is important to talk with a legal team to determine what your options are. Here are a few important things to keep in mind.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious charge, with serious consequences – even for a first-time conviction. In Florida, the financial ramifications of a DUI conviction can be substantial. If you’re charged with a DUI, these are some of the potential financial consequences you may face both inside and outside the courtroom.

Cybercrime charges are often thought to come from sophisticated scams using the Internet. While it’s true that all cybercrimes have to do with online activities, it’s possible for these charges to stem from simple, small incidents. Knowing a bit about cybercrimes and their associated charges may be beneficial to some individuals. Here are four points that provide a glimpse into this area:

Stalking has long been a crime in the physical sense, and some people have even gotten restraining orders to try to keep people from following them or harassing them. Things have changed in the digital era, however, and we have now seen the rise of something known as cyberstalking. It’s important to know what this is and how it happens so that you can avoid doing anything that would be considered cyberstalking and a violation of the law. Generally, speaking, cyberstalking just means using technology to harass someone, to pester them, or even to discover their whereabouts. It’s important to note that this is more than someone simply being annoying. It’s not cyberstalking if you don’t like what someone comments on your social media profiles or something of this nature. Unsolicited emails also do not constitute cyberstalking, and many people get a lot of them every day. To make it cyberstalking, it has to be “ methodical, deliberate and persistent .” There also needs to be some element of direct harassment or bullying, where that person is being emotionally and verbally attacked through the messages.

Prescription medications are only legal when a doctor recommends them to you and then monitors your use of them. People all too frequently assume they can do whatever they want with the prescription once they pick it up from the pharmacy, but that is not how controlled substances laws work. There are numerous restrictions on how you use, store and transport prescribed medications. People sometimes violate these rules and find themselves facing charges. Some prescriptions have a very strong association with criminal charges. Why might your recent prescription eventually result in an arrest?

Florida’s civil asset forfeiture is supposed to be a way to deprive people of being able to use things that are the result of illegal activities. This is done to prevent it from being used to commit future crimes. Law enforcement agencies in the state must comply with the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act. Currently, law enforcement agencies in this state aren’t required to report what assets they seize under this law. One point to remember is that some assets taken under state law are eventually returned to the owner.

A DUI is always something you have to take seriously. There are harsh penalties, both criminal and administrative, that you could face for a first, second or subsequent DUI. If you had a DUI in the past and now face accusations of a second DUI, you need to know how the penalties may compound with this second offense. Here is what you need to know about what to expect from a second-offense DUI as you handle your case.

Any time you’re facing accusations of driving under the influence, you want to know your rights and what to expect as you defend yourself. One of the things that might come up for you in your case is a DUI plea deal, and, depending on the circumstances, you might be considering accepting it. Should you take a plea deal or not? The answer to that question depends on several factors. In some cases, accepting a DUI plea deal may not be the best option for you.

Both Florida and the federal government ban many of the same substances. Controlled substances laws prohibit the possession or manufacture of methamphetamine at the federal and state level, for example. They also make it illegal to abuse or resell prescription drugs. Typically, when someone faces criminal charges for drug-related activity in Florida, they will face state charges. A local police officer will arrest someone for possession or a similar offense, and Florida will prosecute. Sometimes, federal prosecution occurs instead. When will the federal government prosecute a drug offense in Florida?