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In January 2016, Republican Senator Anitere Flores introduced Senate Bill 1294 to the Floor, a proposal that increases protections for minors and victims of human trafficking. The bill passed in April and took effect July 1. These new changes to the Florida human trafficking laws may have implications for defendants...

Florida classifies methamphetamine, aka meth or crystal, as a Schedule II controlled substance. Conviction for sale, distribution, trafficking, or possession of methamphetamine could mean significant penalties, including long-term imprisonment. If you or a loved one has been charged with a meth-related crime, speak to an attorney at Goldman Wetzel as...

In 2014, over 64,000 people were arrested on domestic violence charges in Florida, according to the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV). Many of these incidents sprout from alcohol-fueled altercations, unmanaged anger issues, or simply family arguments that have gotten out of hand. Domestic violence is a complicated area of...

This week, the Florida Supreme Court is considering cases that could shape the state’s death penalty law as well as its ban on the open carry of firearms in public. Court Considers Whether New Death Penalty Law Applies to Pending Cases On Tuesday, the justices heard arguments regarding the constitutionality...

Mistakes you make as a minor should not have to follow you into adulthood. Luckily, in Florida, you can get your juvenile record expunged if the state dropped the case, or sealed if the court withheld adjudication of delinquency. The following explains the legal effects of expunction and sealing, and...

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a Schedule I controlled substance (dangerous, no accepted medical use, high potential for abuse) in Florida [Florida Statute § 893.03]. As a result, possession, trafficking, and distribution carry hefty penalties such as imprisonment, fines, and other consequences. In this article, we review Florida MDMA laws; penalties for...

A breathalyzer is simply a mechanical device with built-in sensors that estimates the amount of blood alcohol content (BAC) from a breath sample. And like all machines, they can falter. If you are facing DUI charges, you may be able to challenge the breathalyzer test results and fight to get...

The short answer to this question, is yes; in Florida, you can be charged with a DUI even if you were sitting a parked car. This is because Florida Statute § 316.003(10) defines a driver as “any person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.” It’s...

Your car insurance rates will likely increase after a DUI if you are convicted. Because the DUI (and points on your license) will make you a “high-risk" driver, insurers will charge you a higher premium to recoup potential future losses. National auto insurer Progressive explains, “Some insurance companies may not...

Heroin charges can range from a third-degree felony to a first-degree capital felony in the most extreme cases. Charges largely depend on the amount in your possession, whether you were distributing or trafficking drugs (and where you were doing so), and the presence of any additional circumstances. Read on to...