Laws, Tips, & FAQs

Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino signed Administrative Order 2016-016 PI-CIR in March of 2016 to address the assignment of traffic court cases in Pinellas County. To provide a more even distribution of traffic cases between the South County Traffic Facility and the North County Traffic Facility, and to minimize officers’ time...

Battery on a law enforcement officer is a felony crime in Florida, punishable by fines and imprisonment. The offense encompasses more than just striking. It can include essentially any aggressive physical contact with an officer. It is a harshly prosecuted offense, even for first-time offenders. However, there are several viable...

Pursuant to the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, the police can take your car if they can prove that you or someone else used your vehicle in the commission of a crime. However, due to recent changes in legislation, the burden of proof the police have is much higher. They must...

In March 2016, Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino signed an administrative order that expanded the Sixth Judicial Circuit Adult Drug Treatment Court to include additional offenders. The order established the protocols for identifying the which defendants the expanded adult drug court, referred to as section Z, would serve. Prior to the...

Thousands of Spring Breakers flock to Sarasota County each year to play in the powdery white sand, take in the salt life culture, and hit the party scene. And given the number of craft beer breweries and plethora of pubs in the area — and the fact that you can...

State and federal laws classify all controlled substances into five different “schedules” of drugs. Legislatures consider three aspects of each substance when determining the schedule in which to place it: Whether the drug has a currently accepted medical use; Its relative abuse potential; and The likelihood of causing dependence when...

In Florida, a DUI conviction stays on your record indefinitely. Having this mar on your record can affect you years down the road. It can thwart your career, hurt you in family court cases, and increase your auto insurance premiums. This is why it is so important to hire a...

Many people use steroids on a short-term basis for performance enhancement, hormone depletion, and anti-aging measures. In fact, in the sports, bodybuilding, and anti-aging communities, steroids are quietly and widely accepted. Nevertheless, steroids are still a controlled substance and strictly prohibited without a valid prescription. Sale and possession of anabolic...

The Community Control supervision program, commonly referred to as “house arrest,” is a type of diversion program used as an alternative to imprisonment for eligible offenders. House arrest in Florida is by no means a way for offenders to “get off easy,” but rather a way for them to receive...

Lying to a police officer is a criminal offense in Florida, which can result in penalties including fines and imprisonment. The category of the offense and severity of the penalties depend on the subject matter of the false information and the past convictions of the defendant. If you were accused...