DUI Checkpoint Tonight – North Miami
By: David Edelstein March 15, 2013.
Florida Marijuana Laws: The good (not so much), the bad, and the ugly
So, pot has been legalized in two states for recreational use and there are medical marijuana laws on the books in 18 states. But before you pull out that dugout or blunt to celebrate, you may want to consider the fact that Florida IS NOT one of the states mentioned above. So, what can happen to you [...]
And The Tide Turns…
As the smoke clears, evidence is starting to mount that conflicts with George Zimmerman’s claim that Trayvon Martin was the aggressor in this tragic incident. It’s pathetic and deplorable that Trayvon’s family had to hire an attorney to follow up on obvious leads that were overlooked by the Sanford Police Department. With each passing day, the momentum–and evidence–is building toward [...]
Be Careful for What You Wish For…
The biggest challenge to bringing criminal charges against the “neighborhood watch captain” for the shooting of Trayvon Martin may be the lack of evidence disputing Zimmerman’s account of the incident. In order to file a manslaughter charge, prosecutors must believe that they have enough evidence to prove to a jury–beyond a reasonable doubt–that Zimmerman’s actions were unlawful. But even if [...]
Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones but Words…
There’s something special about being a cop.Not only do you get to carry a badge and gun and put people in jail. You also get the special power to keep them there. How, you ask? Simple. Just open your mouth and say whatever you feel like saying.In other words: you get the power to lie with impunity.Most of the time, [...]
5 Things You Should Never Do When Talking with a Cop
The following 5 tips assume that you aren’t a hothead who lacks impulse control, and you would rather avoid spending the night in jail:1. Never raise your voice or challenge the officer even if he is confrontational and raises his. It’s not a bad idea to address the officer as “sir,” “officer” or “officer (last name). Ask yourself if you’d [...]
Fallout Continues Over Urban Week Miami Beach Police Shooting
Seven Months after being shot ostensibly by a barrage of bullets by police, three innocent bystanders try to piece their lives together while they continue waiting for answersLast Memorial Day Weekend, Miami Beach police officers (together with some of Hialeah’s finest) fired over 100 bullets at a suspect’s vehicle–despite the fact that there were dozens of innocent bystanders in the [...]
The Devil Made Me Do It: Shoplifting (Petit Theft)
At any given time, I represent at least 5 – 10 clients who are charged with shoplifting or petit theft. Invariably, my client is a professional or student with a squeaky clean record. This begs the question: Why did they do it?Although there certainly are cases where people are falsely accused, most of my shoplifting clients freely admit their guilt [...]
That Blows-Were you really over the limit??
Prosecutors have decided not to use alcohol breath-test results in about 100 current DUI cases in Sarasota and Manatee counties after learning about problematic Intoxilyzer 8000 breath-test machines. The 12th Circuit State Attorney’s Office reviewed DUI cases this week and will send letters notifying defendants who were tested on five Intoxilyzer 8000s that the machines were not working properly and [...]
Man Indicted on Charges of Making Threats over Facebook
Anthony D. Elonis was indicted for allegedly making violent threats on the social networking site Facebook toward his estranged wife, law enforcement officers, his former co-workers, and to an unspecified kindergarten class. While in Federal Court this past Monday, his criminal defense attorney motioned for dismissal based on the abstract notion that Elonis had not committed a crime because his [...]