CRIMINAL CHARGES WHILE VISITING TAMPA FLORIDA

Tampa Bay is one of the largest tourist hubs in Florida. With all its beaches and attractions, Tampa Bay is a very appealing destination for visitors both nationally and internationally. However, sometimes a visit may be derailed by criminal charges such as

• Drunk driving  or Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Public Intoxication
• Disorderly Conduct
• Shoplifting
• Possession of Marijuana
• Indecent exposure
• Resisting arrest
• Assault
• Robbery
• Domestic violence
•  Shoplifting
• Other Drug Charges

As a tourist, out-of-state visitor or an international citizen, being charged with a misdemeanor or felony in Hillsborough County is overwhelming and inconvenient. You should hire a Tampa Bay tourist lawyer to help. Call us for a free and confidential consultation.

WE CAN WAIVE YOUR PRESENCE SO YOU DON’T NEED TO TRAVEL TO TAMPA FLORIDA TO ATTEND COURT

The biggest concern for our clients with an out-of-state charge is the daunting possibility of having to travel frequently to Hillsborough County to attend court. You may be required to be in court on a weekday once per month for several months. Hiring Hines & Associates Law to handle your criminal case while you are residing out-of- county can help you avoid unnecessary back-and-forth traveling for court appearances. We may be able to waive your appearance at pre-trial court dates and hearings, saying you time and money. An experienced local defense attorney can also save you time and money by:

• Getting your case dismissed early
• Plea bargaining on your behalf
• Transferring probation, community service, and other sanctions to your home state
• Moving for Plea in Absentia
• Arranging Mail-in Probation

WITH A DIVERSION PROGRAM, YOU MAY HAVE ALL CHARGES DROPPED

Also, if this is your first offense, a diversion program may be a worthwhile option. In some cases, you may be able to enter a diversion program without ever returning to the State of Florida. If you successfully complete the program, the prosecutor will drop all charges against you, and you may thereafter be able to expunge your criminal record.

You should thoroughly discuss these programs with your attorney to determine if it is the best option for you, especially if you are a college student, member of the military, or work in a professional industry.

YOU MAY FACE HARSH PENALTIES FOR DUI WHILE VISITING FLORIDA

According to Fla. Stat. § 316.193 it is a misdemeanor for a person to be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle in Florida while either having a blood or breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, or while his or her normal faculties – such as walking, hearing, talking, and depth perception – are inhibited by drugs or alcohol.  Actual physical control means a person is driving or capable of driving or operating a motor vehicle. This includes scenarios like being right outside the vehicle with keys in hand, or being inside the vehicle with the keys in the ignition.

Being from out of state is not a valid defense against a Florida DUI conviction. Getting a DUI while on vacation can mean harsh penalties, even for a first offense. First-time offenders may face:

• $500 - $1000 fine
• 180 days -1-year driver's license suspension
• Up to 10-day vehicle impoundment
• Up to 6 months of probation and/or prison time
• Possible ignition interlock device
• Community service hours
• Alcohol awareness and/or treatment programs

PENALTIES FOR MISDEMEANORS AND FELONIES WHILE VISITING TAMPA FLORIDA

Visitors to Florida may also face misdemeanor or felony charges while on vacation. The following are the punishment you could face for various crimes as a tourist in Tampa Bay”

• Misdemeanor of the Second Degree – A conviction for this offense can result in a jail sentence not more than 60 days and/or a fine up to $500.
• Misdemeanor of the First Degree – A conviction for this offense can result in jail term up to one year and/or a fine not more than $1,000.
• Felony of the Third Degree – A conviction for an offense in this degree can result in a prison sentence up to five years and/or a fine not more $5,000.
• Felony of the Second Degree – A conviction for an offense in this degree can result in a prison sentence up to 15 years and/or a fine not more than $10,000.
• Felony of the First Degree – A conviction for an offense in this degree can result in a prison sentence not more than 30 years or life and/or a fine up to $10,000.

Understanding Medical Marijuana and Amendment 2 in Florida

Cannabis has long been a hot topic in American politics. Here in Florida, medical marijuana is increasingly the subject of legislation and awareness campaigns on both sides of the issue. Marijuana, hashish, and hash oil are all derivatives of the cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa). This article attempts to SUMMARILY shed some light on upcoming Florida medical marijuana legislation. Let’s start at the beginning.

Brief History of Cannabis. At the founding of the United States of America, cannabis was viewed as an important medicine. Widespread use of Cannabis began in China around 2727 B.C. where it was used as a medicine for gout, malaria, and rheumatism. Over centuries, its cultivation spread to India, Africa, and Europe for medicine, recreational use, and to produce paper and cloth. Europeans brought cannabis to the US during colonization and it was a medicine for many ailments including cholera, typhus, alcoholism, rabies, leprosy, and insanity. At the time, it was referred to as cannabis or Hemp. The declaration of independence was written on hemp paper, and the first American flag was woven with hemp fibers.

Criminalization of Marijuana.There are several social and economic-based explanations for how Cannabis eventually becoming demonized. It is believed that investors in timber and synthetic and cotton fabric industries sought to squeeze out hemp as a competitor and teamed up for smear campaigns against cannabis to the general public. Also, during the Mexican revolution in 1910, recreational use of cannabis became more popular. Some say, the anti-marijuana camp capitalized on growing anti-Mexican sentiment during the great depression and relabeled cannabis as “marijuana,”  the Mexican name for the plant. 

Propaganda campaigns claimed marijuana makes white women want to have sex with blacks and Mexicans, and makes people kill, rape, go insane, and commit suicide.[1] Cannabis was re-branded from medicine to dangerous drug in the eyes of the public. By 1937 it became an illegal drug under Federal Law.

Medical Marijuana in Florida

Today, scientific studies have proven cannabis to be an effective treatment for many health problems including pain, PTSD, asthma, and glaucoma. Laboratory testing has revealed no serious adverse side effects. It is currently used to treat cancer and terminal illnesses across the globe. On June 16, 2014, Florida passed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014 (Chapter 381.986, Florida Statutes). Under the Act, physicians licensed under Chapter 458 and 459 of the Florida Statutes are authorized to prescribe cannabis low in THC content, or low-THC cannabis, to qualified patients. The patient must suffer from cancer or a physical medical condition that chronically produces symptoms of seizures, or severe and persistent muscle spasms, and there are several criteria the physician must first meet.

Amendment 2. This year, Florida residents will consider the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, also known as Amendment 2, which would legalize the use of medical marijuana for treating specific debilitating diseases that can include symptoms other than seizures or spasms. The conditions will include:

• cancer
• epilepsy
• glaucoma
• HIV
• AIDS
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Crohn's disease
• Parkinson's disease
• multiple sclerosis

Note that the legislation does not allow general medical (or recreational) use. Qualified caregivers and patients would receive identification cards and be registered with the Department of Health, as would marijuana dispensaries. The Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative is on the November 8, 2016, ballot in Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment. Arguments for an against this legislation can be found, well... everywhere. Ballotpedia.org is a good place to start.

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[1] Today, many will distinguish hemp from marijuana, specifying that hemp is lower in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical in cannabis that causes the “high” feeling. However, during this time in history, the terms were being used interchangeably. There are 100s of chemicals in cannabis, only one of which is THC. There are also hundreds of strains of cannabis.