If you are a fan of police shows on television, you may already know officers typically must obtain a warrant before searching a suspect or anyone else. This comes from the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that protects Americans from unreasonable searches...
Courts in Florida and around the country have held that police officers may enter homes and other premises without a search warrant if they have exigent circumstances. This exception to the Fourth Amendment ensures that police can respond to calls for help, stop...
The recent change in the Florida hemp laws has created a problem for law enforcement officers in the state when it comes to investigating a potential DUI with respect to marijuana. Hemp products were made legal with state adoption of the federal Farm Bill of 2018,...
Florida is one of the few states left where you can still be criminally penalized for refusing a breath or blood test at a traffic stop. In other states, you may face administrative penalties for such a refusal, but you wouldn’t go to jail. What is implied consent?...
Police officers in Florida and around the country usually obtain warrants before searching vehicles or properties because the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits unreasonable government search and seizure. The Constitution does not protect against...
Younger drivers may take to the road with great enthusiasm, especially teens with their first cars. Enthusiasm doesn't equal experience, and younger drivers could make mistakes older ones don't. Thankfully, modern safety technology inside cars might make driving in...
Residents of Fort Meyers and other areas of Florida might want to know more about the meaning of the term "pure comparative negligence" as it relates to car accidents and insurance. Five states and the District of Columbia use the term "contributory negligence" while...
It may seem counterintuitive in a country that values democracy, but in many cases, it's perfectly legal for law enforcement agents to be less than truthful when questioning people. In fact, it's a common tactic to lie to suspects. Law enforcement officers can lie...
Juries tend to find forensic evidence extremely convincing, which is why prosecutors in Florida and around the country rarely question the science supporting it. This reluctance to draw attention to the flaws of evidence that often secures convictions could explain...
Warrantless searches are often an issue in Florida criminal cases. Oftentimes, the police claim that they did not have the time to obtain a search warrant from a court based on probable cause. Whether a warrantless search is legally permissible is a decision made...