Cocaine is a substance that stimulates the reward pathway in a person’s brain, creating intense feelings of happiness. However, the illegal drug also has a high risk of causing substance addiction and dangerous health issues. It’s no wonder that cocaine is classified as a dangerous controlled substance by the federal government. Florida law also considers cocaine a dangerous substance, and there are penalties for possessing and trafficking it. What are these rules and penalties? Simple possession Under state law, the possession of cocaine is a third-degree felony. If convicted, you could face ..read more

Theft is an offense where the penalties a convicted person faces depend on several factors, mainly the value of the money or items involved in the offense. In Florida, however, stealing from elderly individuals aged 65 and older further enhances the penalties one could face on conviction. The degrees of theft from the elderly Generally speaking, the offense of theft from persons 65 and older is treated as if the crime was one degree higher. The criminal degrees for elderly theft are: Funds, assets or property stolen from a person 65 or older is $300 or more, less than $10,000: The offense is a ..read more

Law-abiding gun owners are expected to be responsible for the way they use their firearms. Although Florida allows the permitless ownership of firearms, gun owners must still respect rules such as the prohibition on open carry. Another rule gun owners in the state should abide by is the law on using firearms while drunk. Under Florida law, it’s unlawful for anyone to use a gun while intoxicated. Yes, it’s a crime to use a firearm while drunk. What are the penalties you face if you violate this law? The law on drunk gun use According to Florida law, it’s unlawful for any person under the influe ..read more

Assault, as defined by Florida law, is an intentional threat – either through words or action – to commit violence against another. Normally, this is a misdemeanor offense. But there’s an even more serious form of assault that Florida treats more seriously: aggravated assault. Aggravated assault, according to law Under state law, an assault becomes “aggravated” if a person commits an assault while fulfilling one of two conditions. Those conditions are: Assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill Assault with the intent to commit a felony offense In short, the distinguishing factors ..read more

The digital age has brought convenience but also opened a pathway for harmful activities like “revenge porn.” This term refers to the non-consensual sharing or posting of explicit private images or videos of an ex-partner, commonly through social media. This problem has become so common that Florida created a law in 2015 to combat this issue. Known as the Sexual Cyberharassment law, it serves as the state’s commitment to preserving privacy. It also aims to prevent the emotional harm that comes from such actions by making this behavior illegal. So, those who violate this law by participati ..read more

Florida’s approach to the open carry of weapons is strict, with the state generally prohibiting the practice. But at the same time, the state issues concealed weapon licenses to eligible residents. So, what happens if a person with a concealed carry permit decides to openly carry their firearm in public? Concealed carry permits don’t extend to open carry Per state law, a concealed carry license only allows the holder to carry a concealed weapon or firearm, but not to open carry said weapon. Thus, permit holders must keep their weapons concealed in public or risk violating the law. Rules on the ..read more

To face driving under the influence (DUI) charges in Florida, your blood alcohol content (BAC) level has to be at least .08%. However, there’s more than one way to get intoxicated apart from alcohol. Certain drugs and controlled substances can also impair a driver’s ability and lead to DUI charges. Which controlled substances lead to DUIs? According to Florida law, a person commits DUI if they operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any intoxicating chemical or controlled substance. The state has lists of controlled substances categorized by their level of potential abu ..read more

Shoplifting may not be a new crime, but it has been making the headlines lately. Whether the news outlets are overblowing this supposed “crime wave” or not, there’s no denying that shoplifting is illegal in all U.S. states. Florida is no exception; there are grave consequences for anyone convicted of the offense in the state. Defining shoplifting in Florida The offense of shoplifting is legally known in the state as retail theft. While the law defines retail theft as taking merchandise from a store without paying its full price, it’s not limited to actions such as taking an unpaid item out of ..read more

As cases of online identity theft rise in Florida, law enforcement moves to intensify its efforts to track down and apprehend culprits. Cases involving high amounts of money are more likely to gain their focus. Between these arrests, sometimes innocent individuals are caught in the crossfire and face false accusations. With the threat of imprisonment looming, taking prompt action becomes crucial. What is online identity theft? In Florida, identity theft involves the intentional and illegal use of another person’s sensitive information. Although such theft can happen offline, advances in techno ..read more

Transportation services offered by rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft are incredibly handy, especially for people too drunk to drive home themselves. It’s dangerous to drive while inebriated, and Florida police can catch and charge drunk motorists with driving under the influence (DUI). But what happens if a rideshare driver gets intoxicated while operating their vehicle? The same DUI charges and penalties While rideshare drivers are something in between private and commercial drivers, the same DUI laws apply to them. This means that having a blood or breath alcohol level of at least .0 ..read more