Category Archives: Criminal Defense
Fort Pierce Police Arrest Hit-And-Run Suspect
Authorities arrested a 69-year-old man and charged him with leaving the scene of an earlier fatal pedestrian collision. The man supposedly came home and told his roommate that he thought he hit someone or something. When the man refused to call police, the roommate called police and relayed the conversation to officers. Investigators later… Read More »
Some U.S. Supreme Court Cases Worth Watching This Term
Roughly forty years ago, the United States Supreme Court routinely considered over a hundred cases a year. The Court’s calendar for 2018-19 contains fewer than half that number of cases. That caseload is fairly typical for the modern era. Furthermore, the docket lacks any groundbreaking cases. Given the Court’s mostly-conservative makeup, there would probably… Read More »
Report: Number Of Alcohol-Related Crash Fatalities Essentially Unchanged
In 2017, the number of alcohol-related fatalities in vehicle collisions declined, but only by 1.1 percent. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services were mostly responsible for the decline. Florida MADD director David Pinsker welcomed the news, but not with open arms. “Certainly any decrease is what… Read More »
Sorting Out Florida’s Confusing Marijuana Laws
Florida’s middle-of-the-road stance regarding marijuana legalization is already somewhat bewildering, and an ongoing court fight has increased that confusion. Earlier this year, a Tallahassee judge threw out the state’s medical marijuana law. The judge claimed that the Legislature had failed to implement a 2016 amendment which significantly broadened the law. It looked like this… Read More »
The Case Against Cesar Sayoc: Three Things We Know Now
Federal authorities recently arrested 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, of Plantation, Florida, and charged him with mailing a series of explosives to outspoken, left-leaning public figures. At this point, no one knows very much about the alleged pipe bomber or the case against him. However, the case seems to be moving forward rapidly, and prosecutors appear… Read More »
Five DUI Roadblock Requirements In Florida
Typically, police officers must have reasonable suspicion of criminal activity before they may detain motorists. This standard is very low, and the United States Supreme Court has watered it down even further, with recent decisions like 2016’s Utah v. Strieff. However, the underlying doctrine is still in effect. But when it comes to DUI… Read More »
The Three Main Types Of Driving Impairments in Port St. Lucie, Florida
There is a move afoot to replace the phrase “car accident” with “car crash.” In the minds of many people, including many St. Lucie County jurors, labeling these events as accidents absolves the drivers of responsibility. Moreover, advocated correctly point out that planes crash, ships sink, and trains wreck, yet vehicle drivers have accidents…. Read More »
Debunking Some Port St. Lucie DUI Myths
Driving Under the Influence is one of the most commonly-charged criminal offenses in the Treasure Coast. In fact, in some jurisdictions, half the county’s probationers were arrested for DUI. So, it is little wonder that there are so many myths out there about the Breathalyzer and other DUI aspects. These self-help defenses may not… Read More »
DMT Appears On Port St. Lucie Streets
A new substance — dimethyltryptamine — is making the rounds in the shadowy world of drug trafficking. Its appearance raises two interesting questions which are common in many drug cases. DMT, which has been used for centuries in religious ceremonies, is basically a mild form of LSD. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, “The… Read More »
Hit-And-Run Crash Kills Vero Beach Jogger
An early morning run turned fatal after a driver struck a 30-year-old female on the shoulder and failed to stop. The accident occurred near the corner of 12th Street and 58th Avenue. A woman was running on the shoulder of westbound 12th Street when a 2007 Jeep Wrangler struck her, killing her almost instantly…. Read More »
