Traffic Violation Penalties in Florida

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For more than 20 years, Derek Tyler has been working as an attorney in Florida. A graduate of the University of Miami, Florida Attorney Derek Tyler handles cases on matters related to embezzlement, drug trafficking, and criminal traffic violations.

In the state of Florida, there are two main types of traffic violations: criminal traffic violations and moving violations. Of the two, moving violations are less severe and usually require that drivers pay a fine. Once this fine is paid, the punishment for the moving violation usually disappears, unless the incident caused a driver to accrue too many points on the state’s traffic point system. This would push the violation into a criminal traffic violation, which is typically associated with more penalties.

Once a violation is deemed a criminal traffic violation, drivers are assessed with large fines, along with the possibility of jail time, a suspended license, or community service. Not only will these types of violations appear on a person’s driving record, but they are also applied to that individual’s criminal record. Because of this, criminal traffic violations should never be ignored. Upon receiving such a violation, drivers can argue against is by appearing in court with an attorney. Failing to appear on their assigned court date may result in a warrant being put out for their arrest.

Questions to Ask When Searching for a Criminal Attorney

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A graduate of the University of Miami School of Law School, Derek Tyler serves as an attorney in Fort Myers, Florida. In this position, Derek Tyler has helped numerous clients win criminal jury trials. He also provides tips on what individuals should look for when searching for a criminal attorney in southwest Florida.

When it comes to choosing a criminal law attorney in Fort Myers, there are a number of key questions individuals should ask to get the best representation possible. Here are just a few:

“Have you ever handled a case like this in this specific community?”
This question is critical because charges against an individual in a criminal case often vary depending on the specific laws of the specific jurisdiction.

“What is your goal for your clients?”
While this may seem like an unnecessary question, it helps individuals determine if an attorney’s approach is to take a case to trial or to aim for a plea bargain.

“Do you feel uncomfortable representing someone charged with this type of offense?”
Clients should ask this question to avoid hiring an attorney who possesses a strong bias against a specific alleged offense. Instead, individuals should search for an attorney whose sole interest is to defend their rights.

Florida Attorney Answers Client Criminal Law Questions

Domestic violence
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Serving clients in Fort Myers, Florida, Derek Tyler is an experienced criminal defense attorney who emphasizes exceptional representation of clients in a wide range of legal situations. Attorney Derek Tyler spent time to provide actionable answers to potential Florida clients on domestic matters.

One question involves a victim whose husband was arrested by the police while in possession of a machete. When the husband was charged with a felony, the wife signed a “no prosecution” order, intending to have the charges dropped.

The fact that the police witnessed the defendant with the machete means that the State does not typically require the victim’s cooperation in taking him to trial. That said, the victim is free to both speak with the plaintiff’s lawyer and hire her lawyer to take on an advocacy role.

Another question centered on a woman who placed a restraining order on the abusive father of a child several years ago when he threatened to kill her. More recently, she had taken a new partner and the father had started following her again, but a restraining order request was denied.

A recommended course of action was to talk to a lawyer and explain the issues whether the father is within the jurisdiction of the court that issued the original restraining order and whether it is still in effect. It is also important to ascertain which court has jurisdiction over time-sharing and other parenting arrangements.

Marijuana Penalties under Florida Law

An attorney based in Fort Myers, Derek Tyler provides Florida clients with experienced representation in cases spanning juvenile delinquency, domestic violence, and other criminal charges. Attorney Derek Tyler also has extensive knowledge of drug crimes and provides Florida defense support designed to obtain clients the best possible results. 

Drug crimes in Florida have some of the harshest penalties in the United States. While numerous states have legalized or decriminalized the possession of marijuana for medical and recreational uses, Florida is not one of them. In a 2014 vote, 58 percent of Floridians voted in favor of medical marijuana legalization, just short of the 60 percent required for initiative passage.

At the present, marijuana-related charges, including sale or possession of bongs and rolling papers, can bring jail time and fines of up to $5,000, as well as loss of business, job, or driver’s license. In cases of “intent to sell,” the potential fine reaches $200,000 and the maximum prison term is 30 years. 

Given these severe penalties, it makes sense for a person charged with a related crime to work with an attorney experienced in defense strategies such as police entrapment, as well as Fourth Amendment rights violations involving unconstitutional search and seizure.