Tampa, Florida Criminal Defense & Family Law Blog

Generally, Florida drivers know that they have to obey traffic safety rules such as driving below the speed limit and stopping at red lights. What they may not know is that they have consented to a breath test in exchange for their driving privileges.

These tests, frequently known as Breathalyzer tests (for a brand name of one device police sometimes use) allow the police to document a driver's blood alcohol content, or BAC. When Florida drivers get their licenses, they agree to submit to a breath test if they are pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving.

"Human trafficking" is a term that can include a wide variety of alleged criminal activity, including conduct involving sexual offenses and even forced labor. The term comes with a certain amount of "shock value," which is probably why law enforcement officials and prosecutors are prone to using it - anyone accused of being involved in human trafficking likely becomes instantly tainted with an image of guilt in the public.

According to recent reports, a firefighter from nearby Hernando County is facing several charges that law enforcement officials say are tied to human trafficking activities. The reports indicate that the suspect, a 38-year-old male, is a lieutenant with the fire rescue department and had been so employed for 14 years. He was arrested on earlier this month. He faces charges of kidnapping, as well as a charge involving "lewd and lascivious behavior" with an individual who is between the ages of 12 and 16.

Although it is not as common as it used to be, many criminal cases do proceed all the way to a jury trial. These are complicated, expensive and detail-oriented affairs for all parties involved. From a defendant's standpoint, it is important to understand the necessary steps that occur in a trial. So, what happens during a criminal trial?

The first step is oftentimes the most crucial - selecting a jury. Some of our readers may have actually been called for jury duty before and, therefore, may have had a first-hand encounter with this step in the trial process. Typically, a large number of nominally eligible individuals are called into the court and, through the process of elimination, the number is whittled down until the right number of jurors are in place, who promise to be "unbiased" in their consideration of the evidence that is presented.

Drunk driving arrests are so common that many people probably think that these are relatively minor incidents. But, while such arrests - for first-time offenders - are typically misdemeanors, which means they have a lower level of potential penalties involved, the all-encompassing penalties, beyond just what is involved from a criminal justice standpoint, can be significant.

For instance, some people probably think that serving a year under probation supervision, if convicted of DUI, isn't that big of a deal. However, think of how such a sentence will impact your life: you will be required to report regularly to a probation officer; you will likely be prohibited from visiting locations where alcohol is served, such as bars; and you will likely be required to attend substance abuse or alcohol counseling. These are time consuming obligations, which must be fulfilled to avoid probation violations.