As a Jacksonville police officer takes you into custody, he informs you that: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.” As you’re put into the back of the police car, it’s imperative you understand and heed those words. Especially the first
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Throughout the year, Jacksonville soccer fields team with thousands of kids and their cheering parents. Soccer parenting is a traditional way of life for many households. In April, a Facebook post and photo celebrating a 4-year old Georgia girl and her four supportive soccer parents went viral. As of mid-July, over 87,000 Facebook members shared that post and over 3.4K left comments. The photo and the story behind it have been featured in media across
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A Jacksonville police officer just pulled you over. Why? Well, maybe you have a broken brake light, tag light, or another minor traffic infraction. You hand over your license, registration and insurance card as requested. The officer runs your license, then asks “did you know your license is suspended?” Your answer could mean the difference between a civil traffic infraction (moving violation)—essentially a traffic ticket with some teeth—or a criminal traffic charge (misdemeanor or felony
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Getting pulled over by police during a traffic stop can be nerve wracking, especially if you have a firearm in the vehicle. If you’re a law-abiding gun owner—meaning you hold a concealed weapon license (CWL) or you are properly storing the firearm in your vehicle without a concealed permit—you need to familiarize yourself with the law and your constitutional rights. After all, we’ve all probably seen various news media reports on police interactions with gun
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Let’s say you’re late for work; you hop on I95 and start speeding north toward Downtown Jacksonville. Hey, that car in front is moving way too slow for you. You tailgate for a moment looking for that brief opening in the lane on your left. There’s the opening. You whip your car over, punch the gas passing the car on your right then zip over in front of it. Weaving in and out, you’re now
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Given the driving conditions in Northeast Florida, you could say auto accidents are just waiting to happen. If you’re unfortunate to be involved in a car accident, here’s my very important legal advice: Don’t leave. Staying at the scene of an accident can help you avoid significant hit and run penalties that include fines, revoked licenses and jail time. If you’ve left the scene of an accident, stop reading and please call my office immediately
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Your right to legally use medical marijuana in Florida took a giant leap forward on January 3, 2017. That’s when amendment 2–Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative—went into effect. On November 8, 2016, 71% of Florida voters said yes to legalize medical marijuana for individuals with specific debilitating diseases or comparable debilitating conditions as determined by a licensed state physician. While the amendment win is big news for marijuana-use advocates, celebration might be premature. The actual
Read more →The holidays are here! Being out at bars and restaurants with friends and family is all part of the seasonal celebrations. For many, those celebrations could include a drink or two. For some, those celebrations could mean a costly Jacksonville DUI Holiday Checkpoint encounter. Around major holidays, law enforcement officers deploy an increased number of DUI checkpoints throughout the area to catch impaired drivers. Costs of DUI Those caught driving while intoxicated or under
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Criminal Defense Attorney, Lewis Fusco, recently appeared on the Jacksonville Buzz during their Ask the Attorney segment.
Read more →Today’s news is filled with negative and, sometimes, downright violent interactions between the public and Police or other Government Authorities. I understand that nervous sinking feeling you get in your stomach when you see the blue lights from a police vehicle in your rearview mirror. In that moment, a series of thoughts probably run through your head: “Was I speeding?” “Do I have a broken taillight?” “Is my license tag expired?” Then, you might start
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